Game 24 Recap: Italy 0-1 Costa Rica

ITALY 0-1 COSTA RICA

If you needed any more evidence that this World Cup has been insane, look at the current Group D standings. Group D features 3 top-10 teams, all of whom are previous champions, and yet it's Costa Rica who have a pair of victories and have clinched a spot in the knockout round.

And while people questioned the Uruguay result as a fluke or the result of poor performance by the South Americans, there was no questioning this performance. Costa Rica were the better team on the field from start to finish as they picked up their second straight win against one of the world's elite.

Italy on the other hand will have to compose themselves quickly as they now face a critical game against Uruguay in order to avoid a premature elimination.

A slow, disjointed first half for the most part that was highlighted by some continued poor play from the Italian attackers, Mario Balotelli in particular. Balotelli picked up one of Italy's best chances in the 31st minute, hauling down a long pass from Andrea Pirlo. Left on a partial breakaway, his first touch was heavy though and his chip over Keylor Navas was well wide. A very disappointing play that you would expect a top striker in the world to finish off.

Balotelli had another chance 2 minutes later, volleying a Pirlo pass but it was directly at Keylor Navas despite plenty of room in front of him to get closer. That was the last major impact he would have in the game, a bad sign for a striker in the 33rd minute.

Costa Rica found the advantage right before halftime though. Just a minute after a foul on Joel Campbell in the penalty area went uncalled, Bryan Ruiz got on the end of a Junior Diaz cross at the back post. His header smacked off the crossbar and fell just behind the goal line before bouncing out. Goal-line technology was called in to use again and correctly determined it was a good goal giving Costa Rica the 1-0 halftime lead.

It was a second half devoid of chances that was punctuated by great defending from Costa Rica. And while the US defence against Ghana was praised for its effort in the second half, this was different. That was a desperate and frantic type of defending where as Costa Rica were completely in control of this.

Not just sitting back and defending their area, Costa Rica closed down the Italian midfield and pressured everyone on the ball, refusing to allow any scoring chances on their own goal. This is not a team getting by on a whim, this is a team brimming with confidence that has tremendous upset potential as they advance to the Round of 16 and perhaps further.

Goals

Italy: N/A

Costa Rica: Bryan Ruiz (44')

Discipline

Italy: Mario Balotelli (Yellow 69')

Costa Rica: Jose Miguel Cubero (Yellow 71')

Man of the Match

Costa Rican captain Bryan Ruiz got behind everyone in the Italian defence and his headed effort snuck across the line for the only goal of the game. Could have also gone to the entire Costa Rican defence as a whole which completely shut down some of the best players in the world.

Key Moment

I normally go with goals but going away from that this game. Ruiz's goal just before halftime was key but minutes after the restart, Matteo Darmian cut off the wing and rifled a shot at goal that Keylor Navas brilliantly directed over the goal. There was a sense of that save that things weren't meant to be for Italy in this game and they didn't get a good chance on goal for the rest of the half.

What we learned from Italy

They didn't create a lot of organic chances against England and created even fewer against Costa Rica's 5-man backfield. This is a team that is too relient on Pirlo and Balotelli offensively and Balotelli has had an awful tournament so far. They were static defensively but were able to mostly contain the Costa Rican front players. But their defence isn't strong enough by itself to carry them far in this tournament if they don't get help from their goalscorers

What we learned from Costa Rica

If Uruguay was a fluke then this was a statement game from the central American nation. Expected to be a minnow in this group, they've knocked off 2 former champions and locked up a spot in the next round already. Phenomenal defensively, they don't have a lot of attacking initiative but they're efficient when they do get forward which is as important. They'll have an opportunity to test their offence more against England in an ultimately meaningless group finale for them.

Going Forward 

In a group of 3 champions, it's the team to never make the quarterfinals that has clinched a top 2 spot, eliminating England in the process. Still things to play for if you're Costa Rica as the second-place team in Group C is a much more favourable opponent than Colombia.

As for Italy, you have a huge game against Uruguay to end the group. Have to get at least a point from that game and they have plenty of questions surrounding their play before that game.