Costa Rica will have more than two months to rest, train and formulate a winning strategy before facing off against one of the CONCACAF powerhouse teams, Mexico.

Jorge Luis Pinto, current coach of the National Football Team of Costa Rica, spoke to the leading sports daily Al Dia upon his return from Guyana, where his team scored a solid 4-0 victory over the Golden Jaguars. Mr. Pinto assured sports writer Erick Carvajal that the next two games against the Mexican National Football Team will be decisive. He said that part of the strategy will be to ensure a victory when Mexico arrives and Costa Rica hosts at the National Stadium. Traveling to Mexico is always an intimidating proposition, but Mr. Pinto stated that Costa Rica needs to at least tie the away game, specially after the team’s disappointing draw against El Salvador.

Commenting on the undisputed victory against Guyana, which featured a hat trick from Alvaro Saborio and an impeccable goal by young striker Joel Campbell, Mr. Pinto stated that he is satisfied with the team’s performance and creativity on the pitch. He also mentioned that he will be closely watching how other Tico players are performing, thus signaling a possibility of future call-ups.

Mexico will be a much more formidable opponent than the Guyana National Football Team. In the CONCACAF, Mexico is the top-ranked team, followed by the United States and Costa Rica. The Mexican squad recently won its Group B match against El Salvador 2-1, but the team has seen its fair share of criticism from football analysts who claim that the victory was barely deserved and not commensurate with the caliber of the players and the high expectations of the loyal fans.

The matches between Costa Rica and Mexico are scheduled for September 7^th and 11^th.