Team profile: Costa Rica

In a squad of players mostly unknown to fans of the elite European leagues, two goal threats stand out. Bryan Ruiz, on loan at PSV Eindhoven from Fulham, a tricky midfielder able to break from deep and create chances and score goals. Joel Campbell, the Arsenal forward who spent last season on loan at Greek club Olympiakos — and who was so impressive in the Champions League that Arsenal coach Arsène Wenger suggested he’d soon be playing at the Emirates.

Costa Rica has been to the tournament only three times, but its greatest moment will no doubt have been coming back from 1–0 down in 1990 to beat the highly rated Sweden 2–1 and go through into the Round of 16. Even though it was beaten 4–1 by Czechoslovakia, it had done its tiny nation proud in its debut World Cup.

Little hope of finishing anywhere but bottom in a group that includes Italy, Uruguay and England.

Anything can happen in a game of soccer.

Everybody in soccer flops, and everybody knows it. But a couple of Costa Rican players have lately found ways to make a mockery of the game's greatest mockery. In a World Cup qualifer against the U.S. in September, Joel Campbell walked behind Matt Besler of the U.S., tapped his leg against Besler's, then inexplicably crumbled to the ground. Besler was given a yellow card and a suspension, but the following month, FIFA reprimanded Campbell for "unsporting" behavior. In an MLS contest April 14, Costa Rican Giancarlo González, playing for the Columbus Crew, knocked opponent Chris Wondolowski to the ground with a hard, running forearm to the back, then when Wondolowski confronted him and tapped him on the chest, González gave a markedly delayed reaction and tossed himself backward to the turf. the MLS Disciplinary Committee later fined González for embellishment.