CHAMPIONSGATE, Fla. -- If the US national team is feeling pressure to get off to a strong start in Group A of the Copa America Centenario, they are not alone.
Take Costa Rica center back Kendall Waston, who channeled some of Jurgen Klinsmann’s urgency when describing his own side’s opener against Paraguay in the other group match, at Camping World Stadium on Saturday (5 pm ET, FOX, Univision, UDN).
“We have to win this match no matter what,” the Vancouver Whitecaps defender said Tuesday through a translator. “We view it like a final. Hopefully Costa Rica can demonstrate good football, but the most important [thing] is to win no matter how.”
There is perhaps an extra burden to perform for Los Ticos after their memorable run to the 2014 FIFA World Cup quarterfinals in Brazil.
Waston wasn’t a part of that effort, but he has played in three of Costa Rica’s four qualifiers in the fourth round of CONCACAF qualifying for the 2018 tournament. And he has bought into those expectations.
“After Brazil we reached a [certain] status and we have to maintain it and try to better it,” Waston said. “This competition is a clear [test] of that, so you have to keep adding to the history of Costa Rica.”
Waston is one of five MLSers on the Costa Rican Copa America squad. Among them, only Christian Bolanos made the roster for the 2014 World Cup, although D.C. United’s Alvaro Saborio likely would have if not for a broken foot.
New York City FC outside back Ronald Matarrita will be making his first appearance in a major international competition. The 21-year-old believes another strong performance for Costa Rica in an international tournament would go a long way to validate 2014 as something other than a fluke.
“The Copa America will dictate at what level we are at,” Matarrita said through a translator. “We have to make more clear our level and our play and have a good tournament here. I think it will end up ratifying the good moment that Costa Rica is going through in football.”
After coming within a penalty shootout of a World Cup semifinal appearance two years ago, Waston believes his side should aim higher.
“We have arguments to be champions,” he said. “It is not going to be easy, but in life there is nothing easy.”
