Costa Rica coach Luis Fernando Suarez is so determined to get his message across that Costa Rica can shock the world that he's banned his players from using mobile phones.
Suarez admits it will take “a miracle” for the Central American minnows to even qualify for the last 16 ahead of their opening game, with Germany and Japan also lying in wait.
But Costa Rica president Rodrigo Chaves Robles has told the players that he wants to see his nation crowned world champions before he dies - and Suarez has bought into his dream.
Players have been told that mobile phones should be left in their hotel rooms at all times so that there is no breakdown in communication between Suarez and his squad.
One study has given Suarez’s team a zero percent chance of lifting the trophy. But President Robles said: “What was the probability that I would win the presidency? The same. It was zero percent - but there are surprises. I want to live, and not die, until I see Costa Rica become world champions.”
And 62-year-old coach Suarez has told his players they can be an inspiration for future generations. Costa Rica’s squad captain is Bryan Ruiz, the former Fulham winger who was in the team that finished top of a group that included England, Italy and Uruguay on the way to the quarter-finals in 2014.
And coach Suarez said: “All I will say is that if we can qualify from the group it would be a miracle for us. But our players have the courage to say ‘we want to be world champions.’ We haven’t come to Qatar to take pictures of a beautiful country. We are ambitious. We believe in ourselves.
“If some kid listens to Bryan Ruiz say today ‘we want to be world champions’ then in 10 years or whatever it won’t sound unusual. If the critics want to laugh and say I am too ambitious, then I would prefer that than for them to criticise me for being too cautious.”
Spain also have designs on achieving great things in the desert. Luis Enrique’s squad have been sleeping on mattresses that have been designed to optimise the quality of their sleep.
And a viewing platform has been erected at the training ground so that Enrique can get the perfect view of tactics and team shape. Captain Sergio Busquets is the only survivor from Spain’s triumph in South Africa 12 years ago.
And the Barcelona midfielder said: “Of course I have thought about becoming the only Spanish player to win the World Cup twice. Once the ball starts rolling I will think about other things. But we are here to win this. We want to play in seven games here. We want to repeat the victory of 2010.”
