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El Tri And Ticos Hail Competitive CONCACAF
After the thrilling, drawn-out battle between the squads, both had compliments for each other and called the final too close to predict.
Jul 24, 2009 3:47:27 AM
Costa Rica's head coach Rodrigo Kenton did not walk away from the Gold Cup semi-final with a defeatist attitude, even though his squad lost.
"We always ask our players to give 100 percent," said Kenton. "They played for the total match. Mexico did their thing, and we did ours. The great winners of this game are the 55,000 fans."
Kenton looked at the positives of the Gold Cup experience for his players, especially in anticipation of the squad's qualifying campaign.
"This match was great learning for our players. We’re 15 days away from a very important game. Now we have to prepare for that match."
Though Kenton was looking ahead to his team's next match, he wouldn't do the same for the Gold Cup final, which will be contested for the second Gold Cup in a row between the USA and Mexico.
"I’m not in a situation to say who should win on Sunday," Kenton claimed.
One person who was filled with eager anticipation for the final was one of Mexico's heroes versus Costa Rica, goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa.
"Since we started the Gold Cup, this is without a doubt the game that we wanted. Now we have it in front of us. It will be a difficult match, but I believe in our team."
Ochoa's penalty kick stop helped make the difference in the shootout win for El Tri.
"It was a crucial moment in the game," said the goalkeeper, who is fighting to win Mexico's starting spot on a regular basis. "Without a doubt PKs are very important. It was just intuition to try and help our team with a save that would put us ahead."
Ochoa was helping the Mexican squad overcome something of a jinx.
"We have lost in penalty kicks before," acknowledged coach Javier Aguirre. "That’s in the past. We have to be mentally strong. I was very confident ahead of penalty kicks."
However, Aquirre, too, was looking ahead to the final.
"The U.S. is very organized all the time and live off the errors of opponents, set plays and balls in the air. We have to keep up with the pace of the game. We can’t give anything away to the Americans."
Kenton wanted his team to be recognized for contributing to an exciting match, even if it was not the final.
"This was a great game," Kenton pointed out. "It deserves to be recognized as an advance final."
Ochoa complimented the opponent. "Costa Rica is a very good team."
Aguirre, however, recognized that the true test remained ahead. It won't be easy for Mexico's players to be at their very best after having to participate in such an arduous match.
"All of this is only good if we do well on Sunday."
Andrea Canales, Goal.com
Reporting from Chicago, Kathryn Knapp
Visit Goal.com for more coverage of the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
"We always ask our players to give 100 percent," said Kenton. "They played for the total match. Mexico did their thing, and we did ours. The great winners of this game are the 55,000 fans."
Kenton looked at the positives of the Gold Cup experience for his players, especially in anticipation of the squad's qualifying campaign.
"This match was great learning for our players. We’re 15 days away from a very important game. Now we have to prepare for that match."
Though Kenton was looking ahead to his team's next match, he wouldn't do the same for the Gold Cup final, which will be contested for the second Gold Cup in a row between the USA and Mexico.
"I’m not in a situation to say who should win on Sunday," Kenton claimed.
One person who was filled with eager anticipation for the final was one of Mexico's heroes versus Costa Rica, goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa.
"Since we started the Gold Cup, this is without a doubt the game that we wanted. Now we have it in front of us. It will be a difficult match, but I believe in our team."
Ochoa's penalty kick stop helped make the difference in the shootout win for El Tri.
"It was a crucial moment in the game," said the goalkeeper, who is fighting to win Mexico's starting spot on a regular basis. "Without a doubt PKs are very important. It was just intuition to try and help our team with a save that would put us ahead."
Ochoa was helping the Mexican squad overcome something of a jinx.
"We have lost in penalty kicks before," acknowledged coach Javier Aguirre. "That’s in the past. We have to be mentally strong. I was very confident ahead of penalty kicks."
However, Aquirre, too, was looking ahead to the final.
"The U.S. is very organized all the time and live off the errors of opponents, set plays and balls in the air. We have to keep up with the pace of the game. We can’t give anything away to the Americans."
Kenton wanted his team to be recognized for contributing to an exciting match, even if it was not the final.
"This was a great game," Kenton pointed out. "It deserves to be recognized as an advance final."
Ochoa complimented the opponent. "Costa Rica is a very good team."
Aguirre, however, recognized that the true test remained ahead. It won't be easy for Mexico's players to be at their very best after having to participate in such an arduous match.
"All of this is only good if we do well on Sunday."
Andrea Canales, Goal.com
Reporting from Chicago, Kathryn Knapp
Visit Goal.com for more coverage of the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
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