What a surprising run so far for group D. A Luis Suarez brace (despite him not being in top form), an England that has already been defeated twice and eliminated, and a Costa Rica that stood up to some of the biggest names in international football… and won! Costa Rica, much to everyone’s surprise, has earned 6 out of 6 points so far in the group stage. The Ticos have defeated European giants Italy but only after shaming South American 3rd place holders Uruguay. With one more match to go, the CONCACAF side has a good chance of exiting the group stage as leaders by sweeping the group and obtaining 9 points in total.
The first half was explosive with both teams playing a very fast paced game. The match began with Costa Rica on the offensive with their first chance coming from a corner kick in minute 7 that ended up being headered and sent over the bar. The Italians also seemed to be dominated by Costa Rica’s fast paced, first touch game. Italy was unable to get out of their defensive half for a 10 minute spell. Italy was however, able to counter attack and we saw a ball forward to Balotelli lead to an individual play by the AC Milan striker, but the Costa Rican defense was able to strip him of the ball outside the 18 yard box before it escalated into a real chance.
After 20 minutes, Italy began to pick up their game and push forward convincingly. After pushing forward, Thiago Motta was able to finally get a shot in but was only able to place it too wide. Meanwhile Costa Rica found a few unsuccessful attacks that came from lobbed through balls to Joel Campbell. Then at minute 32, midfield veteran Andrea Pirlo gave a first touch pass through to Balotelli who was able to go one on one with Costa Rican goalkeeper Navas. Navas stepped out to Balotelli and pressured Mario to uncomfortably chip the ball, a chip that just barely went wide. Just minutes later Balotelli had another chance at goal from the edge of the box and once again, Navas was present to intervene by stopping the shot and then pouncing on top of it before another Italy striker could reach it.
Buffon was also called to action when a shot in the 38th minute by Christian Bolanos forced him to make a diving save to the right side of his goal. Costa Rica was once again on the offensive and in minute 41 Bryan Ruiz took a corner kick that Oscar Duarte was able to meet and header backwards but was unable to keep under the crossbar. The first and only goal of the match came in the 43rd when Junior Diaz put a beautiful cross towards the far post and Bryan Ruiz was able to crash it into the crossbar and into the goal.
The second half also began with Costa Rica controlling the ball in Italy’s half. Navas then went on to stop Italy when they had chances the 50th when Darmian had a go from outside the box but and once again in the 55th when Andrea Pirlo took a well-placed free kick. In the 56th Bolanos had another chance after a through ball but Bufon came out to take the ball away near the half field line.
After that, the match was fairly calm, Costa Rica began to play defensively in their half and succeeded in doing so. This added to the good job so far done by CONCACAF teams in Brazil 2014. It is also the best start for a CONCACAF team in this tournament. With England being their last rival, it is very possible for Costa Rica to sweep the group and finish with 9 points.
Photo Credit: AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan