This is not a pairing that many football analysts anticipated at the beginning of the World Cup but here we are. Costa Rica finished as Group D winners, a group that included former World Champions Uruguay, England and Italy. This is the first time since 1990 that Costa Rica will make it to the knockout stages while for Greece, it is the first time ever that they will make it past the group stages.
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The fact that Costa Rica finished all three group matches unbeaten is perhaps, the surprise of the tournament. It seems they never read the script that had them pegged as the whipping boys of Group D as the Central Americans defeated Uruguay 3-1 in their curtain raiser before confirming their progression with a 1-0 win over Italy. A 0-0 draw with England in the final group game sealed top spot for Los Ticos. Interestingly, Costa Rica have managed to score in seven out of eight World Cup matches against European teams- the only side that escaped is England in goalless draw last Tuesday.
Greece won only their second victory ever at the World Cup against Ivory Coast in their final group match, a 2-1 victory that qualified them for the Round of 16. After showing very little attacking intent in their first two games, the Greeks showed a greater sense of urgency with elimination staring them stark in the face and a last minute penalty won and dispatched by Georgios Samaras gave them the win over their African opponents. Defensively, the Greeks are sound and after the three goals conceded against Colombia in the first match, they shut up shop, playing out a goalless draw against Japan before the final group game against Ivory Coast.
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TEAM NEWS
Costa Rica coach Jorge Luis Pinto is not expected to make any changes in his starting XI and will look to Arsenal forward Joel Campbell (on loan at Olympiacos) and former Fulham attacker Bryan Ruiz to deliver again upfront. Yeltsin Tejeda, Celso Borges and Mainz 04 player Junior Diaz are expected to play in midfield with the latter playing deepest in front of the defense.
Udinese goalkeeper Orestis Karzenis is a doubt for the game after he was substituted against Ivory Coast due to injury as was attacking midfielder Panagiotis Kone. While Karzenis could still feature, Kone is more doubtful and could be replaced by Andreas Samaris who scored the opening goal against the Ivory Coast. A big boost for the Greek will be the return of Team Captain Kostas Katsouranis from suspension.
Probable Lineups
Costa Rica (4-3-1-2): Navas; Gonzalez, Miller, Duarte, Gamboa; Diaz, Tejeda, Borges; Ruiz; Campbell, Brenes
Greece (4-3-3): Karzenis; Holebas, Papastathopoulos, Manolas, Torosidis; Samaris, Katsouranis, Maniatis; Salpingidis, Samaras, Christodoulopoulos
PREDICTION
Expect the Greeks to defend deep while hoping to snatch a goal from one set piece or the other but I think the Costa Ricans will press them enough to get that lone goal to win this.
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