Impressive Ticos Continue Giant Killing Run As Azzurri Go Down

          After they won 3-1 against Uruguay on Saturday many thought it was a fluke and that the two-time former Champions just had a bad day. It's quite obvious now that that was not the case and the Costa Ricans are considering themselves genuine contenders at this year's World Cup after getting the better of another former World Champion in Italy in their second Group D encounter in Recife today 20/06/2014. Italy and Costa Rica squared off in their second Group D encounter with the winner almost assured a second round spot after both teams won their opening games. The Costa Ricans had already caused a big shock by coming from behind to whip Uruguay 3-1 in Saturday’s opener and the Italians just managed to get the better of England 2-1. However with the English going under to the Uruguayans the previous day, an Italian loss would spell certain elimination for the English. So England’s World Cup survival depended on an Italian victory. For Costa Rica it was a chance to do the CONCACAF region proud once again; because, with the exception of Honduras, CONCACAF teams had done fairly well in Brazil so far. For Italy, it was a chance to win two World Cup group games in a row for the first time since they last hosted the tournament in 1990 and for the Costa Ricans, their first chance to progress to the last 16 since they did so on debut. That was also in 1990.  The Costa Ricans started promisingly as they forced an early corner in the 5^th minute but the ensuing header from Borges went just wide as Buffon in the Italian goal advanced. Moments later the Italians had a corner of their own but that too was wasted and the score remained 0-0. In the 16^thminute Costa Rica won a corner but the Italian defense repelled the attack and the Azzurri survived.  The Central Americans continued to apply pressure on the Italian defense and won another corner in the 19^th minute but still couldn’t capitalize. In the 27^th minute a promising run from the Italians saw Motta’s effort go off target. Balotelli then missed a golden opportunity to give Italy the lead, as he chased down a ball fed to him by Pirlo in the Costa Rican penalty area. Unfortunately for him, the advancing Costa Rican goalie, Navas put him off and the ball missed the target.

Costa Rica then had a chance of their own as a promising shot from Bolanos who dispossessed Candreva, forced Buffon into making a save. In the 41^st minute a Costa Rican corner was wasted as Duarte missed the target. Then came the Costa Ricans’ big moment. A deep cross from the Costa Rica left from Diaz found their skipper Ruiz at the Italian back post and he sprinted to the ball and nodded a header off the bar and over the line. 1-0 Costa Rica. That was the way the score stayed going into the half. At the resumption, a Pirlo free kick was dealt brilliantly with by the Costa Rican defense and the score remained 1-0. In the 57^th the Italians made a substitution as Insigne replaced Candreva.  In the 68^th Costa Rica made a substitution as Tejeda was replaced by Cubero.  Cerci then replaced Marchisio in the 69^th for Italy in a hope to rescue at least a point for the Europeans. In the 74^th Urena then came off the bench to replace Campbell for the Costa Ricans. In the 81^st Costa Rica made another substitution as Ruiz was replaced with Brenes.  Soon after Italy wasted another chance as Insigne’s effort went over the bar and the Italians were staring defeat in the face. In the end in was the CONCACAF team celebrating the victory and a place in the round of sixteen. The win effectively eliminated England, leaving Italy and Uruguay to battle it out for the runner up spot in their final encounter.