[COSTA RICA] Argentine Ricardo La Volpe, who coached Mexico at the 2006 World Cup, is set to take over as the head coach of the Costa Rica national team.

La Volpe, 58, was expected to sign a four-year deal with the Costa Rican soccer federation in San Jose on Thursday.

Costa Rica qualified for the 2002 and 2006 World Cups but lost in a playoff to Uruguay for a berth in the 2010 finals after it finished fourth in the Concacaf zone when Jonathan Bornstein's goal in stoppage time gave the USA a 2-2 tie with the Ticos and dropped them below Honduras, which claimed the third automatic berth.

Brazilian Rene Simoes replaced Costa Rica Rodrigo Kenton late in qualifying after the Ticos fell off the pace.

Interim coach Ronald Gonzalez has been in charge of the team until a full-time replacement for Simoes comes on board.

La Volpe has coached 10 clubs in Mexico and Argentina in addition to the Mexican national team.