The stage is set for a real display of Costa Rican grit and determination as they take on the massively disciplined Greeks tonight at the Recife Stadium. This is not expected to be a goalfest as the Greeks will likely continue to sit deep and work tirelessly on their defensive shape. Costa Rica are likely to name the same, or a very similar squad to the one that beat Italy in their second group match, bringing back central defender Michael Umana and left winger Christian Bolanos for Roy Miller and Randall Brenes respectively. On the Greek ship, captain Kostas Katsouranis has become eligible for selection again having served a one match ban in which his team played the Ivory Coast. Orestis Karnezis is also available after seeming to have shaken off a knock and returning to training.

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Fernando Santos, the Greece coach has paid respect to Costa Rica noting: “They came out top in their ‘Group of Death’, so we have to pay a lot of attention. We absolutely cannot allow ourselves to underestimate them.” The Costa Rica coach, Michael Umana has hailed his team’s performance and progress thus far, saying: “To have qualified top of the group makes us very proud. It gives us great satisfaction as a group. We have grown as a team although we have always been characterized by strong and silent work.” The Costa Ricans were touted as minnows for this tournament and were written off before the games even got under way. Now though, they are making the football world sit up and take notice as they have gone from strength to strength chasing off some difficult opposition on the way.

Neither country was expecting to face the other, so both coaches have been doing some hurried research and homework on their opposition with midfielder Yeltsin Tejeda admitting: “We were thinking more about Colombia and Ivory Coast. Now we have to change the tape.” Watching this tape will show a strongly disciplined Greek side that employ the extremely defensive Catenaccio system which was originally devised by the Italians. If the Greeks make it through this evening, displaying that mental attitude that saw them just beat the Ivory Coast to second spot in their group, they Greek FA will have an interesting conundrum to deal with because as of Monday the Greek coach Fernando Santos will be out of contract and had previously stated that he didn’t intend to stay on any longer. Laughing off criticism of his side’s seemingly laborious and somewhat miserable approach to football he said: “I can only laugh as it is a joke. In football one attacks and one defends. We know how to defend well and we are very good on the counter attack. This big success belongs to the players.”

Both Los Ticos and the Piratikos have strengths that they employ, with the Greek defensive discipline being famed worldwide, and the Costa Ricans proudly boasting a strong attacking style. However, tonight will be about more than skill, tackling or dribbling, passing or moving. Tonight, both teams will need to display a rock solid team ethic, and above all else, desire. For the Greeks and the Costa Ricans, tonight’s question will be: “Who wants it more?”