COSTA RICA : HOW THEY QUALIFIED

Costa Rica almost didn't make it out of the CONCACAF second round when it barely got past a plucky Cuba side via the away goals rule after a pair of embarrassing ties. After changing coaches - twice -- the Ticos found themselves. Despite not being able to beat Honduras in the semifinal round, they managed to advance to the final six with a 3-2-1 mark. Costa Rica took third in the final CONCACAF qualifying group with a 5-4-1 record and 16 points, behind the U.S. and Mexico. The Costa Ricans clinched a berth behind a 3-0 home victory over the Americans on October 8, 2005 as Carlos Hernandez scored twice and Paulo Wanchope once.

QUALIFYING RESULTS
6/12/04 Cuba 2, Costa Rica 2
6/20/04 Costa Rica 1, Cuba 1
8/18/04 Costa Rica 2, Honduras 5
9/5/04 Guatemala 2, Costa Rica 1
9/8/04 Costa Rica 1, Canada 0
10/9/04 Costa Rica 5, Guatemala 0
10/13/04 Canada 1, Costa Rica 3
11/17/04 Honduras 0, Costa Rica 0
2/9/05 Costa Rica 1, Mexico 2
3/26/05 Costa Rica 2, Panama 1
3/30/05 Trinidad & Tobago 0, Costa Rica 0
6/4/05 United States 3, Costa Rica 0
6/8/05 Costa Rica 3, Guatemala 2
8/17/05 Mexico 2, Costa Rica 0
9/3/05 Panama 1, Costa Rica 3
9/7/05 Costa Rica 2, Trinidad & Tobago 0
10/8/05 Costa Rica 3, United States 0
10/12/05 Guatemala 3, Costa Rica 1