• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Manchester Football

A website about football in Manchester

You are here: Home / International / Costa Rica add Italy to their list of World Cup scalps, England crash out of the World Cup

Costa Rica add Italy to their list of World Cup scalps, England crash out of the World Cup

June 20, 2014 by Paul Chan

ITALY 0, COSTA RICA 1 (WORLD CUP GROUP D)

HARD WORKING COSTA RICA CONDEMN ITALY TO DEFEAT AND END ENGLAND WORLD CUP HOPES EARLY

How the Scots must be laughing now at the prospect of an England v Costa Rica game in which the English have nothing to play for after Fulham striker Bryan Ruiz’ header condemned England to their earliest exit at a World Cup since 1958.

England might even face a whitewash at the hands of surprise package Costa Rica after they produced another hard working tactical performance to frustrate and then defeat the Italians to qualify go top of Group D on six points.

For what it’s worth, the Costa Ricans, who have now qualified for the knockout phase for only the second time in their history, gave themselves a great chance of topping Group D and will do so if they were to avoid defeat against England next Tuesday.

FA Chairman Greg Dyke today confirmed that that Roy Hodgson will remain as England manager until 2016.

He claimed that England had not been humiliated during the two close defeats and that there was no great value in changing England managers and spoke of a four year cycle and a hope to do better at Euro 2016.

For long periods of this game, played at an agonisingly slow pace in sweltering conditions, Italy probed the Costa Ricans and produced a number of half chances, notably for Thiago Motta and a superb pass from Andrea Pirlo to find Mario Balotelli in space but his attempted chip was wide. Balotelli thumped a 31st minute shot directly at Keylor Navas.

Waiting too long for the space to open up, the Italian profligacy was about to bite them back though.

Costa Rica started to create chases at the end of the first half, with a trio of chances for Costa Rica. Cristian Bolanos had a shot tipped away Buffon. Bryan Ruiz shot straight at the Italian ‘keeper and his chip was headed onto the roof of the net by Oscar Duarte.

Close enough, perhaps, but Costa Rica went one better at the end of the first half.

Joel Campbell went down in the penalty area after being pushed by Giorgio Chiellini in the 43rd minute but Jorge Luis Pinto was furious and animated at the referee’s decision to play on.

Justice was served less than two minutes later when Ruiz headed Costa Rica into the lead from a cross by Junior Diaz which went in off the crossbar.

Italy were being reduced to frustrated long range efforts as Balotelli and substitute Lorenzo Insigne were frequently caught offside and the Costa Ricans constantly pushed up, compressing space in midfield and working hard to press the Italians.

Balotelli, who had claimed on Twitter that he would expect a kiss on the cheek from the Queen if Italy beat Costa Rica and Uruguay, got booked as Italian frustrations boiled over. Italy saw more and more of the offside flag as they toiled against Costa Rica.

Spaces opened up in the last few minutes as Italy had to gamble to avoid a potentially group ending encounter against Uruguay next Tuesday but it was substitute Randall Brenes who came closest to scoring with an effort that flashed narrowly wide in injury time.

Filed Under: International Tagged With: Bryan Ruiz, Costa Rica, England, Italy

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy

Primary Sidebar

Categories

  • Altrincham
  • Ashton United
  • Curzon Ashton
  • Europe
  • FA Cup
  • Hyde United
  • International
  • League Cup
  • Manchester City
  • Manchester City Women
  • Manchester United
  • Manchester United Women
  • Match Report
  • Melbourne City FC
  • Mossley
  • New York City FC
  • Non League
  • North West
  • Oldham Athletic
  • Premier League
  • Stockport County
  • UEFA Champions League
  • Uncategorized

Manchester Football

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

RSS Manchesterfootball Youtube

  • Reaction from Brighton fans as Pascal Gross scores twice at Old Trafford against Man Utd - 4K
    manchesterfootball
  • Reaction to Cristiano Ronaldo and Rayo Vallecano smoke bombs at Old Trafford - Man Utd - 4K
    manchesterfootball
  • Vincent Kompany's first Burnley post-match press conference - at Huddersfield Town - July 29 2022 HD
    manchesterfootball

RSS BBC Football News

  • MOTD2 analysis: How 'outstanding' Erling Haaland saw off West Ham August 7, 2022
    Match of the Day 2's Dion Dublin looks at how an "outstanding" display from new Manchester City striker Erling Haaland gave Pep Guardiola's team a win over West Ham in their Premier League match on Sunday.
  • Erling Haaland's double on Man City Premier League debut shows what he will give champions August 7, 2022
    Manchester City's new striker Erling Haaland adds a dangerous, previously unseen dimension as the champions sweep past West Ham United in their Premier League opener.
  • Garth Crooks' Team of the Week: Sanchez, Dier, De Bruyne, Haaland August 7, 2022
    Who looks like a proper defender? Who has been a revelation in England? And who has an electric turn of pace? Find out in Garth Crooks' latest Team of the Week.
  • Marko Arnautovic: Manchester United keen on Austrian striker August 7, 2022
    Manchester United are keen to sign Bologna's former Stoke and West Ham forward Marko Arnautovic.

Search Manchester Football

Copyright © 2022 · Metro Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in