Italy 0-1 Costa Rica: Ticos Through to Second Round, England Eliminated

Costa Rica booked a World Cup last 16 ticket with a laudable 1-0 win over Italy at the Arena Pernambuco in Recife on Friday.

Fulham striker Bryan Ruiz, who featured on loan at Eredevise side PSV Eindhoven last season, scored the match winning-goal a minute to the break, when his header ricocheted against the crossbar into the net.
The win landed the final punch on England’s chances of playing in the second round, as Italy and Uruguay now look to join Los Ticos in the knock-out stage of the tournament.

Bryan Ruiz Scored The Only Goal As Costa Rica Down Italy. Getty Image.

Jorge Luis Pinto’s men join the Netherlands, Chile, Colombia, who already have all extended their stay in Brazil until- at least- July 1. They equal their best ever record- a second round appearance in Italia ’90, where they were beaten by Czechoslovakia after extra time.

Costa Rica Players Celebrates Continuously After Booking a Last 16 Slot. Wonder If They Just Won the World Cup.

The other after-effect of the result has the ‘Three Lions’ exiting the World Cup in the group stage for the first time since 1958.
Costa Rica next face Roy Hodgson’s side in a quest to finish top of Group D with the maximum 9 points next Tuesday.
Prior to kick-off, followers of the English national team had looked out for a favour from the Azzuris, to whom they lost 2-1 in their opening group game, but against the fearless and tireless North Americans; Cesare Pandrelli and his lads found themselves in a land of ‘no mercy’.
And even the arrival of Gianluigi Buffon, who was sidelined from the opening win through injury, couldn’t deter Costa Rica from winning.
They opted for an early goal but Celso Borges’s 7th minute header went wide, with the veteran Juventus goalkeeper flapping at the delivery from a corner.

Balotelli Reacts After Fluffing Italy’s Solitary Sight at Goal in the First-Half.

AC Milan striker Mario Balotelli, who had requested a kiss from Her Royal Majesty, Queen Elizabeth 2 of England, should Italy deliver a win, failed to land the punch on the half-hour mark, after being set through on goal by the ever eclectic Andrea Pirlo, only to dink his effort over goalkeeper Tayor Navas and the target.
Three minutes later, Navas was quick to deny the ex-Manchester City striker’s one-time shot.
Costa Rica again reclaimed possession while Buffon thought Ruiz one basic marksman lesson by making a joke of his shot from 40 yards before Oscar Duarte headed the ball on to the roof of the net after beating his marker.
Pinto’s men should have been awarded a penalty in the 43rd minute, when Giorgio Chiellini pushed Arsenal loanee Joel Campbell over in the box, but referee Enrique Osses waved play on.
Justice at last as they took the lead less than a minute later courtesy of Junior Diaz’s superb cross from the left wing, so good it evaded two centre-backs and Buffon, for Ruiz to head home against the crossbar.
Left back Matteo Darmian quickly forced Navas to a flying save immediately after the break. The goalkeeper then dealt with Pirlo’s beautiful free kick on 53 minutes, as Italy searched for an immediate response.

Andrea Pirlo Holds Off a Challenge From Costa Rica’s Jose Cuberos.

Costa Rica frustrated the Mediterraneans’ effort to restore parity, visible among Pandrelli’s men was Balotelli, who got himself booked for wrestling his marker to the floor in the 69th minute.
Randall Brenes came close to doubling Costa Rica’s lead on the nick of full-time but curled his shot from 20 yards wide.
All said, it is not over for Italy, who could still; qualify for the next round with victory over Uruguay, but for England; a win over Costa Rica could do the nation some good and help relieve Roy Hodgson of some criticism.