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WC MOTD: Italy 0-1 Costa Rica

By on June 20, 2014

This is the World Cup, obviously there was bound to be surprises. Many people even went in braced for the unexpected. But even those could not have been prepared for what we have seen so far. Spain, defending champions, have been knocked out at the group stage. England are now out of the tournament as well, while Germany unexpectedly crushed Portugal. But this is in no small way biggest surprise of all. Costa Rica went into Group D, viewed as pesky minnows who might be able to slightly dent the likes of Italy, England, and Uruguay, three of the elite group of eight nations that have won the tournament. But nobody, even the Costa Ricans themselves, could possibly have believed that they would be top of the group after playing Italy and Uruguay, as well as having secured themselves a spot in the Round of 16. Even coming into the match tonight, nobody thought that either Uruguay or Italy would be knocked out at the expense of the Central American “minnows”. However, after sucking the life out of a team that was a finalist at Euro 2012 under two years ago, Costa Rica will no longer be viewed as minnows.

The damage that they have inflicted on all three of their group stage opponents was summed up in one moment late on, as Italy was down to Costa Rica. Three balloons, colored red, white, and blue, representing the Italian flag, floated by Mario Balotelli. So frustrated was Balotelli, that he proceeded to stomp all three of the balloons until they popped, and remained just pieces of latex on the grass. Balotelli’s side had been working for over seventy minutes to try to find a way past Costa Rica. It was the kind of life-sucking defensive performance from Costa Rica that it reminded of the likes of Italy’s performances eight years ago at the 2006 tournament. This time, though Italy were on the other foot.

Cesar Prandelli’s side pressured Costa Rica from the opening minutes, but were suffocated of chances. In fact, they had to wait until a half hour in for their first good sight of goal. And even then, Mario Balotelli saw his low side volley from twenty yards easily stopped by goalkeeper Keylor Navas.

Meanwhile, Italy had to defend Costa Rica, who themselves looked dangerous on the break. Just three minutes after Balotelli’s chance Christian Bolanos forced Gianluigi Buffon into a sprawling save down low to his left to palm wide a low twenty-five yard curler. Yet while the Costa Rica defense held strong, Italy let their defense down. And it was just one mistake from Giorgio Chiellini that cost Italy the match and potentially a spot in the Round of 16. Forty-four minutes in Júnior Díaz swung in a brilliant curling cross to from left met, and Chiellini was attracted to the ball, allowing Bryan Ruiz, to nick behind him at the far post and flick a header in off the crossbar. It was unbelievable. Costa Rica’s 3-1 win over Uruguay was possible to accept was a fluke, but now it looked as if it wasn’t.

And they weathered Italy’s ensuing onslaught as well. Navas just tipped over Matteo Darmian’s fierce effort from the top of the box fifty minutes in, and then acrobatically punched Andrea Pirlo’s curling twenty-five yard free-kick wide. It might have been tough, but Costa Rica parked the bus and kept Italy out. They even came close to finding a second when Randall Brenes curled a twenty-five yard effort inches wide of the frame in the final moments of the game. They just held onto the win. A win that will undoubtedly go down in Costa Rican history. Heck, it will go down in World Cup history. It got a side that was extreme underdogs out of a group consisting of three sides that are viewed as much better as them.

About Alex Morgan

Alex Morgan, founder of Football Every Day, lives and breaths football from the West Coast of the United States in California. Aside from founding Football Every Day in January of 2013, Alex has also launched his own journalism career and hopes to help others do the same with FBED. He covers the San Jose Earthquakes as a beat reporter for QuakesTalk.com and his work has also been featured in the BBC's Match of the Day Magazine.