It was my first World Cup and I was a little more nervous than usual on June 11, 1990. Not so much about the forthcoming UK wide broadcast along with Ron Jones and Denis Law, although the adrenaline was pumping as always it should. No, I was more worried about Scotland and the seemingly straightforward task of beating Costa Rica in the group opener for both countries,

I was also concerned about the information flow or lack thereof. This remember was in the days before the internet and global communications allowed for instant data. Little was known about the mysterious Ticos other than that they had an eccentric Slavic nomad by the name of Bora Milutinovic in charge. So I did the old school thing and convinced my BBC Scotland producer, Dougie Wernham, that we should drive out to their training facility about an hour away from Genoa.

It was a remarkably inviting, homespun affair and I immediately took a liking to Milutinovic. I got to know him a lot better in subsequent years but all I remember in that initial exchange was of him smiling permanently and telling me Scotland should win.

I wasn’t buying it. From what I had seen of Costa Rica on Betamax (remember that?) they were technically pretty good. My worry was, perhaps even better than Scotland. How was this possible?

One of the assistants then took time with me to point out every player and his tendencies. He spent a lot of time talking about Juan Cayasso. “There is a good one, he can win any game for us.”

History of course records that Cayasso’s goal secured victory for Costa Rica, who would go on to beat Sweden for good measure. The number 10 was a fellow by the name of Oscar Ramirez, who today leads the current crop of Ticos into World Cup battle against Serbia as head coach of “La Sele.”

Since Scotland last made it to the World Cup, this nation with a population even smaller than ours, has now qualified four times.

I took a special interest in them four years ago in Brazil and they didn’t disappoint. Overcoming Uruguay despite giving them a goal of a start was one thing, but then in Recife,

I watched Costa Rica defeat a below- par Italy. They finished top of a group that also featured England and overcame Greece on penalties before being eliminated on the same basis in the last eight by the Dutch.

Ramirez has changed very little in comparison with his predecessor, the Colombian, Jorge Luis Pinto. The main feature of the side is a big defensive block. Nominally it’s three defenders but certainly it’s five without the ball and there is a considerable all for one, one for all mentality. However it often seems that individual qualities come to the fore with this team, whether in the person of Bryan Ruiz or Cristian Bolanos.

The problem is, both have been carrying injuries, while many regulars have been having trouble getting into their club first elevens. Cristian Gamboa, who hasn’t played for Celtic since February, falls in that category.

On the face of it, the team has not been freshened up enough, yet I still find myself rating this team. Some of you will have seen them beat Scotland 1-0 again in March. An unremarkable performance it might have been at Hampden, but there is a sense that they know who they are and what they’re doing.

Serbia go into today’s Group E meeting in Saransk as favourites, much like Scotland in 1990. On the face of it they have more quality and overall power. Physically they should impose their will on the Ticos. But Costa Rica always seem to have a few things going for them, not least Real Madrid’s No.1, Keylor Navas. In front of him, Giancarlo Gonzalez, a veteran of Serie A, holds the defence together. In midfield, watch for the tireless work of Celso Borges and David Guzman.

Initial tests tend to agree with Costa Rica. They’ve overcome Scotland, China and Uruguay in three of their previous World Cup openers.

When I think of them, I still visualise the mischievous look on Milutinovic’s bespectacled face from all those years ago. Can Costa Rica defeat the odds again today? I wouldn’t put it past them.

IT’S difficult to keep a secret in any walk of life, but for the past six months, I’ve had to do just that.

By way of background, last week

I was honoured to be named as the new commentary voice for the Champions League and Europa League on the biggest sports video game in the world, EA Sports’ FIFA. Most football fans under the age of 35 will have grown up with the game.

All I could do was tell friends and colleagues that I had “an exciting new broadcasting project” I was working on but couldn’t say any more.

It all had to be revealed at the right time.

Since the turn of the year, I’ve been in the studio a lot recording commentary for FIFA ‘19. My co-commentator is former Arsenal and England full back Lee Dixon, now a successful broadcaster with ITV and NBC Sports.

We have had great fun being as creative as possible and there have been many laughs along the way. Under the direction of Santi Jaramillo, we hope we have come up with a commentary package fans will find entertaining and informative.

Personally I have found it to be one of the most enjoyable challenges of my broadcasting life.

Will we be able to work in any good, old fashioned Scottish football phrases or stramashes? Stay tuned.