Costa Rica to stick with same players

Costa Rica will stick with the same core of players that have taken them to the top of the regional qualifying for the World Cup for two key games next month.



Midfielders Walter Centeno and Celso Borges and striker Bryan Ruiz were all included in a 26-man squad announced today for qualifiers next month against Mexico and El Salvador.



Coach Rodrigo Kenton also called up three new players to the squad, including defenders Heiner Mora and Giancarlo Gonzalez.



Kenton was heavily criticized after Costa Rica\'s 4-0 loss in a qualifier earlier this month against Honduras.



After six of 10 qualifying games in the North and Central America and Caribbean region, Costa Rica lead with 12 points followed by the United States and Honduras 10, Mexico 9 and El Salvador and Trinidad and Tobago 5.



The top three teams advance automatically to next year\'s World Cup in South Africa. The Number 4 team faces a playoff with the Number 5 from South America for another berth.



Costa Rica play at home against Mexico on September 5, and goes to El Salvador on September 9.