Costa Rica have qualified for a third consecutive World Cup for the first time in their history, although at one point that achievement seemed remote.
After seven matches in Concacaf World Cup qualifying, Luis Fernando Suarez’s side had one win, three draws, and three defeats – although the losses came against Mexico, the USA and Canada, who all finished above them.
This could have been seen as the downside of an ageing squad that still includes the 37-year-old Bryan Ruiz, 34-year-old duo Kendall Waston and Celso Borges, and 32-year-old Bryan Oviedo among other veterans.
However, six wins and a draw from the following seven games saw Los Ticos edge Panama to the intercontinental play-off spot, only eventually finishing behind the USA in the automatic places on goal difference. This was aided by Keylor Navas’ return from injury.
Facing New Zealand in a one-off match in Doha to reach the finals, Costa Rica showed they had the legs to reach the big stage as they defended a 1-0 lead after Joel Campbell opened the scoring three minutes in.
After that victory, Suarez said: “This squad shows what it is like to be Costa Rican. They never quit, they always give 100 per cent."
Los Ticos will need to show that same spirit if they are to make it out of the group stages for the third time in their history, especially considering the quality of opposition they face.
They should not be completely written off, though, as some of the members of this squad were involved when Costa Rica shocked the world in 2014 by topping a group containing Uruguay, Italy, and England.
Manager: Luis Fernando Suarez
Star player: Keylor Navas
One to watch: Anthony Contreras
World Cup finals: 1990, 2002, 2006, 2014, 2018
Fixtures: Nov 23 v Spain / Nov 27 v Japan / Dec 1 v Germany
WHAT ARE NFTs?
Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) are tokens that represent ownership of unique items. They allow the tokenisation of things such as art, collectibles and even real estate.
An NFT can have only one official owner at one time. And since they're minted and secured on the Ethereum blockchain, no one can modify the record of ownership, not even copy-paste it into a new one.
This means NFTs are not interchangeable and cannot be exchanged with other items. In contrast, fungible items, such as fiat currencies, can be exchanged because their value defines them rather than their unique properties.
MATCH INFO
Wales 1 (Bale 45 3')
Croatia 1 (Vlasic 09')
Family reunited
Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was born and raised in Tehran and studied English literature before working as a translator in the relief effort for the Japanese International Co-operation Agency in 2003.
She moved to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies before moving to the World Health Organisation as a communications officer.
She came to the UK in 2007 after securing a scholarship at London Metropolitan University to study a master's in communication management and met her future husband through mutual friends a month later.
The couple were married in August 2009 in Winchester and their daughter was born in June 2014.
She was held in her native country a year later.
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HOW TO WATCH
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EA Sports FC 26
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3/5
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
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THE CLOWN OF GAZA
Director: Abdulrahman Sabbah
Starring: Alaa Meqdad
Rating: 4/5
Can NRIs vote in the election?
Indians residing overseas cannot cast their ballot abroad
Non-resident Indians or NRIs can vote only by going to a polling booth in their home constituency
There are about 3.1 million NRIs living overseas
Indians have urged political parties to extend the right to vote to citizens residing overseas
A committee of the Election Commission of India approved of proxy voting for non-resident Indians
Proxy voting means that a person can authorise someone residing in the same polling booth area to cast a vote on his behalf.
This option is currently available for the armed forces, police and government officials posted outside India
A bill was passed in the lower house of India’s parliament or the Lok Sabha to extend proxy voting to non-resident Indians
However, this did not come before the upper house or Rajya Sabha and has lapsed
The issue of NRI voting draws a huge amount of interest in India and overseas
Over the past few months, Indians have received messages on mobile phones and on social media claiming that NRIs can cast their votes online
The Election Commission of India then clarified that NRIs could not vote online
The Election Commission lodged a complaint with the Delhi Police asking it to clamp down on the people spreading misinformation
MIDWAY
Produced: Lionsgate Films, Shanghai Ryui Entertainment, Street Light Entertainment
Directed: Roland Emmerich
Cast: Ed Skrein, Woody Harrelson, Dennis Quaid, Aaron Eckhart, Luke Evans, Nick Jonas, Mandy Moore, Darren Criss
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
THE BIO
Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979
Education: UAE University, Al Ain
Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6
Favourite piece of music: Horse Dance by Naseer Shamma
Favourite book: Science and geology
Favourite place to travel to: Washington DC
Best advice you’ve ever been given: If you have a dream, you have to believe it, then you will see it.
Dhadak
Director: Shashank Khaitan
Starring: Janhvi Kapoor, Ishaan Khattar, Ashutosh Rana
Stars: 3
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, second leg result:
Ajax 2-3 Tottenham
Tottenham advance on away goals rule after tie ends 3-3 on aggregate
Final: June 1, Madrid
Result
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5.15pm: Handicap Dh90,000 1,000m; Winner: Midlander, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
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