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Costa Rica coach, Hernán Medford, has announced the 23 players who will form his squad for the 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

In the press conference, Medford emphasized that all the players called up are "match ready" and adaptable to the 3-5-2 formation that he has preferred during his career as a coach.

Only four players who play abroad are in the squad; defender Pablo Chinchilla, of Austrian side Altach, midfielders Bryan Ruiz and Randall Azofeifa of Belgian side Gent, and Sion of Switzerland striker Alvaro Saborío.

Of the 23 players, a total of 11 were on the 2006 World Cup roster; goalkeepers Jose Francisco Porras and Wardy Alfaro; defenders Harold Wallace, Leonardo González, Michael Umaña, Jervis Drummond and Gabriel Badilla; midfielders Randall Azofeifa, Walter Centeno and Carlos Hernandez; and striker Alvaro Saborío.

Forward Rolando Fonseca, top scorer of "the ticos" with 46 goals, also joins the team. He played in World Cup South Korea and Japan 2002.

The team will begin their preparations in earnest on May 21, and soon after will play Chile in a friendly on June 2, in San Jose. Two days later they will travel to the United States to begin their quest for the Gold Cup.

The 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup runs from June 6-24 and Costa Rica hope to win the title for the first time in its history.

The "ticos", whose best finish was second place in 2002, are in the Group A, with 2000 Gold Cup Champion Canada, 2007 Carribean Cup Winners Haiti, and first time Gold Cup participants Guadeloupe. The complete squad is:

- Goalkeepers: José Francisco Porras (Saprissa), Wardy Alfaro (Alajuelense) y Dexter Lewis (Pérez Zeledón).

- Defenders: Víctor Cordero (Saprissa), Gabriel Badilla (Saprissa), Jervis Drummond (Saprissa), Andrés Núñez (Saprissa), Freddy Fernández (Pérez Zeledón), Michael Umaña (Herediano), Leonardo González (Herediano), Harold Wallace (Alajuelense), and Pablo Chinchilla (Altach, AUS).

- Midfielders: Roy Myrie (Alajuelense), Carlos Hernández (Alajuelense), Randall Azofeifa (Gent, BEL), Bryan Ruiz (Gent, BEL), Walter Centeno (Saprissa), Michael Barrantes (Saprissa), and Rodolfo Rodríguez (Brujas).

- Strikers: Alonso Solís (Saprissa), Allan Alemán (Saprissa), Rolando Fonseca (Alajuelense), and Álvaro Saborío (Sion, SWI