BRAZIL, Recife : Costa Rica's forward Joel Campbell (C) vies for the ball against Italy's defender Giorgio Chiellini (L) and Italy's midfielder Daniele De Rossi during a Group D match between Italy and Costa Rica at the Pernambuco Arena in Recife during the 2014 FIFA World Cup on June 20, 2014. AFP PHOTO / GIUSEPPE CACACE
June 19, 2014
PHOTOS: World Cup – Italy 0 Costa Rica 1
RECIFE, June 20, 2014 (AFP) — Bryan Ruiz’s goal in the first-half against Italy sealed England’s elimination from the World Cup and saw Costa Rica progress to the last 16 with a fine 1-0 win over Italy in Recife on Friday.
Ruiz struck right at the end of the first-half only minutes after the Costa Ricans had a valid appeal for a penalty waved aside by the referee.
Costa Rica’s victory saw them move onto six points and means that pointless England’s slim hopes of getting second spot are extinguished as Uruguay and Italy, both on three points, play each other in the final batch of group games.
It will be the second time Costa Rica have reached the last 16, the previous occasion being in the 1990 finals.
Italy’s poor performance was encapsulated by the fact they had not gone goalless in a World Cup finals match since the 1998 edition in France.
BRAZIL, Recife : Costa Rica’s midfielder Yeltsin Tejeda (Top) vies for the ball against Italy’s defender Andrea Barzagli during a Group D match between Italy and Costa Rica at the Pernambuco Arena in Recife during the 2014 FIFA World Cup on June 20, 2014. AFP PHOTO / JAVIER SORIANO
BRAZIL, Recife : A Costa Rica fan cheers prior to a Group D football match between Italy and Costa Rica at the Pernambuco Arena in Recife during the 2014 FIFA World Cup on June 20, 2014. AFP PHOTO / EMMANUEL DUNAND
BRAZIL, Recife : Italian fans cheer prior to a Group D football match between Italy and Costa Rica at the Pernambuco Arena in Recife during the 2014 FIFA World Cup on June 20, 2014. AFP PHOTO / RONALDO SCHEMIDT
BRAZIL, Recife :Costa Rica’s forward Bryan Ruiz celebrates after scoring his team’s first goal during a Group D match between Italy and Costa Rica at the Pernambuco Arena in Recife during the 2014 FIFA World Cup on June 20, 2014. AFP PHOTO / RONALDO SCHEMIDT
BRAZIL, Recife : Italy’s bench is pictured during a Group D match between Italy and Costa Rica at the Pernambuco Arena in Recife during the 2014 FIFA World Cup on June 20, 2014. AFP PHOTO / GIUSEPPE CACACE
BRAZIL, Recife : Italy’s forward Mario Balotelli (R) gestures to Costa Rica’s goalkeeper Keylor Navas during a Group D match between Italy and Costa Rica at the Pernambuco Arena in Recife during the 2014 FIFA World Cup on June 20, 2014. AFP PHOTO / EMMANUEL DUNAND
BRAZIL, Recife : Italy’s defender Ignazio Abate (L) challenges Costa Rica’s midfielder Cristian Bolanos during a Group D match between Italy and Costa Rica at the Pernambuco Arena in Recife during the 2014 FIFA World Cup on June 20, 2014. AFP PHOTO / RONALDO SCHEMIDT
BRAZIL, Recife : Costa Rica’s forward Bryan Ruiz (R) heads the ball to score as Italy’s goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon (2nd R) looks on during a Group D football match between Italy and Costa Rica at the Pernambuco Arena in Recife during the 2014 FIFA World Cup on June 20, 2014. AFP PHOTO / JAVIER SORIANO
BRAZIL, Recife : Italy’s midfielder Daniele De Rossi (2nd L) and Costa Rica’s defender Junior Diaz (2nd R) lie on the ground following a tackle during a Group D match between Italy and Costa Rica at the Pernambuco Arena in Recife during the 2014 FIFA World Cup on June 20, 2014. AFP PHOTO / EMMANUEL DUNAND
BRAZIL, Recife : Costa Rica’s goalkeeper Keylor Navas (L) jumps to save a ball as he vies with Italy’s forward Mario Balotelli (2nd R) during a Group D football match between Italy and Costa Rica at the Pernambuco Arena in Recife during the 2014 FIFA World Cup on June 20, 2014. AFP PHOTO / EMMANUEL DUNAND
BRAZIL, Recife : Italy’s midfielder Daniele De Rossi (L) in action during a Group D match between Italy and Costa Rica at the Pernambuco Arena in Recife during the 2014 FIFA World Cup on June 20, 2014. AFP PHOTO / EMMANUEL DUNAND
BRAZIL, Recife : Costa Rica’s midfielder Christian Bolanos (C) vies for the ball with Italy’s defender Ignazio Abate (R) and Italy’s defender Andrea Barzagli (L) during a Group D football match between Italy and Costa Rica at the Pernambuco Arena in Recife during the 2014 FIFA World Cup on June 20, 2014. AFP PHOTO / EMMANUEL DUNAND
