VANCOUVER, B.C. - Kendall Waston will likely never have to pay for a meal in Costa Rica again. On his World Cup debut, Waston smashed home Costa Rica's first goal at the World Cup. It was a moment Waston will never forget, and something he will cherish forever.
"It was a nice experience in a way that I could make my debut, and obviously the goal." Waston told reporters this week. "On the other side, obviously it was disappointing we didn't qualify for the next round. I came back with a great experience, and I enjoyed it a lot."
It was quite surprising that Waston did not start for Coach Oscar Ramirez in Costa Rica's first two matches against Serbia and Brazil. Having scored the goal that helped clinch Costa Rica's qualification to the World Cup, Waston didn't make it off the bench until the final Group E match.
"Not surprised, even though I scored that goal," Waston recalled. "It doesn't mean that I was going to be in the eleven starters. Coach always makes different changes, depending on the rival team we are going to play. I thought maybe the first game, I was going to play, but it is, what it is."
Going into the match vs Switzerland, knowing that the Swiss were the only side that could advance to the knockout round was a tough pill to swallow. Waston and his teammates wanted to finish the World Cup on a positive note. Costa Rica was the last team to score, but they played with heart, and determination, and earned a 2-2 draw.
"We were talking about playing for our honour." Waston explained. "It's not pretty playing the last game without going to fight (for) nothing. We know that we want to leave a good impression for ourselves, our country. We were trying to have the mindset to win that game, and try to do a good performance."
The 30 year-old Waston, not only helped Costa Rica finish with a good performance, but he helped himself as well. The World Cup is the biggest stage in football. When Waston leaped up and scored, his value as a footballer also went up. The beautiful game is also a business. If you're going to sell a player on, you want his value to be as high as possible.
"I know that in the World Cup, there is a lot of eyes." A wide-eyed Waston smiled. "You never know where you're going to end. I try my best to play in each game at one-hundred percent. I'm happy here, but it is, what it is (laughs)."
The MLS secondary transfer window opens on July 10. There has never been a better time to cash in on Kendall Waston's marketable value. The European window is open, and there's bound to be interest after seeing Waston thrive at the World Cup.
As for when Whitecaps FC supporters can expect to see Waston back in the Caps lineup. It won't be on Saturday night at B.C. Place when Vancouver hosts the 6-7-5 Chicago Fire. Waston left Whitecaps FC's match vs Colorado on Sunday with a groin strain.
Why Waston was in the starting lineup after traveling from Saint Petersburg to Paris to Vancouver on Friday is another matter. Vancouver should have been able to earn a result vs a Rapids team that had yet to win on the road or win back to back matches.
Did Waston raise his hand, insist, and play a convincing role to get into the lineup?
"No, No, I'm never going to tell Robbo (Coach Carl Robinson), I want to play," said Waston. "He's the boss. I follow instructions, and he told me, 'If I feel good, I could play.' My mind was one-hundred percent, but maybe my leg was maybe ninety percent. Things happened in the game, you don't want to happen. It's part of the travel and those things. To be honest, since I came, I was very happy, my body felt good."
The Caps skipper did not train on Tuesday morning. Instead he rode a bike inside, and worked out. Waston is on a return to play program, and hopeful that his absence will be short term.
"I don't know to be honest." Waston said, the asked how long he would be out. "Hopefully I can be back as soon as possible. That is what I'm going to work (on) these days, to try to be one-hundred percent as early as possible."
The spotlight is on Kendall Waston, and he made no mistake at the World Cup. You want players to take their opportunity and succeed. Waston did exactly that. If Vancouver was ever in a position to move him on and bring back assets, the time is now.
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