Costa Ricans Look to World Cup Opener With Bated Breath

It's been drizzling in Costa Rica's capital of San Jose this week and Juan Guzman who hawks soccer souvenirs at the central square, Plaza de la Cultura, pulls a blue plastic sheet over his wares.

"The weather reflects my mood," he murmurs. Indeed, after months of euphoria, the country has a case of the blues. Ever since they lost all their World Cup warm-up games, the Costa Ricans' self-confidence has been shaken.

"A pessimist is a well-informed optimist"

"We even stumbled against a German amateur team. That clearly shows how the game will end on Friday -- we're going to lose disastrously," says Guzman, pointing out that Germany is after all one of the strongest opponents of the tournament.

Quoting Costa Rican President and Nobel laureate Oscar Arias, Guzman says, "A pessimist is a well-informed optimist."

In an interview with local broadcaster Monumental, Arias didn't mince words. "To us it's clear that the results of the last games provide us with no opportunity to be particularly optimistic. But I'm still hopeful, I look forward to the game and will cheer my team as well as I can."

Costa Rica comes to a standstill

Many Costa Ricans share that optimism. Soccer coach Felix Delgado who trains six- to 10-year-olds at the Sabana stadium, says the Germans aren't perfect either and have weaknesses with their defense.

Like many of his fellow countrymen and women, Delgado says he's 100 percent convinced by his team.

"We have many young, strong players and with striker Paulo Wanchope, nobody's going to take us lightly."

In addition, says Delgado, Costa Rica has another advantage. "When we're under pressure and the chances of victory are next to zero, that's when we really begin to power back."

Cynthia and Marta, who work for the Costa Rican National bank, aren't sure so sure of a victory against Germany in the World Cup opener, but say they're "absolutely supportive" of their team.

Both are glad they don't need to work during the game. It will be 10:00 a.m. on Friday in Costa Rica when the game kicks off in Germany and employees of banks and state-run offices have a holiday. Even hospitals will offer only emergency services as the entire country settles down to watch their team.

"Wait and pray"

Eric Perez has bought a red T-shirt with the words "Costa Rica" emblazoned on it and plans to wear it for the game.

"I've put the beers to chill in the fridge. We're certainly going to have something to celebrate," he says. A draw with Germany, says Perez, would be the sweetest victory. He admits that the mood has dampened in the country in the past few days, but says he doesn't want to be affected by it.

"I think the people are simply getting more nervous with each day. In the past few months nobody talks about anything but the World Cup," Perez says. "Now we've said everything. Now we can only wait and pray."

World watching Costa Rica

Despite all that nail-biting tension, the Costa Ricans consider it a privilege to be allowed to open the World Cup 2006.

"A small country like Costa Rica is often overlooked. Now the whole world is looking at us," said architecture student Juan Pablo.

His dream of flying to Germany and watching a game live hasn't been fulfilled though. "I tried my hand at all the online ticketing stuff, but unfortunately didn't have any luck," says Pablo, who describes himself as a soccer junkie. "Soccer for breakfast, for lunch and for dinner. Typically Costa Rica," he laughs.

It finally stops raining in San Jose just before sundown. Some street vendors quickly hang up a few souvenirs and a couple of passers-by seize the chance to buy a Costa Rica flag or a T-shirt.

In 15 minutes, Guzman has sold three T-shirts and he seems a bit more friendly. So who's going to win on Friday?

"We'll see," he says.