Jose Cubero will make his first senior start for Costa Rica in five months in the Copa America tonight against Bolivia in a match the Central Americans cannot afford to lose.
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Los Ticos lost their opening match to Colombia but a win over the Bolivians would take them right back into contention in Group A, with a final group game against Argentina to come.
Cubero lined up in an unfamiliar holding midfield role in a training match on Tuesday and is set to replace David Guzman, the Deportivo Saprissa midfielder, who did not train after suffering a knock.
He told the Al Dia newspaper: "I have to do well in training because the coach [Ricardo La Volpe] likes players who are focused.
"They have given me the opportunity and I have to play well for the good of the team. It's a different position, but not unknown to me."
Costa Rica sent a squad made up largely of Under 23s to Argentina as they answered a late call to replace Japan in the competition.
La Volpe, an Argentine, has been causing a storm in recent days after criticising the way his home nation play.
The chain-smoking coach, who was Argentina's reserve goalkeeper when they won the World Cup in 1978, labelled the host team as "individuals" who play for themselves.
Argentina entered the tournament with a wide variety of attacking talent including Sergio Aguero, Lionel Messi, Carlos Tevez, Ezequiel Lavezzi, Gonzalo Higuain and more, but La Volpe, who coached Mexico when they were beaten in the second round of the 2006 World Cup by Argentina, insists they do not function together as a team. "They must no longer insist on winning with the names on the backs of their shirts, but as a team," La Volpe said of his compatriots.
Bolivia will be looking to build on their shock 1-1 draw with Argentina in the opening match of the tournament.
Lorgio Alvarez, their experienced utility player, told El Diario: "This match is equally difficult as the Argentina game, but the goal will be to win the game and settle qualification for the next round."
Carlos Arias, the Bolivia goalkeeper said: "Every game is a new story. I think whoever commits the fewest mistakes will be victorious."
Bolivia v Costa Rica, 2.15am (Friday), Aljazeera Sport +2 & +3
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New UK refugee system
- A new “core protection” for refugees moving from permanent to a more basic, temporary protection
- Shortened leave to remain - refugees will receive 30 months instead of five years
- A longer path to settlement with no indefinite settled status until a refugee has spent 20 years in Britain
- To encourage refugees to integrate the government will encourage them to out of the core protection route wherever possible.
- Under core protection there will be no automatic right to family reunion
- Refugees will have a reduced right to public funds
What is the FNC?
The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning.
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval.
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.
What is tokenisation?
Tokenisation refers to the issuance of a blockchain token, which represents a virtually tradable real, tangible asset. A tokenised asset is easily transferable, offers good liquidity, returns and is easily traded on the secondary markets.
