A first half header from Bryan Ruiz gave Costa Rica a surprise 1-0 win over Italy in their World Cup match on Friday.
The goal also brought England’s chances of advancing to the knockout stage to exactly zero.
With no points through two matches at the 2014 tournament, England sits last in Group D behind first-place Costa Rica, Italy and Uruguay.
SEE MORE: Complete scores and group standings
Costa Rica’s Junior Diaz supplied the cross from the left in the 44th minute and Ruiz headed onto the underside of the crossbar and over the line to beat Italy goalkeeper and captain Gianluigi Buffon.
Italian star striker Mario Balotelli had earlier missed two chances for Italy in the Group D match.
Earlier on Friday, Balotelli suggested he wanted a kiss from the Queen of England — on the cheek — if the Italian side won the match, an outcome that would have preserved England’s slim chances of advancing to the round of 16.
READ MORE: Balotelli wants royal kiss if Italy triumphs over Costa Rica
Uruguay’s Suarez doubles
A day earlier, it was Luis Suarez scored twice to give Uruguay a 2-1 victory over England at the World Cup, making an instant impact on his return from injury to revive his team’s Group D campaign.
The striker lashed in the winner in the 85th minute, after seeing his first-half opener cancelled out by Wayne Rooney. The win gave Uruguay’s qualifying chances a major lift and left England’s hopes of advancing to the round of 16 in real jeopardy.
SEE MORE: Suarez brings England to brink of elimination
Suarez, who hadn’t played for more than a month after undergoing knee surgery, is the Uruguay player who knows this England side best, having played for Liverpool for more than three years.
And by taking his World Cup tally to five goals, Suarez ensured that Rooney’s first-ever goal on football’s biggest stage was in vain at his third tournament.
— With files from Associated Press
Comments