CHICAGO - Few national teams on the planet know the United States better than Costa Rica. From decades of World Cup qualifying slugfests to the many Ticos who've thrived in Major League Soccer, the ties between the two nations are close and long-standing.
In this case, familiarity does not breed the same kind of contempt that fuels the Americans' rivalry with Mexico. But the U.S.-Costa Rica relationship isn't exactly cordial, either. Their matchups are often physical and rarely pretty - especially when the stakes are high.
As the United States and Costa Rica prepare to meet again Tuesday at Soldier Field, there is every expectation of the exact same kind of contest.