GOING THE DISTANCE

Costa Rica Squad in Brazils World Cup 2014

By Jorge Vasconcelos. Twitter: @Jorgeefv
July 06, 2014
It has been less than 24 hours since Costa Ricas defeat to Netherlands on penalty-shootouts for
the quarter-finals of the Brazils World Cup 2014. The sad part is now to witness the Chicos as
they are known to pack up and leave Brazil. And it will be particularly sad to the coast city of
Santos, in the State of Sao Paulo the home of Pel, Neymar and Santos FC (and also my
residence). During almost one month we have been witnessing here in Santos city the joy and
the playfulness of the Costa Rican people that came to Brazil to accompany their team. We have
joined them in this ride. And what a ride! It was beautiful to see Costa Rica to put up a fight in
the so called Group of Death (Group D) with the likes of Uruguay (3 x 1), Italy (1 x 0) and
England (0 x 0) and come up on top, advancing to the next phase finishing 1
st
position on their
Group. Later on, opening the knockout phase, they dispatched Greece on penalty-shootouts,
after a goalless tie. Yesterday, against Netherlands we saw the giant-slayer as Costa Rica was
already being called by the local press one more time and they put up a fight again. This time
they had the luck on their side with Netherlands almost-scoring several times. Costa Rica also
responded almost scoring a couple of times themselves. When spotted, it was clear that the
components of the Netherlands bench were not believing in what they were witnessing (van
Gaal included). Was this supposed to be a friendly match? Not for the Costa Ricans. The small
Caribbean team was equalizing the match, going toe-to-toe with Netherlands. Netherlands
responded in the most respectful way possible in sports against an adversary that is worth,
which was to go full-power after the desired goal. I was thrilled to see the teams of Netherlands
and Costa Rica, but specially Costa Rica, to be entirely committed and giving everything theyve
got to the match. People in Brazil were thrilled. People in Santos city holding their breath for the
Chicos. Again, after a goalless tie during the normal time, it came an also goalless and
exhaustive overtime and finally the penalty shootouts. At this moment I realized that Costa Rica
have then achieved the highest of the ranks, regardless of the end result. That was the peak of an
epic battle that only in films we are used to see that often. I immediately recollected the lines of
Rocky on the eve of the 1
st
fight against Apollo Creed:
Rocky: I can't do it.
Adrian: What?
Rocky: I can't beat him.
Adrian: Apollo?
Rocky: Yeah. I been out there walkin' around, thinkin'. I mean, who am I kiddin'? I ain't even
in the guy's league.
Adrian: What are we gonna do?
Rocky: I don't know.
Adrian: You worked so hard.
Rocky: Yeah, that don't matter. 'Cause I was nobody before.
Adrian: Don't say that.
Rocky: Ah come on, Adrian, it's true. I was nobody. But that don't matter either, you know?
'Cause I was thinkin', it really don't matter if I lose this fight. It really don't matter if this guy
opens my head, either. 'Cause all I wanna do is go the distance. Nobody's ever gone the
distance with Creed, and if I can go that distance, you see, and that bell rings and I'm still
standin', I'm gonna know for the first time in my life, see, that I weren't just another bum from
the neighborhood.
Yesterday night was the last exhibition of Costa Rica in the World Cup here in Brazil. The city of
Santos cheered and rooted for the Chicos as everybody else in the country did. In the end,
Costa Rica was defeated in the penalty shootouts but was not defeated during the normal time
or overtime with the ball rolling on the green grass (which is what really matters) during the
entire tournament. Yesterday night Costa Rica made a stand and played toe-to-toe, head-to-
head with the reigning vice-champions of the World. Yesterday, the world witnessed and Costa
Rica players understood that they are not just another small-time team from the neighborhood.
Yesterday night Costa Rica have truly and heroically gone the distance.