Costa Rica vs USA: Both not worried about yellow cards

Mar 22, 2013; Commerce City, CO, USA; Costa Rica midfielder Bryan Ruiz (10) and United States midfielder DaMarcus Beasley (7) battle for the ball in the first half at Dick

Costa Rica is taking on the USA today in what will be a incredible match up. Costa Rica is holding a grudge from their blizzard game against the American men in March in Colorado. Their protests to stop the game were denied and they ultimately lost the game and points to the U.S. Men’ National Team. Since landing in Costa Rica ahead of the game the locals have been making life miserable for the American team.

If those tensions carried into the game it could be a chippy and physical match, but Costa Rica has 10 available players carrying yellow cards into the game, a CONCACAF 2014 World Cup qualifying match.

“If we have to get one, two or four cards, we are going to get them and forget about everything else,” Costa Rica coach Jorge Luis Pinto said during a prematch news conference Thursday. “I want our team to go into this match with our blood running hot but with cool heads.”

“[Anger over the loss] is part of soccer. This feeling that the country has transmitted we are all feeling,” said Pinto. “It is a historic moment for us. We have to have control of the match at all times.”

The United States is in a similar position with 8 players that have yellow cards. If any of those players get carded they’ll miss Tuesday’s match-up against rival Mexico. He reiterated Pinto’s statements.

“We’re not holding back by any means,” U.S. national team coach Jurgen Klinsmann said. “It [the players with yellow cards] doesn’t [affect] our lineup. It’s about Costa Rica. It’s about that game, and whatever happens on Friday night, we will adjust then to the Mexico game.”

The game is being officiated by Mexican refs which has Klinsmann worried about fair play with his players carrying yellow cards into Friday’s game ahead of their match up against Mexico next week.

“I don’t doubt that Marco Antonio Rodriguez is a great referee,” Klinsmann said. “But at the same time, there is something I can’t get out of my head. I have eight players with a yellow card, and four days later we face Mexico. Truthfully, I don’t like this.”