With six points and anchored to the fifth position, the Ticos are dangerously in need of scoring in the upcoming FIFA doubleheader in November.
Costa Rica was left without its best footballer for the elimination matches of November to the World Cup in Qatar-2022, after the goalkeeper Keylor Navas was reported as injured by the Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) French.
“An MRI determined that the player suffers from a sprain with difficulty in extending his right elbow,” said the Costa Rican Football Federation (Fedefutbol) in a statement.
Costa Rica has on its calendar to meet Canada on November 12, in Edmonton, and Honduras on November 16, in San José.
Navas would have suffered the injury on Saturday in PSG’s duel against Bordeaux, on the 13th date of Ligue 1 in France. The Parisians won 3-2 away from home.
“The PSG medical team reported that the goalkeeper received a strong blow and the limb began to swell on the plane during the return trip to Paris,” added Fedefutbol.
The goalkeeper, three times champion of the Champions League with Real Madrid, has been fundamental in the first six dates of the octagonal towards the World Cup event, saving his team from being defeated in multiple games thanks to his saves in extremis.
Concrete examples were raised with their covers in the time of replacement during the 1-1 against Jamaica, the 1-1 against Honduras and 2-1 against El Salvador. Against the cuscatlecos, Costa Rica reaped its only victory in the World Cup in six games played to date.
Instead of Navas, the Colombian coach who directs the Ticos, Luis Fernando Suárez, decided to summon Kevin Briceño, from Cartaginés, from local football. However, during the eliminatory matches the starter will be Leonel Moreira, from Alajuelense.
In addition to Navas, Cristian Gamboa, defender of German Bochum, was released on Saturday, also due to an injury with his club.
With six points and anchored to the fifth position, the Ticos are dangerously in need of scoring in the upcoming FIFA doubleheader in November.
Otherwise, the first three places, which qualify directly to the Asian event, could escape them. The fourth will go to a play-off with a selection from another confederation.
At this time the leader is Mexico, with 14 units. It is followed by the United States, with 11, Canada, with 10, and Panama, with eight.
Jamaica is sixth, with five points; El Salvador is seventh, also with five, and Honduras is eighth, with only three. (D)
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