Italy and Costa Rica will slug it out today at the boiling hot Arena Pernambuco in Recife with both sides needing a win if they are to top their group and take a massive step towards guaranteeing qualification to the next round. English eyes will be fixed firmly on Italy as another toothless performance saw them go under 2-1 against an on-fire Luis Suarez who was just four weeks ago wheelchair bound. England need to win their remaining fixture against Costa Rica, and will also need Italy to win their remaining fixtures if they are to stand a chance of going through.
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The Italians are understandably upbeat after their opening day triumph with Brazilian-born Motta exclaiming that “I have never had the will to play for the Selecao like other Brazilians have. It’s a beautiful thing that I respect, but I feel like an Italian born in Brazil. Thanks to my family, I had the possibility to get the Italian passport. I feel good playing for the Azzurri. Italy has allowed me to grow as a man and a player.”
Jorge Pinto, the Costa Rica manager has the luxury of a fully fit squad to choose from, unlike the Italians who have players out due to injury or illness. Assisting Jorge Pinto is former Derby County player Paulo Wanchope who has stated that he was always supremely confident in Costa Rica’s ability and skill. He claims that he and the rest of the back room team weren’t surprised at their side’s triumph over Uruguay as they (Costa Rica) have a squad that is full of talent and ability.
In addition to the need for both sides to win this one and secure qualification for the next round, this will be the first time these two squads have met in the World Cup and with Italy having a pass completion rate of 93% they will fancy themselves favourites. Pundits are chalking Costa Rica’s win over Uruguay up to a fluke, however Costa Rica aren’t short on goals having scored in every single one of their six World Cup games from their own federation of CONCACAF. This could prove to be a record breaking match for Costa Rica (the other Furia Roja), as should they triumph, they will become the only team from CONCACAF to win back to back games in a World Cup.
Costa Rica will be put under the microscope today, however, with pundits claiming that Uruguay were a bit toothless without Luis Suarez, and today’s encounter with one Mario Balotelli could either prove or disprove that theory. Balotelli is without doubt, world class, having headed in Italy’s winner against misfiring England to secure the win. He will torment the Costa Rican back line almost as much as Luis Suarez did the England back line. Costa Rica will look to dig deep and put in a big, solid performance this evening if they are to disprove the more cynical pundits with a gutsy, discplined showing against an unstoppable-looking Azzurri.
