Serbia and Costa Rica begin their World Cup campaigns on Sunday with the teams likely to adopt contrasting approaches to making the most of their limited resources at the tournament.
Greece coach Fernando Santos took a parting shot at Costa Rica: Teams know all about you now and your World Cup ride is over. The surprise factor has gone.
Former champions and perennial favorites England finished their World Cup campaign with a 0-0 draw against group winners Costa Rica at the Mineirao stadium in Belo Horizonte.
Costa Rica coach Oscar Ramirez could task two of his players with man-marking Brazil playmaker Neymar when the teams clash in St Petersburg on Friday, but said his side would not try to foul the forward out of the game.
The United States beat Paraguay 1-0 and advanced to the quarter-finals of the Copa America as Group A winners on Saturday after Costa Rica stunned already-qualified Colombia 3-2.
Colombia became the first side to book a spot in the Copa America Centenario quarter-finals on Tuesday after beating Paraguay in Pasadena, while the United States kept their hopes of advancing alive by thrashing Costa Rica 4-0. Colombia's 2-1 win put them top of Group A on six points, with the United States on three and the other two teams on one point each. After losing their opener 2-0 to Colombia, the United States were in clinical form against the Costa Ricans in Chicago and scored three times in the first half through Clint Dempsey, Jermaine Jones and Bobby Wood. Substitute Graham Zusi added a fourth in the 86th minute to cap the win and improve the hosts' goal difference.
Zenit St Petersburg striker Hulk scored after nine minutes when he muscled his way past a defender and fired home from 12 metres.
Jamaica scored a late winning goal while Costa Rica needed only a scoreless draw as both teams advanced from Group B to the quarter-finals of the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Cesc Fabregas struck the winner as an experimental Spain side came from behind to beat Costa Rica 2-1.
Costa Rica has opened investigations into the president of the country's soccer federation who was among seven FIFA executives arrested in Switzerland on Wednesday on corruption charges brought by prosecutors in the United States.
The 24-team Asian Cup will unfold on the same grounds as the men's World Cup where Yamashita served as the fourth official for six group stage games. Her return to Qatar signals a significant progression in the inclusion of female referees in high-profile men's soccer tournaments.
Dries Mertens and Michy Batshuayi were also on target for Belgium while Eden Hazard impressed with creativity and speed for the hosts, who start their World Cup campaign on Monday against Panama in Sochi.
Luis Suarez scored an equaliser and was just wide with what could have been a spectacular winner as Uruguay were held to a 3-3 draw by Costa Rica in a friendly.
Reader Mita Vashi sends us this picture from the Central American nation.
Costa Rica coach Jorge Luis Pinto urged referee Ravshan Irmatov to keep a close eye on Dutchman Arjen Robben in Saturday's World Cup quarter-final against the Netherlands.
Colombia and Costa Rica will be trying to break into - and quickly escape from - an exclusive group of World Cup semi-finalists which could be known as the Bitter Sweet club.
Costa Rica secured a place in the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time on Sunday after beating Greece 5-3 on penalties after the teams finished level at 1-1 after extra time, the Central Americans playing for almost an hour with 10 men.
Costa Rica marched into the second round of the World Cup after topping Group D, containing three former winners, after a 0-0 draw with already-eliminated England on Tuesday.
Argentine football legend Diego Maradona slammed FIFA after claiming seven of Costa Rica's players were subjected to post-match doping controls over fears sponsors would not pay up if bigger teams like Italy failed to get out of the group stage at the World Cup finals.
Costa Rica made it to the last 16 of the World Cup with a 1-0 victory over four-times winners Italy in their Group D clash on Friday. Captain Bryan Ruiz headed the team to victory with a 44th-minute goal.
Two goals in four dramatic second-half minutes set lowly Costa Rica on their way to a deserved 3-1 victory over Uruguay on Saturday in the biggest upset of the World Cup so far.
The United States topped Group C with a 1-0 win over Costa Rica on Tuesday while Cuba also advanced to the CONCACAF Gold Cup quarter-finals as one of the best third-place teams after beating Belize by four goals.
A dominant Brazil made a strong statement of their top title contender status with a 2-1 victory over Spain in a Group D marquee clash of the FIFA U-17 World Cup, in Kochi, on Saturday.
Photos from the World Cup match between Costa Rica and Greece.
China's hopes of qualifying for next year's World Cup finals hang by the thinnest of threads after an injury time goal from Ahmed Al Saleh saw Syria hold Marcello Lippi's team to a 2-2 draw on Tuesday evening.
Teenage striker Joel Campbell shone as Costa Rica's second string team beat nine-man Bolivia 2-0 to push hosts and tournament favourites Argentina into third place in Group A at the Copa America on Thursday.
The World Cup began with 32 teams competing in a group stage, with teams divided into eight groups of four.
Silva struck twice in the second half to further stretch the 2010 World Cup winners' lead after Barcelona's Jordi Alba had fired them into the lead in the sixth minute and Alvaro Morata had doubled their advantage midway through the first half.
This was the first-ever World Cup goal for the 28-year-old right back, who plays for Costa Rican club Herediano.
Costa Rica achieved "wonderful things" at this World Cup and are proud to bow out having conceded only two goals and without losing a game, coach Jorge Luis Pinto said on Saturday.
A bungled bank raid which turned into a hostage crisis ended Wednesday when the only robber left standing surrendered.
Striker Andy Herron scored with virtually the last kick of the game to give his team a 2-1 win over Chile and a place in the Copa America quarter-finals.
Hinata Miyazawa scored her fifth goal of the tournament as Japan beat Norway 3-1 in a clash of former champions on Saturday to reach the quarter-finals of the Women's World Cup.
Lionel Scaloni picked the same starting line-up from the World Cup final win over France as they looked dominant from the start
A summary of Saturday's action in the FIFA women's World Cup, co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand.
Uruguay forward Luis Suarez faces a lengthy ban after Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini accused him of biting during the South Americans' 1-0 Group D victory on Tuesday, overshadowing a day of emotional extremes at the World Cup.
Uruguay are hoping Luis Suarez will be fit enough to help them revive their World Cup hopes against England on Thursday after a shock 3-1 loss to Costa Rica in Saturday's Group D opener.
Released by secretary of state Antony Blinken, the annual human rights reports of the state department is a mandatory requirement of the US Congress giving details of human rights status in countries across the world.
Fans watching the games at the stadium and on televisions the world over have made the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 even more memorable.
© 2025 Rediff.com - Investor Information - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances