Costa Rica shocks Italy, France romps

21 มิถุนายน 2557

Costa Rica won an unexpected but deserved 1-0 victory over the experienced Italians while France thrashed Switzerland 5-2. England is officially out of the knockout stage.

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Costa Rica's forward Bryan Ruiz (R) scores against Italy's goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon (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 / JAVIER SORIANO

Video highlights here: http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/videos/highlights/match=300186500/index.html

Costa Rica shock Italy

RECIFE, Brazil, AFP – Bryan Ruiz headed the goal Friday that gave Costa Rica a shock win over Italy who failed to score in a World Cup finals match for the first time since 1998.

Victory sent Costa Rica into the second round for the first time since 1990 and meant that Group D rivals England crash out. Italy still have work to do to get through. They must get at least a draw in their final match against Uruguay.

Italy coach Cesare Prandelli said it will take a far better performance for the Azzurri to make amends against Uruguay on June 24.

"Today our approach was wrong and we were just too slow. After we conceded the goal, we just couldn't get back into it," said Prandelli.

Costa Rica's forward Joel Campbell (Below) falls in the penalty area during the Group D match between Italy and Costa Rica, but was not awarded a penalty by the referee. AFP PHOTO / EMMANUEL DUNAND

Ruiz struck on the stroke of half-time in Recife after Costa Rica had a strong penalty appeal turned down. Costa Rica had other chances and were a constant threat to the Italian defence.

Coach Jorge Luis Pinto and his players could not hide their joy at the final whistle, but the 61-year-old Colombian said: "We're not resting on our laurels. Our World Cup is far from over.

"It wasn't easy to come up against a team like Italy with the players and experience they have.

"We were worried about (Andrea) Pirlo, but we shut down his space and that helped to isolate (Mario) Balotelli.

Italy's forward Mario Balotelli (2nd L) lofts a clear-cut goal opportunity off target. AFP PHOTO / JAVIER SORIANO

"We also did well in possession, which is not easy against the Italians."

Italy were a shadow of the side that beat England 2-1 last Saturday. It was a night of misplaced passes and slap-dash defending.

Pirlo made one sublime chip over the top of the Costa Rican defence which found Balotelli in space, only for the AC Milan striker to loft his effort off target.

Balotelli, who scored the winner against England last Saturday, pounced on a header from Pirlo a minute later but Keylor Navas blocked the striker's fierce drive from the edge of the area.

Arsenal's Joel Campbell looked to have won a cast iron penalty in the 43rd minute. He pounced on a mistake by Giorgio Chiellini and broke into the Italian penalty area where he was barged over by the Juventus defender.

Costa Rica's players celebrate after the final whistle. AFP PHOTO / GIUSEPPE CACACE

Chilean referee Enrique Osses waved away furious appeals by the Costa Ricans. Pinto erupted on the touchline.

Two minutes later, Pinto was jumping for joy as Ruiz got the goal Costa Rica deserved.

Gianluigi Buffon, who sat out the England win due to an ankle knock, 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.

France's midfielder Mathieu Valbuena (L) kicks past Switzerland's goalkeeper Diego Benaglio (R) to score his team's third goal during a Group E football match between Switzerland and France at the Fonte Nova Arena in Salvadoron June 20, 2014. AFP PHOTO / FABRICE COFFRINI

Video highlights here: http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/videos/highlights/match=300186514/index.html

France romp

SALVADOR, Brazil, AFP – France thrashed Switzerland 5-2 to surge closer to the World Cup last 16.

Goals from Olivier Giroud, Blaise Matuidi, Mathieu Valbuena, Karim Benzema and Moussa Sissoko gave rampant France a thumping victory as the 1998 champions ran riot in Salvador.

Switzerland scored consolation goals through Blerim Dzemaili and Granit Xhaka but Les Bleus now look all but certain to win Group E.

"I think everyone could see we're going through an exceptional adventure," said goalscorer Giroud.

France's forward Olivier Giroud (L) celebrates after scoring.

"I think people can see that on the pitch we're getting a lot of pleasure.

"We're pleased even though we conceded those two goals at the end which put a bit of a dampener on things. It was still a beautiful victory."

Dejected Switzerland coach Ottmar Hitzfeld believes France are rapidly emerging as contenders for the title.

"We were aware that we needed to take the game to them, but if you are chasing things, France have excellent individual players.

"They are one of the teams who can go very far in this tournament, they are superior to the likes of England or Italy."

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