2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar Match 12 - COSTA RICA 🇨🇷

🇨🇷 COSTA RICA (11 of 32)

27 November 2022 Match 12: Japan 0:1 Costa Rica
📍 Costa Rica Restaurant, Anaheim

🇶🇦🇪🇨🇸🇳🇳🇱 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇮🇷🇺🇸🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 🇦🇷🇸🇦🇲🇽🇵🇱 🇫🇷🇦🇺🇩🇰🇹🇳 🇪🇸🇨🇷🇩🇪🇯🇵 🇧🇪🇨🇦🇲🇦🇭🇷 🇧🇷🇷🇸🇨🇭🇨🇲 🇵🇹🇬🇭🇺🇾🇰🇷

<--- MATCH 11: 🇫🇷 FRA v DEN 🇩🇰  |  HOME/MAP  |  MATCH 13: 🇧🇪 BEL v MAR 🇲🇦 --->

This may have been the first important Costa Rica match in decades that did not completely pack out this Anaheim restaurant up to the rafters. Just before kickoff the place was rather quiet relatively, with plenty of space to circulate while staff took care of final alcohol sales before the 02:00 state law cutoff. The Ticos had been somewhat embarrassed in their last match against Spain, having no answer for the European giants and allowing seven goals.

This probably led to many families in Southern California staying home or not watching their second match instead of driving to Anaheim like they usually do. But the proudest of the proud were here, and focused, possibly a bit drunk, and definitely full of good food. The match started pretty slow and uneventful, somewhat of a relief for the crowd who was holding their breath to avoid a repeat.

The restaurant's wooden parquet dance floor usually serves swinging patrons until the wee hours, but tonight had chairs for guests to watch the game. Further back from the stage and projector screen, the restaurant's tables were all full at kickoff as people had been here long before to reserve their place and eat and drink with friends and families. On a more festive occasion, there might have been some live music at halftime, but a scoreless draw probably had not cured the pain from the last match just yet.

Many people ended up leaving at halftime, but they unfortunately missed their nation claw an 81st minute winner against the run of play to win the match. Fans celebrated as if a knockout match had been won. One man sank to his knees and wept against the wall. Against all odds, Costa Rica remained alive going into their final match in four days time.

Costa Rica goalkeeper Keylor Navas regained the trust of his nation as well, having a very nice day after such a stinker against Spain. He came up big with only minutes to go as Japan were pushing for an equalizer. He still might not be near the form he once had when many referred to him as the best in the world, but this was more of the man Real Madrid and CONCACAF fans are used to.

The restaurant put up jerseys of the other nations in Latin America that are in the World Cup, a show of solidarity with its region in the world. Those four South American countries and México would be proud of the Ticos today for going out and punching above their weight, as they usually do in the world.

Previous article from September featuring Costa Rica Restaurant

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<--- MATCH 11: 🇫🇷 FRA v DEN 🇩🇰  |  HOME/MAP  |  MATCH 13: 🇧🇪 BEL v MAR 🇲🇦 --->

 

🇶🇦🇪🇨🇸🇳🇳🇱 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇮🇷🇺🇸🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 🇦🇷🇸🇦🇲🇽🇵🇱 🇫🇷🇦🇺🇩🇰🇹🇳 🇪🇸🇨🇷🇩🇪🇯🇵 🇧🇪🇨🇦🇲🇦🇭🇷 🇧🇷🇷🇸🇨🇭🇨🇲 🇵🇹🇬🇭🇺🇾🇰🇷

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