We are used to see The United States qualifying, but today I want to bring some attention to Las Ticas. They have copied the achievement of their compatriots La Sele or Los Ticos. If you still need some clues on what I´m going on about, I give you the heroes from Fortaleza and Recife: Keylor Navas, Cristian Bolaños and Celso Borges.
On Friday night Costa Rica perhaps got some new icons when their women´s national team qualified for the World Cup for the first time ever. After a 1-1 draw against Trinidad & Tobago the match went to a penalty shoot-out. Katherine Alvarado, Carol Sánchez and Wendy Acosta all scored while the goalkeeper Dinnia Diaz, amazingly enough, saved three penalties in a row, securing the historic victory.
The come-back from a knee injury that almost made her quit football and the saving of three penalties (quite week ones, but still) in a decisive WC qualifier is more than enough to make Diaz a proper "Heroina".
I hope Costa Rica and its football federation will support the ladies on their road to Canada to give them a chance to upset the big countries like the men did last summer. The game gains from old champions being challenged, and young girls in any country can get strength from the success of female athletes in male-dominated sports.
Viva Las Ticas!
Diaz´s saves (video)
No comments:
Post a Comment