Ugly scenes erupt as the benches clash (Allsport)
WANCHOPE - BRING ON BRAZIL
By PA Sport Staff
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 to their manager
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 -
that's when they play their best football, 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 and Hernan Medford 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.
Yildiray Basturk, the Bayern Leverkusen midfielder, said late goals - they
also lost to Brazil in the dying minutes - had cost Turkey dear.
He said: "If games only lasted 86 minutes we would be in the second round of
the World Cup. But unfortunately they last 90 and that's twice now we have
conceded goals so late.
"We seem to lose concentration right at the end and that has been a problem
for us. Now we must beat China and hope that Brazil will not take it easy
against Costa Rica."
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 created 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.
Turkey's goalscorer Emre then provoked ugly scenes when he pushed a Costa
Rican team official who was holding the ball after it had got a throw-in.
Dozens of people from both benches became involved and Emre was fortunate to
escape with a booking when the dust settled, though he may yet face the wrath of
FIFA if the fourth official points the finger and the matter is mentioned in the
referee's report.
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, but he's got a great future in the game and
they already know all about him in Italy."
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