DENVER, Colorado – Costa Rica are on the hunt for their first Concacaf title since 1989 when they claimed the third of three Concacaf Championships.
There have been many close calls for the Ticos in the years since at various Concacaf Gold Cups, but a new opportunity to lift a trophy beckons in the Concacaf Nations League.
For veteran players like MF Bryan Ruiz, who is yet to win a Concacaf title with Costa Rica, there is enormous motivation to put an end to that dry spell this week at the CNL Finals in Denver, Colorado, beginning with Thursday’s semifinal against Mexico.
“It’s a new tournament in which Mexico and the United States are seen as the favorites, but the fact that we are in the semifinals, we know that we are a match away from the Final and that is motivating,” said Ruiz in an exclusive interview with Concacaf.com.
“We respect all the teams, especially we respect Mexico and in a certain aspect they are the favorite for all that they have accomplished in Concacaf. It’s going to be an intense game and so we’re going to have to have patience with Mexico’s style of play, not drive ourselves crazy and then try to create as many chances as possible,” added Ruiz.
A victory against Mexico in Thursday’s semifinal and another triumph in Sunday’s Final versus either the United States or Honduras would complete a dream first half of 2021 for Ruiz.
The 35-year-old returned from a long playing spell abroad and joined boyhood club Liga Deportiva Alajuelense of Costa Rica, with whom he lifted the 2020 Scotiabank Concacaf League in early February.
The chance to earn a rare Concacaf club and national team double is there for the taking, but instead of thinking of personal glory, Ruiz’s focus remains solely on the team.
“Winning that double would be really nice, what was achieved in the club was great and we want to continue growing, but that was the club. The national team is something different. It is the entire country fighting for a single objective, so I’m only thinking about achieving a Nations League title for the country. That would give us a lot of confidence for what is ahead, like the Gold Cup and World Cup qualifying,” concluded Ruiz.
