Costa Rica comes up top, England ends at bottom
Costa Rica drew 0-0 with England to top World Cup Group D unbeaten and leave their opponents winless and at the bottom of the table on Wednesday (June 25) in Belo Horizonte.
Costa Rica, who previously made the last 16 on one other occasion in 1990, defied the tag of minnows and outsiders in the group to beat both Uruguay and Italy.
A youthful and much-changed England side were unable to restore pride after their earliest World Cup exit since 1958.
PHOTO: Reuters
Manager Roy Hodgson made nine changes to his starting XI, notably handing first competitive starts to 18-year-old Luke Shaw and 20-year-old Ross Barkley, but his side laboured in the Estadio Mineirao sunshine.
While England had eight attempts on goal, only three of them were on target as they struggled to show any sort of quality in their last match of the tournament.
In contrast Costa Rica played with the sort of verve characteristic of team riding on the momentum of qualification.
England belatedly produced a moment of quality, Sturridge initiating a smart one-two with Jack Wilshere, the Liverpool striker could only bend the ball wide from 10 yards.
There was to be no late salvo from England, whose frustrated fans had to be subdued by riot police as the final whistle neared.
Costa Rica will face Uruguay in the round of 16 on Monday June 30.
Source: AFP
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