Costa Rica face Ecuador in the fourth game of Group A at the AOL Arena, Hamburg, with everything to play for following Germany’s victory over Poland. Were Ecuador to win they would qualify for the knockout stages for the first time in their history. A win for Costa Rica would keep the race for second place wide open.

Costa Rica lost 4-2 to the hosts in the tournament’s opening game, but caused enough problems for the Germans to clearly indicate their ambitions. Coach Alexander Guimaraes remains confident that their spirited performance will give them the belief that they can still qualify.

"Our hopes are still very high, the team will get better and we'll keep our chances alive. If we keep playing like [against Germany] we've got every chance of beating Ecuador and Poland," said Guimaraes. "Ecuador is a very well organized team, which has been playing the same style 12 years now and its players like it. Ecuador is not a team that would put pressure on you, so we have to block them and attack them."

Ex-Manchester City striker Paulo Wanchope was equally confident about Costa Rica’s chances: "We left with our heads held high after the German game and we always expect to score goals. We have a very good side and we'll stick together,” said Wanchope, who has scored 45 goals in 70 internationals.

However, he added a note of caution saying: “Ecuador are a really tough team and they are certainly very compact. They have very quick players such as de la Cruz. Carlos Tenorio is a threat on the right and Agustin Delgado has a good nose for goal."

Costa Rica’s 26-year-old Brescia defender Gilberto Martinez is out for the rest of the tournament after the results of a scan showed that the tendon injury to his left leg, picked up against Germany, was as bad as initially thought. Jervis Drummond is likely to deputise.

For Ecuador the game is equally monumental, as coach Luis Fernando Suarez pointed out: "This match represents a chance to make history," he said.

However, he also registered a heavy note of caution, saying: "It's going to be a completely different game. It is a more dangerous game for us than against Poland. What we did against Poland gave us confidence, but we can't think that means we have also overcome the second obstacle, which will be much harder."

Ecuador defender Giovanny Espinoza expressed the sentiments of the entire squad when he said: “It's the match of our lives."

Striker’s Agustin Delgado and Carlos Tenorio, and defender Ivan Hurtado have all shook off slight niggles following treatment and should be fit to play.

With no other injury concerns, Suarez is expected to stick with the same side that beat Poland.

Costa Rica (probable): Porras, Marin, Umana, Drummond, Gonzales, Solis, Centeno, Sequeira, Fonseca (or Bolanos), Gomez, Wanchope

Ecuador (probable): Mora, De la Cruz, Hurtado, Espinoza, Reasco, Mendez, Edwin Tenorio, Castillo, Valencia, Delgado, Carlos Tenorio

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