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WORLD CUP 2006: Wanchope wants long goodbye

/noticias.info/ Unpredictable is an adjective that has been repeatedly used to describe Paulo Wanchope. From his days leading Costa Rica's attack at the 1995 FIFA World Youth Championship to his time in Europe, with Derby County, West Ham United, Manchester City and Malaga, the giant striker has caused delight and despair in equal measure.

Now aged 29, almost ten years on from his first full appearance for Los Ticos, Wanchope has decided to call time on a distinguished international career, but not before a FIFA World Cup swansong. On German soil, the Herediano player will have the opportunity to ensure worldwide audiences remember him as a footballing genius and not as a source of frustration.

Immediate impact
When Derby County manager Jim Smith opted to sign an unknown Costa Rican in 1997 - one who had been rejected by Queens Park Rangers, a team based in a lower tier of the English football pyramid - eyebrows were raised. Wanchope's debut was against Manchester United in the presence of a daunting Old Trafford crowd. Nonetheless, the self-assured youngster ran riot, creating the opener for team-mate Ashley Ward, and then scoring a breathtaking second as Derby inflicted a first home defeat in over five months on the Premiership leaders.

Wanchope's Old Trafford exploits made him an instant favourite among the Derby County followers. Over the next three years, from one week to the next, his displays for the Rams would range from the irritatingly limp to the uniquely brilliant, and although he has since turned out for West Ham, Man City and Malaga, his inconsistency at club level has lingered.

Impressive record
With 43 goals to his name from just 67 international appearances, Wanchope has been slightly more consistent in the red and blue of Costa Rica. His nation's talisman for the best part of a decade, he helped guide Costa Rica to 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification and almost led them to the second round as goal difference alone meant Turkey, and not Alexandre Guimaraes's side, progressed.

Injury restricted the gangling No9 to just one outing in 2003, but the following year he returned to lead Costa Rica's charge towards booking a place at Germany 2006 – a feat they managed thanks to a Wanchope-inspired humbling of the United States in October 2005.

The enigmatic forward finished as his team's eight-goal top scorer in qualifying and his exploits in front of goal have once again prompted him to dream about emulating the likes of Gary Lineker, Toto Schillaci and Ronaldo by winning the adidas Golden Shoe. It is a towering objective for Wanchope and this will be his last chance to become the first CONCACAF recipient of the prestigious award given his impending retirement.

"Yes, I'm quitting the national team," he affirmed. "I'm happy with what I've contributed and it's nice to be able to decide in this way. There are several good and young players vying for a place and I have to leave the road open for them. I've had a good run but it's time to move on. It's a decision that I've already considered and now I'm focusing on the World Cup."

Wanchope is also hoping an impressive campaign will earn him a move to a European club. "I really hope that this World Cup could give me the possibility to put myself in a position to return to Europe," he revealed.

Third time lucky?
This is Costa Rica's third FIFA World Cup and they are not going along just to make up the numbers. Drawn in Group A alongside Germany, who they will meet in the tournament's opening contest, Poland and Ecuador, Costa Rica coach Guimaraes believes they can better their 1990 accomplishment, when defeats of Scotland and Sweden saw them reach the second round of the competition.

It is an opinion shared by Wanchope. "We have a hard group, but in our eyes there is our national team that, in 1990 in Italy, got past the first round. We want to try doing the same, maybe improving on this result, too." notas_de_prensa_archivo