The Costa Rican National Team will be making their fifth appearance in the World Cup later this summer. Preparations for the World Cup stage continue this Friday, though, as Costa Rica and United midfielder Ulises Segura head overseas to compete in an international friendly against the Scotland National Team in Glasgow.
Segura will look to earn his seventh cap for the Ticos against Scotland. The midfielder has started in all three fixtures this season for United since signing with the Black-and-Red on Dec. 21, 2017, from Deportivo Saprissa on a permanent transfer. In his three games thus far, the attacking mid has amassed 264 minutes played and registered four shots for the Black-and-Red.
Segura made his international debut in January of 2017 at the age of 23. He has registered 287 minutes played for his country, and will be pushing to log a strong performance against Scotland in the hopes of inserting his name in the conversation of player options for Costa Rica's World Cup campaign.
Costa Rica Outlook
The Ticos put together an impressive World Cup qualification campaign. The country finished with a 4-2-4 record, defeating the USMNT twice and tying the would-be leaders of the qualification group, Mexico. However, the club’s most recent fixtures have been more dissapointing. Costa Rica has zero wins in their previous three matches, collecting a record of 0-3-0. The team's biggest defeat of the stretch came at the mercy of Spain in a 5-0 defeat.
Costa Rican manager Óscar Ramírez has called up seven MLS players for the country's friendly at Hampden Park. Segura of D.C United, Minnesota United's Francisco Calvo, Portland Timbers' David Guzman, New York City FC's Ronald Matarrita and Rodney Wallace, LAFC's Marcos Urena, and Vancouver Whitecaps' Kendall Waston all received call-ups.
Scotland Outlook
The Scots have not qualified for a World Cup since 1998, although their roster does feature some impressive names. Among the headliners are Darren Fletcher of Stoke City, Andrew Robertson of Liverpool FC, Steven Naismith of Norwich City, Jaime Murphy of Brighton Hove-Albion, and Robert Snodgrass, who is currently on loan from West Ham United to Aston Villa.
Friday's friendly will be Scotland’s first match under newly-appointed manager Alex McLeish. This will be McLeish’s second stint as Scotland’s manager. McLeish had a 10-game run with the Scots in 2007 when he won seven of his 10 games in charge.
Scotland’s form has been strong as of late—the Scots have amassed a 3-1-1 record in their previous five fixtures with three clean-sheet wins coming against the likes of Lithuania, Malta, and Slovakia.
History
The only previous fixture between the two countries occurred in the 1990 World Cup. The match ended 1-0 in favor of the Ticos after a 50th minute goal by Juan Cayasso.
