MOSCOW, July 5, 2018 (BSS/XINHUA) – The Costa Rican Football Federation
(FEDFUTBOL) has confirmed that coach Oscar Ramirez will not have his contract
extended following their exit from the group stage of the World Cup.
Costa Rica lost two and drew one of their Group E games, falling 1-0 to
Serbia, before two injury time goals saw them beaten 2-0 by Brazil. That
meant they were already out of the tournament before a late penalty earned
them a 2-2 draw in the final group game against Switzerland.
A former player for his country, Ramirez employed very defensive tactics
in the first two games, although against Switzerland his side adopted a much
more attacking style, suggesting that had he been braver his side could have
achieved better results.
“Oscar’s contract expired after the game against Switzerland and the
decision not to renew it was taken by the executive committee,” said
FEDFUTBOL President Rodolfo Villalobos in the statement.
Ramirez took over the Costa Rica side following Pablo Wanchope’s
controversial resignation in 2015 and led the side to nine wins, six draws
and four defeats in the 16 qualifying games and three games in the World Cup
finals.
Villalobos thanked Ramirez for his work, but said it was “not convenient
for him to remain.”
Ramirez is the third coach to date to lose his job in the wake of World
Cup disappointment following Hector Cuper (Egypt) and Adam Nawalka (Poland),
who were also informed that their contracts would not be extended after their
sides’ early exits.