Not really. In this country, everything revolves around soccer. And, unfortunately, sports press has a lot to do with that. Journalist have become powerfull enough to push against the executives at charge of soccer in CR (Fedefutbol). A group of journalist did a lot pf pressure to fire the former coach and sit A. Guimaraes in the throne again.
This coach has done poorly, and "surprisingly" he has been re-hired from now till 2010. Unbelievable.
Thw Concacaf zone (where CR, US, Mexico and others belong) was awarded with 4 places for this year's torumament. According to Fifa, Concacaf's team performance would dictate how mant places will have in the next World Cup.