ECUADOR-COSTA RICA: Players' Quotes

15 June 2006

Agustin DELGADO (ECU), Budweiser Man of the Match
I’m very happy, and I hope people back home can take heart from this. I imagine there will be a big party going on, but we can’t be part of it as we’ve still got a job to do here. It’s not over yet, and yes, I have a dream that we can be world champions. We all worked hard here but we’ve now got to think about the next game, which will be against a strong team in Germany. We’re going to keep on battling, and against the Germans it won’t be any different. We want to win. They are a good team, historically very good, and they’re playing at home. It will be tough, but we’re going to give everything we’ve got again. I'm happy to have been named Man of the Match twice, but I’m part of a team, and I want to share my award with my team-mates.

Carlos TENORIO (ECU)
This victory is as much for those who did believe in us as for those who didn’t. We weren’t favourites, and that was fine, but now people are going to pay us more attention. I want to enjoy the win and the fact that we’ve qualified. We’re delighted to be top, and to be unbeaten. The key is to trust in our players’ ability. Would I like to be top scorer in the tournament? Of course. That way I could pay back Luis Suarez for the faith he has shown in me.

Ivan HURTADO (ECU)
We’ve taken the first step, which was to put ourselves among the 16 best teams in the world. Now it’s time for the Ecuadorians to enjoy themselves. With regard to Germany, we will have to look at the videos to see what we can do to counter them.

Edison MENDEZ (ECU)
I’m happy to have qualified. Can we beat Germany? Of course. As regards who we’ll play in the second round, let’s see who we get. If it’s England, it would be very exciting as it would give us the chance to knock out one of the favourites.

Neicer REASCO (ECU)
I couldn’t be happier. Now we have to carry on playing as well as we have done up to now if we want to stay in the tournament. I thank God for this joy, which I want to share with everyone back in Ecuador.

Paulo WANCHOPE (CRC)
We tried to capitalise on the chances that we had, but we couldn't. In football, whoever scores the most goals wins, and they were more clinical. We looked anxious in the final third. It’s a difficult time for us, but life carries on. Now we have to carry on training, and start to think about qualification for the next World Cup.

Luis MARIN (CRC)
Ecuador played well and were the better team. We knew it wouldn’t be easy. When we tried to attack them, they scored the second goal. Our generation has done a lot of good things for the country, but if we’re going to improve, it’s not enough to change the players. You have to change the whole mentality of Costa Rican football.

Mauricio SOLIS (CRC)
We didn’t have to be defensive. At times, I think we were the better team, but we didn’t take our chances. Every defeat leaves a sour taste in the mouth, and it’s clear that we haven’t achieved our aims. The most difficult thing is knowing that you are out of the tournament, when you know that you’ve got the ability to go further.

Carlos HERNANDEZ (CRC)
I didn’t think that we would concede a goal so early. I don’t think we controlled possession, and of course, we weren’t effective in attack, because we created some chances but couldn’t turn them into goals. At this level, you pay for that.