The friendly soccer game between Costa Rica and Sweden scheduled for Sunday will be Tico striker Paulo César Wanchope's last match in professional soccer.

“Chope,” as fans and press affectionately call the second most prolific goal-scorer in the history of the national team, after all-time golden striker Rolando Fonseca, announced his retirement late last year.

He is also known for having played in the late 1990s in England's Premier League, for Derby County and West Ham United, to later be bought up by Spanish team Málaga CF.

Wanchope, 31, told reporters he is excited to once more put on the Costa Rican uniform, known as the Tricolor – like the flag of red, blue and white.

The Swedes arrived Tuesday to begin training for the friendly, which for them actually bears an ounce of antagonism, after the 1990 World Cup in Italy when Sweden fell to Costa Rica 2-1.

Salting the wound, Tico coach Hernán Medford is adored here for having scored the winning goal against Sweden that day in Italy, moving Costa Rica on to the second round.

Swede manager Lars Lagerbäck has brought a team of young-bloods, with 11 players debuting, mainly in defense.

Costa Rica also counts on newbie Marvin Angulo, making his national team debut in place of injured midfielder Cristian Montero.

-EFE