Costa Rica

Costa Rica has a popular national saying “Pura Vida!” (Pure Life!). And one has many reasons to believe that this is the case of the Central Americans. It was the first nation in the world (in 1949) to constitutionally abolish its army. Costa Rica got its independence from the annoying Spaniards in 1821 – and so the rich coast was born. It has developed into a strong democratic republic with a very healthy constitution. It seemingly avoided the violence that has plagued most of the other Central American nations in the 20th century and is seen as a shining light of the area. It has been referred to as the “Switzerland of the Americas” because of its political stability – perhaps you can open a Swiss bank account there as well? They are a highly agricultural country and have a relatively high standard of living.
Then there’s the ever booming electronics industry, expanding so much so that Intel are doing quite well there thank you!

Costa Rica promotes free trade, but not many footballers have made it that big. Paolo Wanchope was seen in the EPL and is the only well known ‘Tico’. Wanchope is ending his career in Qatar and may only play a nominal part in the finals. Costa Rica will open its finals campaign against the hosts Germany and it is fitting that such a great country should be involved given that one of their main foreign policy objectives is to foster human rights and sustain development in the region. The nerves shouldn’t get to them in their first game and they’ll be glad to be on the World stage and cause a shock or two. They fancy their chances in getting out of Group A.

Costa Rica’s ‘pure life’ motto even occurred during the Cold War, where they were the first Central American country to have ties with the USSR – boosting their coffee exports in the process. President Nixon wasn’t too pleased at the time either. The tico ideals are that of a very friendly, helpful, laidback, unhurried, educated and environmentally aware people with little worry for deadlines – basically they love nothing more than taking the piss out of the ‘gringos’ (i.e. Americans).

Sure, many of the former Indian cultures died from disease and mistreatment by the Spaniards, but today, Costa Rica (like Brazil) has a kaleidoscope of ethnic groups, that has thrown up Nobel Peace Prize winners as was the case in 1987 when President Oscar Arias Sanchez took the honours. Costa Rica has no military or navy, so to fill the gaps left behind, their abundant wildlife has been said to be the great defenders of the country – the soldiers are the leaf cutter ants, the pilots are the macaws and the navy ships are the whales! Surely Costa Rica can’t be stung by killer wasps of human rights abuse with that sort of imagination.

The future? Pretty much the same into the 21st century where economic ruin looks unlikely and Claudia Poll wins a few more Olympic gold medals in Beijing in the swimming. They may even get a dream last 16 game against England, where they’ll be gutsy to the end.
Bottomless pit ranking? Costa Rica, the rich coast, pure life indeed and at least trying to embrace life fully. A not-so-shocking history. They should be allowed to win the World Cup without even playing.