By Ivan Orozco

CHICAGO - Gonzalo Segares didn't think much about it.

He never imagined the day would come.

Segares is slated to march onto the grass at Soldier Field Thursday wearing his country's national jersey in front of a home Chicago crowd for the first time in his career.

It's not often a player can play for his national team in his club's home city.

"I've been on the road for a month almost. It feels good to be back for at least a little bit here in Chicago," said Segares, a defender with Major League Soccer's Chicago Fire. "I wished my teammates were here as well to see the game but they'll leave for Seattle on Thursday. Hopefully they'll be a good crowd at Soldier Field."

Segares won't take it for granted as Costa Rica takes on Mexico in the nightcap of a Gold Cup semifinal doubleheader. The winner will face either the United States or Honduras in the final in New York.

United States-Honduras is the early match of the doubleheader.

The 26-year-old born in San Jose, Costa Rica, couldn't keep a smile off his face when asked about what he expects to think and feel when he walks on to the field.

"I was here two years ago when the final was U.S.-Mexico and it was just Mexican people," Segares said. "Most will be supporting Mexico but still it's going to be a nice crowd and at those games you have to play if they are cheering for you or against you. I think the team is really motivated after the win against Guadeloupe."

So is Segares. This is his first Gold Cup. He's played in two matches for the Ticos in this Gold Cup. Thursday's match would be his 14th cap with the national team.

Traveling with Costa Rica has been a learning experience for Segares, but also a tiring one.

The Fire is deep into its season and leads the Eastern Conference standings with 28 points, one ahead of D.C. United and Columbus Crew, with 13 matches left in the regular season. Segares has played in nine of 17 matches this season.

He's scored one goal this year, giving him eight in his MLS career.

Segares, a product of Costa Rican club Deportivo Saprissa's youth academy, couldn't think of a better moment in his career than this one.

"It's right up there. I've been playing five years for the Fire and never thought I'd be in this position representing my country and for the people back in Costa Rica," Segares said. "For me, it's real humbling and it's motivating to play with this group of guys."

One of those guys is Andy Herron, a former Chicago Fire striker.

Herron has been a starter on coach Rodrigo Kenton's Gold Cup squad, playing in three matches -- including the Ticos' 5-1 win over Guadeloupe in the quarterfinals.

Herron also said playing against Mexico Thursday will be meaningful.

He played for the Fire from 2004 to 2006 before moving through three other teams. He returned to Chicago in 2008 and played in 17 games before signing with CS Herediano in Costa Rica later that year.

Herron recalled his time with the Fire, when the club played at Soldier Field prior to moving into Toyota Park.

"At Soldier Field, I scored my first two goals with the Chicago Fire in my first game with the club," Herron said. "I'm very happy to be back in Chicago. I played here for four years and seeing my old friends makes me happy."

Herron and Segares won't have their Fire friends at the stadium to watch Costa Rica make its third semifinal appearance.

The Fire is expected to leave for Seattle Thursday for their match against Sounders FC, their last match before the MLS All-Star Game.

But Herron and Segares said they expected a visit from a friend and rival at Costa Rica's hotel earlier this week.

That would be Fire midfielder and Mexican national team icon Cuauhtemoc Blanco, who Segares said was filming a commercial in Los Angeles and would fly to Chicago before Thursday.

"He just said he's happy for us, but he's Mexican so he has to go for his team, but he's very excited for us," Herron said of Blanco, is not part of Mexico's Gold Cup squad.. "He wants to play a game in Costa Rica because he wants to visit us over there."

Chances are Blanco will get that opportunity when Mexico travels to San Jose on September 5 for the country's second meeting in the final round of World Cup qualifying.

In the meantime Herron and Segares received some words from Blanco about the Gold Cup semifinal.

Perhaps some smack talk?

"He's very cool in that part. When I used to have him as a teammate I had a good relationship with him," Herron said. "He told me to call him when I come to Chicago. He said 'I wish you the best but I want Mexico to win.'"