World Cup Review Costa Rica v England England ended a World Cup to forget with an uneventful draw against group winners Costa Rica. Joel Campbell had the first chance of the game as Costa Rica started brightly but his shot deflected wide off Gary Cahill. Daniel Sturridge wasted a couple of chances before Ben Foster had to tip a free kick from Celso Borges onto the crossbar. Sturridge missed more chances in the second half and Rooney saw a clever chip denied by Keylor Navas. A dull end to Englands World Cup but for Costa Rica the end to an impressive group stage where nobody gave them a chance before it started. Italy v Uruguay Uruguay advances to the final 16, but at what cost? Luis Suarez just does not help himself does he? This game was a must win for Uruguay and the desperation of both sides told in a torrid affair. Italys game plan was to stifle Uruguay and it worked for much of the game. Andrea Pirlo forced Fernando Muslera into a smart save from a free kick and Ciro Immobile wasted a great chance as he fired over wildly. Edinson Cavani wanted a penalty just after half time but the referee waved away his appeals but on 59 minutes, Italy were dealt a huge blow. Midfielder Claudio Marchisio was sent off for a high studs up challenge. Suarez forced Buffon into a great save before controversy struck. After a tussle in the penalty area with Giorgio Chiellini, Suarez thrusted his head towards the shoulder of Chiellini and appeared to bite him. Chiellini appealed his case to the referee but was ignored. Suarez will certainly have to answer to FIFA after this though. Uruguay should have been down to 10 men as well but took advantage of their let off as they took the lead with Suarez delivering a corner kick, just moments after he should have been given his marching orders, for Diego Godin to divert home with his back. Italy threw everything but the kitchen sink at Uruguay as time was running out, even bringing goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon up the field for a corner kick, but to no avail as Uruguay joined Costa Rica in the group stages. However they will very likely have to play the rest of their World Cup without Suarez. Japan v Colombia Colombia went into this game knowing that they would be going through anyway but they wanted to at least get the point that would guarantee them top spot in the group. For Japan it was win or go home early. Colombia took the lead on 17 minutes after Yasuyuki Konno brought down Adrian Ramos. Juan Cuadrado made no mistake from the spot. Japan came close to an equaliser when Manchester United midfielder Shinji Kagawa forced David Ospina into a save after a neat side step. Jackson Martinez should have extended Colombias lead but he missed from 6 yards out. Japan punished Colombia for that miss on the stroke of half time as Keisuke Honda cross in for Shinji Okazaki to head home with a stooping header to level the score. James Rodriguez came on after the break and missed a chance before setting up Martinez to redeem himself with a fantastic angled finish to put Colombia back in front. Ospina had to save a Honda free kick as Japan tried to get back on level terms again but Colombia would capitalise on an exposed Japan defence. Rodriguez set up Martinez again, this time from a counter attack, to put Colombia 3-1 up on 82 minutes and on 89 minutes, Rodriguez got in on the scoring action with a chipped finish to seal a 4-1 win. On 85 minutes, Colombia brought on goalkeeper 43 year old goalkeeper Faryd Mondragon for Ospina to ensure that Mondragon would become the oldest player to appear in a World Cup Finals, breaking the record held by Cameroons Roger Milla who was 42 when he played in USA 94. Colombia face Uruguay and given the form that theyre in, and the fact Uruguay will almost definitely be missing Luis Suarez, Colombia will fancy their chances of reaching the Quarter Finals. Greece v Ivory Coast Ivory Coast went into this game 2 points clear of both Greece and Japan, knowing their fate was in their own hands. Both teams had been to the World Cup twice prior to this year and had gone out in the group stages both times. They were hoping to make it third time lucky. Injuries made Greeces task tougher as they were forced into two substitutions in the first 24 minutes of the game, including their goalkeeper. They had the best of the chances in the first half though as Georgios Samaras released Jose Holebas who hit the crossbar from just outside the area. They went ahead just before the break though, Andreas Samaris dispossessing Chiek Tiote before lifting the ball over Boubacar Barry. Ivory Coast had most of the possession after the break but it was Greece who came closest to scoring. Giorgios Karagounis hit the woodwork from long range. Salomon Kalou and Wilfried Bony wasted chances but they got back on level terms as Gervinho set up Swansea striker Bony on the counter attack and Bony would not miss a second time. With news that Colombia were beating Japan, it looked like Ivory Coast were safely going through to the final 16 until disaster struck in stoppage time. Georgios Samaras was adjudged to have been brought down Giovanni Sio, although replays suggested that Samaras boot caught Sios leg as he got ready to shoot and then Samaras kicked the turf and went down. However, the penalty was given and Samaras pulled himself off the ground to score it and send Greece through to the Final 16 and break Ivorian hearts. Greece will face Group D winners Costa Rica in the Final 16.
Posted on: Wed, 25 Jun 2014 09:02:02 +0000
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