Italy were defeated in their second match of the 2014 World Cup at the hands of Costa Rica thanks to a first half header from Bryan Ruiz.
The match began very balanced between the two sides, which is something we’ve come to expect at this level. Italy showed no signs of underestimating their opponents and rightly so.
Costa Rica had a host of early opportunities including a corner which Celso Borges headed over. After some miscommunication at the back, Costa Rica were gifted another corner, which Gianluigi Buffon had to be parry away on his return to the starting-eleven.
Italy began to show signs of taking the lead. Andrea Pirlo lobbed the ball forward to Mario Balotelli, who quickly chested it down into the path of Thiago Motta, but the Brazilian-born midfielder dragged his shot wide. The AC Milan striker missed the biggest chance of the game shortly after, when the ball was played through in acres of space, but Balotelli’s chip went wide of Keylor Navas’ goal. Minutes later Balotelli was in again, but his powerful shot was blocked comfortably by Navas.
Costa Rica took advantage of the Azzurri’s lapses of concentration to spring surprise attacks. Bryan Ruiz broke away from his marker and took a pop at Buffon’s goal, but the veteran shot-stopper gathered it easily. Jorge Luis Pinto’s men continued playing out of their skin and nearly took the lead, but Oscar Duarte’s header sailed over the crossbar.
Big penalty shout before half-time. Joel Campbell got away from the sluggish defenders and went down in the penalty area under the challenge of Giorgio Chiellini, but the referee waved on. Minutes left in the first half, Costa Rica took the lead having dominated the four times champions.
Bryan Ruiz dashed into the box to latch onto the end of Junior Diaz’s cross and head his side into a surprise lead. The group leaders went into half time feeling greatly relieved having been denied what appeared to be a clear penalty.
Early in the second half, Italy showed few signs of improving, even after Prandelli brought Antonio Cassano on for Thiago Motta. Matteo Darmian came the closest in the early exchanges with a powerful shot that whistled over the crossbar. Italy’s attackers became increasingly frustrated by Costa Rica’s defense and despite using all his substitutes to add different avenues at goal, Prandelli could not find a way of unlocking the Ticos.
The result means that, astonishingly, Costa Rica top Group D. Both Italy and Uruguay are left to battle it out for second, with a draw enough to see the Italians through. England now have no chance of progression to the next round as they needed a win from Italy.
Follow Louis Gibberd-Thomas on Twitter: @mercutio156
