USA vs Costa Rica: Costa Ricans' Response After Losses to Americans Is Weak

The Costa Rican national football team can't accept its failures against the United States in their past two matchups.

So Costa Rica—both the side and the country—has blamed it on snow.

Yes, snow.

Because, apparently, snow favors Americans.

Give me a break.

I don't have an issue with the Americans being left in the middle of the San Jose airport to fend for themselves against a wave of Costa Rica fans on Tuesday (via Andrew Keh of the New York Times). I don't have an issue with three separate facilities in Costa Rica refusing to provide a practice field for the Americans, leaving them to practice at a local dairy factory. I don't have a problem with Costa Rica not providing balls to the Americans for practice.

What I do have a problem with is Costa Rica not owning up to its loss against USA in Denver in March. That is weak, and I would say the same thing if the Americans did so.

Snow was a convenient excuse for the Costa Ricans on March 22. After all, they had just become the laughing stock of the world at that point, losing 1-0 to the "lowly" Americans. There was no other explanation for such a loss, according to Costa Rica: The match was rigged by the Americans. Because, you know, Americans have been known to procure snow from the heavens to win football matches.

The real disgrace isn't that Costa Rica lost to USA in World Cup qualifying play. The real disgrace is how Costa Rica has acted (or reacted) since. Next, the side will only play in domes set at a certain temperature.

It's weak, and it's not the way any side should act. If you want to be respected, own up to your struggles and rebound on the pitch. Don't cry out because Mother Nature has been mean to you.

This isn't a Costa Rica-versus-the United States kind of thing. Or, at least, it shouldn't be. This is about how a reputable football team should act.

Respect isn't just earned on the pitch.

It's earned off it as well.