World Cup

Keylor Navas, Joel Campbell named in Costa Rica preliminary squad for World Cup

By Giuseppe Labellarte, Reporter | 16 May 2018

Real Madrid goalkeeper Keylor Navas and Arsenal forward Joel Campbell are named in Costa Rica's 23-man preliminary squad for this summer's World Cup in Russia

Costa Rica head coach Oscar Ramirez has named a 23-man preliminary squad for this summer's World Cup in Russia.

Real Madrid goalkeeper Keylor Navas is the standout name from the contingent, while Arsenal's Joel Campbell is one of three strikers and the only one currently playing in Europe.

Other players who have featured in British football include Celtic defender Cristian Gamboa, Sunderland left-back Bryan Oviedo and former Fulham midfielder Bryan Ruiz.

Costa Rica will be hoping to build on their impressive 2014 World Cup campaign in Brazil, qualifying from a group which contained Uruguay, Italy and England before reaching the quarter-finals.

Ramirez has to confirm his final 23-man squad on June 4, with Costa Rica set to face Serbia, Brazil and Switzerland in Group E of the 2018 tournament.

Squad in full:

Goalkeepers: Keylor Navas (Real Madrid, Spain), Patrick Pemberton (Liga Deportiva Alajuelense), Leonel Moreira (Herediano)

Defenders: Cristian Gamboa (Celtic, Scotland), Ian Smith (Norrkoping, Sweden), Ronald Matarrita (New York City, USA), Bryan Oviedo (Sunderland, England), Oscar Duarte (Espanyol, Spain), Giancarlo Gonzalez (Bologna, Italy), Francisco Calvo (Minnesota United, USA), Kendall Waston (Vancouver Whitecaps, Canada), Johnny Acosta (Aguilas Dorados, Colombia)

Midfielders: David Guzman (Portland Timbers, USA), Yeltsin Tejeda (Lausanne-Sport, Switzerland), Celso Borges (Deportivo La Coruna, Spain), Randall Azofeifa (Herediano), Rodney Wallace (New York City, USA), Bryan Ruiz (Sporting CP, Portugal), Daniel Colindres (Saprissa), Christian Bolanos (Saprissa)

Forwards: Johan Venegas (Saprissa), Joel Campbell (Real Betis, Spain), Marco Urena (LAFC, USA)