Battle of the countries: ROUND 2 - Spain vs Costa Rica

[GMantis]

Previous round:
Poland         -13 (48.1%)
Portugal         -14 (51.9%)
Portugal wins after another narrow round and will go on to meet Luxembourg in the third round.
In this part, there is a meeting between two Spanish speaking countries - between Spain and probably the most popular Central American country.
Here is the bracket.

[MasterJedi]

Costa Rica

[Хahar 🤔]

We had a substitute teacher yesterday in Science who spent the whole period showing us pictures from a recent trip to Costa Rica.

So I go with Costa Rica.

[ottermax]

As much as I love Spain, I refuse to have any more European nations go any further.

[Kaine for Senate '18]

Spain

[Keystone Phil]

The great soccer that still can't go the distance - Spain

[minionofmidas]

Still voting for the country without coupists.

[Alcon]

Still voting for the country without coupists.

You never know when those Visigoths are going to make a comeback.

[minionofmidas]

Still voting for the country without coupists.

You never know when those Visigoths are going to make a comeback.

Any and every army is a potential coup risk, and in most countries a wholly unnecessary one.

[GMantis]

Still voting for the country without coupists.

You never know when those Visigoths are going to make a comeback.

Any and every army is a potential coup risk, and in most countries a wholly unnecessary one.

Spain doesn't need an army?

[minionofmidas]

Still voting for the country without coupists.

You never know when those Visigoths are going to make a comeback.

Any and every army is a potential coup risk, and in most countries a wholly unnecessary one.

Spain doesn't need an army?

What does Spain need an army for these days? I didn't think the Portuguese were particularly frightening.

[dead0man]

What does Spain need an army for these days? I didn't think the Portuguese were particularly frightening.

Morocco has claims against Spanish lands, if Spain had no military that would be tempting.  And then there are these guys.

But I'm pretty sure none of that matters anyway. 
A.I'm pretty sure being in NATO (and staying in NATO) requires a certain level of military readiness. 
B.It's irrational in 2008 for Spain to not have a military, so the whole thing is silly

[minionofmidas]

What does Spain need an army for these days? I didn't think the Portuguese were particularly frightening.

Morocco has claims against Spanish lands, if Spain had no military that would be tempting.  And then there are these guys.

But I'm pretty sure none of that matters anyway. 

Yep. ETA are combatted by police, and the borders with Morocco are guarded by police. Not to mention the whole "I have powerful allies" angle.

Mind you, countries the size and power of Spain or, say, Germany have at least some rationale for having an army, and anyways the coup risk is slight in settled western democracies. I'm not convinced it makes sense on the whole - probably not - but it's not obviously ridiculous as in the majority of countries the world over.

[Bay Ridge, Bklyn! Born and Bred]

These polls are a waste of time, since everyone knows the European countries will win anyway.