SAN JOSE, Costa Rica (AP) -- Costa Rica, Central America's lone World Cup qualifier, drew the unenviable task of playing the opening match of the tournament against host Germany.

Despite the cruel draw, the Ticos remain hopeful of earning a place in the second round. Besides Germany, Poland and Ecuador also are in Group A.

"I believe we are at the same level with the other three," coach Alexandre Guimaraes said. "We're not just thinking on playing three matches and return home, but also planning on the ones that will come later. The goal is to at least emulate what we accomplished in Italy '90."

In that World Cup, Costa Rica beat Scotland and Sweden and advanced to the second round, where it was eliminated by Czechoslovakia.

Costa Rica will be playing in the World Cup for the third time, and Guimaraes will again be a part of the action. Guimaraes, who was born in Brazil but is a nationalized Costa Rican, played for his adopted country during its first trip to the World Cup in 1990. Four years ago, he was the coach.

Still coaching the team, Guimaraes is hoping to catch his rivals off-guard with a crop of youngsters who will join nine veterans from the last tournament, when the Costa Ricans failed to advance because of goal difference.

The returning players include Paulo Wanchope and Ronald Gomez, goal scorers in South Korea and Japan four years ago, and Gilberto Martinez.

"It's definitely a tough group, but we had the experience of four years ago, when we dealt with the champion (Brazil)," said Wanchope, who is Costa Rica's all-time leading scorer with 43 goals. "For us, it's a privilege playing with the host country."

A 21-year-old youngster, striker Cristian Bolanos, won't have the pressure to star this time, but Guimaraes already is looking for him to gain the experience needed to help the team qualify for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Defenders Harold Wallace and Michael Rodriguez also could be important for Costa Rica. Both have recovered from knee injuries.

Costa Rica may be an outsider in Germany, but it was last time it headed to the World Cup, too. And that turned out fairly well.

The Ticos beat China 2-0 and then held eventual semifinalist Turkey to a 1-1 draw. The team lost to Brazil 5-2 and finished third in the group behind Turkey on goal difference and went home.

Guimaraes left as coach after the tournament, but he was brought back after Costa Rica struggled early in CONCACAF qualifying. The team ended up third behind the United States and Mexico and earned another berth in the big tournament.

"We've learned our lesson," Costa Rican soccer federation president Hermes Navarro said of the decision to let Guimaraes go.

While Germany and Poland will be the tougher opponents, Costa Rica is hoping for an easier match against Ecuador, a team it knows well after a series of friendly matches.

The last time the teams met, however, Ecuador won 2-1.