The United States Women’s National Team is set to embark for the 2024 Olympic Games with a single fixture remaining before the airplane departs. This is the best opportunity for Emma Hayes to make any tactical adjustments or smooth out any lingering technical kinks. Providing a final warm-up is Costa Rica, a familiar CONCACAF foe and a program on the upswing following qualification to the 2015 and 2023 World Cups. Washington D.C.’s Audi Field, a 20,000-seat soccer-specific stadium with a Bermuda grass surface, will host the match. This is the 18th all-time meeting between the two nations, with the USWNT holding a perfect 17-0-0 advantage and a +88 (90-2) goal differential. Ranked 44th internationally by FIFA, Costa Rica qualified for the first-ever CONCACAF W Gold Cup. Las Ticas finished at third place in Group C with a loss to Paraguay (0-1), a victory over El Salvador (2-0), and a defeat to Canada (0-3), followed by dropping the quarterfinal to Canada in extra time (0-1). Recent friendlies resulted in two wins against Peru (5-1, 2-1) and two defeats to Argentina (0-2, 0-2). Benito Rubido was appointed to the manager role in September of 2023, taking over for Amelia Valverde after two cycles in charge of the program. The Spaniard served as the head of the FIFA Talent program and previously led various Dominican Republic youth and senior sides. His tenure got off to a poor start with a winless campaign and a sixth-place finish at the fall’s Pan American Games, but the tide appears to be turning. Rubido named a 22-player roster for the friendly following a week-long micro-cycle with an expanded group. The majority of the squad is spread across four different clubs in the domestic Primera División (primarily Alajuelense and Saprissa), while six compete in various foreign leagues. Valeria del Campo is absent due to a cruciate injury, and Emily Flores is in the midst of a transfer.
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GOALKEEPERS (2):
Daniela Solera (Atlas), Noelia Bermúdez (Alajuelense)
DEFENDERS (7):
María José Morales (Saprissa), Fabiola Villalobos (Alajuelense), Gabriela Guillen (Alajuelense), María Paula Coto (Alajuelense), María Elizondo (Saprissa), Mariana Benavides (Millonarios), Jimena Gonzàles (Sporting FF)
MIDFIELDERS (6):
Raquel Rodríguez (Angel City FC), Yaniela Arias (Dimas Escazú), Alexandra Pinell (Alajuelense), Emilie Valenciano (Alajuelense), Priscilla Rodríguez (Saprissa), Gloriana Villalobos (Saprissa)
FORWARDS (7):
María Paula Salas (Atlas), Alexa Herrera (Alajuelense), Ángela Mesén (Alajuelense), Tanisha Fonseca (Sporting), Melissa Herrera (Tijuana), Priscilla Rodríguez (Zenit Saint Petersburg), Sianyf Agüero (Alajuelense)
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Prior to the Gold Cup, Rubido claimed that his team has struggled with in-match adjustments and needs to be more productive on set pieces. He attempts to bring the game to the opponent instead of allowing his squad to be overtaken by tactical shifts. While still developing into a fuller picture, the strategy (utilizing a variety of formations) involves “very compact blocks” with “effectiveness in defense and passing on the front line.”
Projected Costa Rica Starting XI (via BuildLineup.com)
The towering Daniela Solera holds down the number-one role for Costa Rica, playing a key role in the qualification to the World Cup. The 26-year-old goalkeeper is now in Mexico with Atlas after bouncing between the domestic league, Colombia, Finland, and Spain. An agile six-foot-tall shot-stopper, she has quick reactions and covers the width of the goal with ease. Her control of the box is adequate as expected of a player of her height, while distribution is an additional strength, able to pick out wingers during the build-up.
Fabiola Villalobos of Alajuelense is a “versatile, tenacious, and strong” player who is praised as a “fighter” by The Guardian. The 26-year-old sometime-forward can launch into physical tackles and makes shrewd choices when playing out of the back. Another competent two-way player, Mariana Benavides is an additional target on the attack and can be “a commanding presence” with significant match experience. The trained chef started twice at the Gold Cup and was a member of the 2015 and 2023 World Cup squads. Deportivo Saprissa fullback María Paula Elizondo, also known as “Zurda,” is praised as a “very complete player” who “defends well, attacks in a great way, and assists with precise passes.” Also capable of lining up as a midfielder, she has the pace to break into the final third and possesses a “powerful long-range shot” with her left foot. One of the squad’s veterans, Alajuelense’s Gabriela “Gaby” Guillén is a “strong, tenacious, and mature” option on the wing who rushes out to disrupt the opponent and claim loose balls. The 32-year-old from Tibás is calm on the ball, opting to push forward to overlap on the outside or hang back and distribute with accuracy over the top. Emilie Valenciano serves as a ball-winner in front of the back line and has the physical strength to shield off opponents. The former USC Upstate midfielder fluidly moves forward and has a natural ease when tracking down runners or advancing possession.
As the all-time leading scorer in program history, Angel City FC attacker Raquel “Rocky” Rodríguez provides “creativity, flair, and the ability to pass to forwards” along with a willingness to tackle and fight for headers. In addition to working hard on defense, coaches praise her on-field demeanor and composure to finish, having demonstrated a penchant for stunning goals in the NWSL.
At only 24 years old, Gloriana Villalobos is already a decade into her senior international career, providing “a cool temperament” with “dedication, discipline, and character.” The former Florida State Seminole can line up on either wing and has a rocket of a shot from distance, cutting in from the outside in order to launch attempts. Zenit Saint Petersburg attacker Priscila Chinchilla has “a low center of gravity” that shields off the opponent and facilitates spin moves before “setting up chances for her and her teammates.” Praised as “zippy and daring on the ball” with a preference for “dribbling directly at [defenders],” she plunders and pillages in the final third with the speed to get behind the back line, long-range finishing, and a willingness to engage in challenges to reclaim possession.
Streaky scorer María Paula Salas has been growing in prominence at the international level, thriving as a fox in the box with an innate understanding of space and timing. The 22-year-old Atlas attacker can also serve as more of a target player with hold-up distribution, long-distance shooting, and aerial finishes. Tijuana’s Melissa Herrera registered the lone tally at the 2023 World Cup with an opportunistic conversion against Zambia and has continued adding to her lengthy résumé of international goals. The Guardian praises her as “agile and incredibly fast with the ball,” to say nothing of the looming danger she gives goalkeepers from anywhere within 35 yards.
The USWNT has a distinct talent advantage over the opponent and is expected to walk away with a victory before heading off to France. Emma Hayes will likely put out a strong line-up that reflects the key players at the Olympics. Costa Rica continues to improve and should become more of a player in CONCACAF with each passing year, but there is a long time to go before the gap between the two programs is a more competitive distance. The match is scheduled for Tuesday, July 16th at 7:30 p.m. Eastern, 4:30 p.m. Pacific. Viewing options include TNT, truTV, Universo, Max, Peacock, and FUBO TV (free trial).
