Bryan Ruiz's goal in the first-half
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 opening
period after the Costa Ricans had a valid appeal for a penalty waved
away by the referee.
Costa Rica's victory saw them move
onto six points in Group D and means that pointless England's slim
hopes of getting second spot were extinguished as Uruguay and Italy,
both on three points, play each other in their final game.
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.
Italy showed little sign of urgency throughout with misplaced passes and lackadaisical defending.
However,
their midfield wizard Andrea Pirlo produced one sublime pass chipped
over the top of the Costa Rican defence in the 31st minute which found
Mario Balotelli.
The AC Milan striker, though, lofted the ball over the Costa Rican 'keeper but the ball went wide of the far post.
It was Costa Rica who broke the deadlock with an excellent goal.
Gianluigi
Buffon failed to come for a Junior Diaz cross to the far post and Ruiz
produced a superb header which beat the 2006 World Cup winning
goalkeeper and bounced over the line after hitting the underside of the
bar.
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