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Junior Diaz's tough task

Ross DunbarJuly 5, 2014

Costa Rica have won the hearts of the neutrals at this World Cup. They are in new territory, but are in the hunt for a place in the semi-finals of football's biggest tournament, with either Belgium or Argentina waiting.

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Junior Diaz
Image: Getty Images

Of all the players from Mainz to perhaps enjoy a World Cup run, few would have backed Costa Rica's Junior Diaz to reach the quarter-finals. The Carnival Club had four other representatives in Brazil - Shinji Okazaki (Japan), Koo Ja-cheol and Park Jo-hoo (South Korea) and Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting (Cameroon) - but none them survived the group phase.

"Los Ticos" are the World Cup's fairytale side who are potentially just 180 minutes away from a place in the final. Costa Rica stunned Uruguay with a 3-1 win, before handing Italy the same punishment, winning 1-0. A draw against England came with the Central Americans having done the hard work.

The 30-year-old Mainz left-back has helped Costa Rica navigate through a tricky group stage, a turgid last 16 clash against Greece, won in a penalty shootout, and into the last eight against the Netherlands. Either Argentina or Belgium would follow in the semi-finals.

Diaz had been on a slightly nomadic football voyage, before being snapped up by Mainz sporting director Christian Heidel. He began at CS Herediano in his homeland, moving on to Poland's Wisla Krakow and then to Belgium's Club Brugge. The defender signed for Mainz in the summer of 2012.

It has proven to be a shrewd piece of business. Costing a meager 80,000 euros ($108,000), Diaz has played an important, but sometimes inconsistent, role under Thomas Tuchel at the Coface Arena, playing in various positions on the left-hand side of the pitch.

Junior Diaz
Diaz has made 66 international appearances for Costa Rica, debuting in 2003Image: Getty Images

He has made 38 league appearances across two seasons, 30 of them as a starter. The arrival of South Korean Park Jo-hoo from FC Basel, a fellow left-back, has meant Diaz's opportunities have been limited, at times.

But both players have different characteristics, suiting Tuchel's model of tactical adaptability, depending on strengths of the opposition. Park is quicker, more dynamic and is a strong passer, while Diaz has excellent stamina andarguably takes a more robust approach to defending.

"He is always positive, he can carry a team," Heidel recently told Mainz's Allgemeine Zeitung newspaper. "But as an opponent, he is brutally awkward. He doesn't give an inch."

Diaz has been a solid and reliable performer at the finals. The one flash of brilliance in attack came in the second group stage match against Italy, as Costa Rica won 1-0. The Mainz full-back steamed down the left-flank, picking out Bryan Ruiz at the far-post with an inch-perfect cross, and the former Fulham attacker headed in the winner.

Putting the breaks on Arjen

Diaz has completed every minute of this World Cup adventure for the Central Americans. Statistically, he fairs up well: FIFA's online rating system gives him 7.71, combining the different elements to his game. He has conceded only five fouls at the World Cup - and that record will be seriously tested when he faces one of the Bundesliga's biggest stars: Arjen Robben.

Robben has been the decisive man for the Netherlands at the World Cup, carrying on his Bayern Munich form of the last 18 months, scoring three goals in four games.

Also 30, Robben has never been so influential: he still carries the same direct threat, possessing a rapid switch of acceleration that forces defenders to commit in dangerous positions, as perfectly illustrated in the last round against Mexico.

Diaz challenges Robben in their duo's only meeting - a 4-1 win for Bayern
Diaz challenges Robben in their duo's only meeting - a 4-1 win for BayernImage: picture-alliance/dpa

If Diaz had any opponent he would have wanted to avoid, Robben would be a candidate. In this form, very few will be able to thwart the Bayern attacker. But the Mainz defender, and Costa Rica, will take heart from Borussia Dortmund's defensive strategy against the German champions in their 3-0 win at the Allianz in April.

Dortmund's Erik Durm, only 22 years old, managed to contain the lively Robben, by using some intelligent shielding and jockeying on the touchline. Essentially, by showing the 30-year-old on to his weaker right foot, and forcing him away from the box.

It's a strategy that requires tactical nous, but also concentration and organization, three traits Diaz will have adopted under the excellent man-to-man coaching of Tuchel. Costa Rica will approach Robben with the same caution, looking to continue their stingy defensive record of two goals conceded in 390 minutes.

The Central Americans reaching the last-eight is up there among the all-time sensational World Cup achievements. It will have already guaranteed hero status in Costa Rica, but Jorge Luis Pinto, the team's coach, is hoping for an attacking performance from his side, even warning FIFA against potential gamesmanship from Robben.

"We will respect them, but we will attack them," he said this week. "Hopefully we'll see good football, joyful, tactical, disputed, as I like."

To keep alive the potential of a major upset in World Cup history, Diaz's ability to keep Robben in check will be vital.