Bring on Brazil, says Wanchope after battling draw

Costa Rica 1, Turkey 1

RONALDO, Rivaldo and Robert Carlos may be the most frightening collective force in this World Cup, but Costa Rica’s Paulo Wanchope is hoping Brazil field their strongest possible side in the central Americans’ last game.

Costa Rica need a point after snatching a draw against Turkey, but the last thing Wanchope wants is for Brazil, who have already qualified, to field a team of hopefuls anxious to make a name for themselves.

Wanchope said: "I would prefer that everyone plays, Ronaldo, Rivaldo and all the others. If other people come in they will want to prove that they can play.

‘‘We know Brazil play the best football in the world but I have never played against them and I am looking forward to it.

"We need a draw but we are looking for a win, you should always play for a win."

Brazil may be able to relax in the last match of Group C, but Manchester City striker Wanchope believes that attitude also holds a threat for Costa Rica.

He added: "Brazil are always the most dangerous when they are relaxed but it is 11 against 11 and anything can happen."

Costa Rica were four minutes from defeat against Turkey when substitute Winston Parks, a 20-year-old striker on Udinese’s books, latched on a move engineered by Wanchope to fire his side level.

Turkey had been leading through an excellent individual goal by Emre Belozoglu but were unable to stretch their lead and paid the price.

The match as a whole did not really catch fire until the last 10 minutes.

Costa Rica had started brightly, Wanchope volleying a bouncing ball a yard over the bar and Walter Centeno blasting over when clean through, but Turkey’s Hasan Sas and Hakan Sukur looked a more likely threat.

Sas, in particular had real verve and he helped create Turkey’s goal, chesting the down the ball to Emre on the edge of the area.

The little midfielder feinted to shoot, cut into the box and though Martinez managed to block his first effort he tucked the rebound past Lonnis at the near-post. After two awful misses by Wilmer Lopez and Mauricio Solis, Parks came on and his pace provided a real threat up front.

The equaliser came when Wanchope headed on a long ball, Medford managed to hook it back across goal and Parks finished superbly.

In injury time, Parks had a chance for real glory when he rounded the keeper and the goal beckoned but the angle was too tight and his shot looped into touch. Wanchope was philosophical, saying: "He got us the goal when we were about to lose and that is what’s important."

COSTA RICA: Lonnis, Marin, Wright, Martinez, Castro, Solis, Lopez (Parks 77), Wallace (Bryce 77), Centeno (Medford 66), Gomez, Wanchope.

TURKEY: Rustu, Asik, Akyel, Ergun, Ozat, Davala, Tugay (Erdem 88), Basturk (Nihat 79), Emre, Sas, Sukur (Mansiz 74).

Referee: C Codjia (Benin).