As I expected, René Simões has promoted some players from Costa Rica's U-20 side to the senior team for the big playoff against Uruguay. The inclusion of Bryan Oviedo was not a surprise, as he was one of the Ticos' best players in Egypt. The selections of Mena and Gamboa indicate that Simões wants to bolster his defensive unit, especially in the central positions.
Simões now has a large squad (over 30 players) for training camp, which will have to be reduced to a travel squad of 17-18 players. That's not an issue now, of course, but it will be for the trip to Montevideo. The domestic-based players start training on Monday; the others arrive next week when their clubs release them per FIFA regulations.
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