AtleTICO MLS prepares for Scottish challenge at Hampden

On the face of it playing Scotland is not a perfect warm up for playing Brazil. But Óscar Ramírez’s Ticos also have two European sides in their World Cup group, Serbia and Switzerland. With that in mind, they have scheduled matches against Scotland and bizarrely Tunisia, who face Panama in the World Cup.

The Ticos side are similar to the one that went above and beyond expectations at World Cup 2014 reaching the World Cup quarterfinal where the Netherlands eliminated them in Salvador. But they are four years older and did not fare particularly well at Gold Cup last year and finished 10th out of 16 at Copa America USA.

2017 Gold Cup Semifinal Gallery: USA 2- Costa Rica 0

Their star player is Real Madrid keeper Keilor Navas but they have a phalanx of defenders with over 30 caps; Johnny Acosta (Rionegro Águilas), Giancarlo González (Bologna), Bryan Oviedo (Sunderland), Francisco Calvo (Minnesota United), Óscar Duarte (Espanyol) and Cristian Gamboa (Glasgow Celtic) who is playing tonight in his home city of employment. Just below the 30 mark is Vancouver Whitecaps’ Kendall Waston one of six MLS players in the squad.

Navas is Real Madrid’s starting goalkeeper and is one of the top 5-7 goalkeepers in the world. Normally he would not start though as he has typically used his Madrid work to either skip out on international team duty or just train but given the proximity of the World Cup, there is a good chance will. Leonel Morelia is thought of highly at Herediano but is a steep drop-off from Navas in terms of quality.

Los Ticos generally play a 5-3-2 or 5-4-1 with Joel Campbell (formerly of Arsenal now with Real Betis in Spain) up front but he is out due to injury. However, London is still well represented with captain Bryan Ruiz (Sporting Lisbon, formerly Fulham) in the forward line. With Campbell out, Marco Urena of Los Angeles FC will start up top alongside Ruiz. Urena is really pushing Ruiz right now for that second spot so that will be an interesting dynamic.

Defensively they like to use their centre-backs advantage in size to lock down the centre of the pitch and force opponents wide.

Bryan Oviedo (Sunderland) runs things along the back-line in Navas’ absence. Waston is his centre-back partner, someone that teammates love and opponents hate as many readers of this site will already know.

Their midfield is the biggest question mark. They may have the best defence in CONCACAF and they have pieces in the attacking third but their transition from defence to attack leaves a lot to be desired.

Celso Borges of Deportivo La Coruna acts as their centre-mid but he is more of a defensive midfielder. Oscar Ramirez will use Urena as a CAM in the World Cup and put Campbell if available with Ruiz because Urena played the role with the Earthquakes and helped set up goalscorer Chris Wondolowski. The other MLS players in the squad are Rodney Wallace (NYCFC) and Ulises Segura (DC United).

They are not exactly going to set the world on fire with goals but are a very sound defensive team that doesn’t make too many mistakes. Tonight they will get their first taste of European competition since losing 1-0 to Hungary last November against a Scotland side with a new coach Alex McLeish taking charge for the second time after Gordon Strachan’s departure.

Although there is still some time for experimentation, Ramirez told the BBC:

“Later in the game you’ll see some different substitutes. But the starting XI you will see is probably going to be the same team as we’ll see in the World Cup.”

The wintry snowshowers have departed Glasgow and the weather will be less of a factor than as much as the desire of some young Scottish faces to impress the new boss.

Look out for live tweeting from Hampden Park on the @prostsoccer twitter account.

Scotland begin a new era at the hands of an old head