Costa Rica stun Italy by defeating them 1-0, 6 days after they stunned Uruguay, to book their place in the knock-out stages of the World Cup with one more game in hand. Costa Rica have qualified for the last 16 for the first time in 24 years.
Fulham winger Bryan Ruiz, who is on loan a PSV, scored and took the lead in the first half to send for Costa Rica into the last-16, which meant that England will now have to book their return flight back home. Ruiz's 44th minute header was the only goal of the game.
Balotelli should have scored and given the lead to Italy at 30th minute of the game, when he chipped the ball above the goalkeeper Keylor Navas from a fantastic ball provided by Andrea Pirlo.
Super Mario got another chance after a couple of minutes but was saved by the keeper. Apart from this, Italy failed to make any real opportunities to score.
On the other hand, Costa Rica kept on building presssure on Italy and kept creating chances. The team also asked for a penalty when striker Joel Campbell was said to be brought down by in the box by Chelliani. A minute later, Ruiz scored from a wonderful cross by Junior Diaz.
During the second half, Italy changed their tactics and brought on Antonio Cassano for midfielder Thiago Motta. They dominated in the beginning of the second half but were very well managed by the well-organised Costa Rica defence. The other two players to come on to the field were Lorenzo Insigne and Alessio Cerci but were unable to help their team to score.
Costa Rica line-up vs Italy:
Starting XI: Navas, Gonzalez, Umana, Borges, Duarte, Bolanos, Campbell, Ruiz, Diaz, Gamboa, Tejeda.
Substitutes:Brenes, Urena, Cubero, Miller, Pemberton, Barrantes, Myrie, Cambronero, Granados, Acosta, Calvo, Francis.
Manager: Jorge Luis Pinto
Italy team line-up vs Costa Rica:
Starting XI: Buffon, Chiellini, Darmian, Motta, Candreva, Abate, Marchisio, Balotelli, Barzagli, De Rossi, Pirlo.
Substitutes: Cassano, Cerci, Insigne, Paletta, Aquilani, Sirigu, Bonucci, Immobile, Perin, Parolo. Verratti, De Sciglio
Manager: Cesare Claudio Prandelli
To watch highlights, video on demand, skills and dribbles, and live streams from the FIFA World cup 2014 visit livsports.in now.
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| PHOTO: Brian Ruiz heads Costa Rica in front. |
Fulham winger Bryan Ruiz, who is on loan a PSV, scored and took the lead in the first half to send for Costa Rica into the last-16, which meant that England will now have to book their return flight back home. Ruiz's 44th minute header was the only goal of the game.
Balotelli should have scored and given the lead to Italy at 30th minute of the game, when he chipped the ball above the goalkeeper Keylor Navas from a fantastic ball provided by Andrea Pirlo.
Super Mario got another chance after a couple of minutes but was saved by the keeper. Apart from this, Italy failed to make any real opportunities to score.
On the other hand, Costa Rica kept on building presssure on Italy and kept creating chances. The team also asked for a penalty when striker Joel Campbell was said to be brought down by in the box by Chelliani. A minute later, Ruiz scored from a wonderful cross by Junior Diaz.
During the second half, Italy changed their tactics and brought on Antonio Cassano for midfielder Thiago Motta. They dominated in the beginning of the second half but were very well managed by the well-organised Costa Rica defence. The other two players to come on to the field were Lorenzo Insigne and Alessio Cerci but were unable to help their team to score.
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| Costa Rica players celebrating their berth in the last-16 |
Costa Rica line-up vs Italy:
Starting XI: Navas, Gonzalez, Umana, Borges, Duarte, Bolanos, Campbell, Ruiz, Diaz, Gamboa, Tejeda.
Substitutes:Brenes, Urena, Cubero, Miller, Pemberton, Barrantes, Myrie, Cambronero, Granados, Acosta, Calvo, Francis.
Manager: Jorge Luis Pinto
Italy team line-up vs Costa Rica:
Starting XI: Buffon, Chiellini, Darmian, Motta, Candreva, Abate, Marchisio, Balotelli, Barzagli, De Rossi, Pirlo.
Substitutes: Cassano, Cerci, Insigne, Paletta, Aquilani, Sirigu, Bonucci, Immobile, Perin, Parolo. Verratti, De Sciglio
Manager: Cesare Claudio Prandelli
Match Stats
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| Match Stats (Credits: Sony Liv Sports) |
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| Costa Rica :Football Female Fans in World Cup |
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| Italy : Football Female Fans in World Cup |
To watch highlights, video on demand, skills and dribbles, and live streams from the FIFA World cup 2014 visit livsports.in now.
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