March 22, 2013; Commerce City, CO, USA; Soccer referee Joel Aguilar (right) stops play to clear parts of the field of snow in the second half of the game between Costa Rica against USA during the World Cup Qualifier at Dick
Remember that World Cup qualifier that the U.S. Men’s National Team played against Costa Rica in March? The one with all the snow, the one that made it almost impossible to play, but since the US was leading 1-0 the protests of Costa Rica were ignored and the game carried on anyways?
Well turns out that they’re still really mad about it. They’re making life as difficult as possible for the USMNT ahead of their match on Friday.
First, the airpoirt:
Told that for past WCQs, USSF got priority lane in CR immigration. Not today. CR Gov't plans to line them up w/ everyone else. Snow revenge.
— Brian Straus (@BrianStraus) September 3, 2013
Which could be less about that game and more about their usual treatment:
FWIW, don't believe visiting teams get special treatment at US border. So CR now just treating US like US treats CR. As far as I know.
— Brian Straus (@BrianStraus) September 3, 2013
And when they finally got through all that, there was this gauntlet waiting for them:
Now that that was over with they could just focus on practice right?
Costa Rica fed recommended 3 training sites for US to use. All 3 turned the US down, forcing US to find one on its own. #usmnt
— Jeff Carlisle (@JeffreyCarlisle) September 4, 2013
Gamesmanship 2: Costa Rica FA gave US contacts for training sites. All said no. US made own plans.
— Subscribe to GrantWahl.com (@GrantWahl) September 4, 2013
So they were denied some fields, what else could they do? Not give them balls to practice with? Wait… they did that too…
#usmnt also not allowed to use private area to clear customs and wasn't given game balls for practice by CR fed. #yesticosarebitter
— Jeff Carlisle (@JeffreyCarlisle) September 4, 2013
Gamesmanship central: Costa Ricans didn't provide game balls to US for training per usual protocol. (US using its own Nike balls instead.)
— Subscribe to GrantWahl.com (@GrantWahl) September 4, 2013
Ok, what else could they do?
According to @jrmiranda_goal, cab drivers have agreed to slow traffic to a crawl on Friday, blocking the #USMNT's route.
— Eric Gomez (@EricGomez86) September 4, 2013
It is starting to get some what serious though now.
No word yet on how many Costa Rican police officers will attend the game. Fears that fans would storm pitch are due to social media posts.
— Eric Gomez (@EricGomez86) September 4, 2013
Here was the cover of Al Dia the day they USMNT landed. This rivarly is heating up and Jürgen Klinsmann calls it the “biggest game in the year 2013.”
"We're expecting you..." The cover of today's Al Dia: pic.twitter.com/Apv9kX37Nd
— Brian Straus (@BrianStraus) September 3, 2013