Costa Rica vs. Greece: Date, Time, Live Stream, TV Info, 2014 World Cup Preview
Whoโd have thought before the tournament started that this tie would be the winners of Group D against the runners-up of Group C in the last 16?
Though Sundayโs match features two surprising qualifiers, it rather sums up what World Cup 2014 has been all aboutโsurprises.
Costa Rica and Greece are good value for their respective places in the round of 16, though, and both sides will now fancy their chances of going one better and reaching the quarter-finals.
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Venue:ย Arena Pernambuco, Recife
Date:ย Sundayย 29ย June
Time:ย 9 p.m.ย BST/4 p.m. ET
TV Info:ย ITV1 (U.K.)/ESPN (U.S.)
Live Stream:ย ITV Player/ESPN Player
Costa Rica on the Brink of History
When Group Dโs competitors were announced back in December, almost everyone predicted that the winners would be England, Italy or Uruguayโno one gave Costa Rica a look.
However, Jorge Luis Pinto had other ideas, and after recording two famous victories against Uruguay and Italy together with a goalless draw with England, the Costa Ricans deservedly booked their place in the knockout stage.
Itโs rather unchartered territory for Costa Rica, having only progressed beyond the group stage once, but a best-ever performance awaits if they can find a way past Greece.
The Greeks sneakedย their way into the last 16 thanks to Georgios Samarasโ last-gasp penalty against the Ivory Coast, and their habit of sneaking victories is something that Costa Rica are very aware of.
Speaking with FIFA.com, Costa Ricaโs technical assistant, Luis Marin, said that scoring the opening goal of the game is incredibly important against a stubborn nation like Greece:
"It's crucial for us to score early in the game, especially as Greece are known to tighten up at the back once they score. But we know it's going to be a tough game all round. Although they lost to Colombia 3-0, the goals they conceded were down to simple mistakes. Greece are also potent on the counter-attack.
"
Though Marin is aware of just how efficient Greeceโs defence can be, his own are very useful, too.
The Costa Ricans are yet to concede a goal in open play, having kept clean sheets against Italy and England after Edinson Cavaniโs penalty sprung them into life in their opening game against Uruguay.
Naturally, the praise has been coming in thick and fast for Pintoโs solid outfit, including from Brazilian star Kakaโper Eurosportโs Reda Maher via Twitter:
The plaudits are fully deserved, too, as Costa Rica just seem to have found an extra gear since touching down in Brazil and will look to continue their form against Greece.
Fernando Santosโ side, however, hadnโt found the net in the World Cup before their crunch clash with Ivory Coast, and OptaJoeโs statistics rather sum up exactly why:
Their strikers looked immobile and out of ideas for large spells of their Group C campaign, and they wonโt be able to get away with such performances against the Costa Ricans.
The way that Greece set up means that every match they play is generally pretty tight, but Costa Rica should just have enough about them to break the Greeks down.
Either the Netherlands or Mexico await for whoever emerges victorious in Recife, but if itโs Costa Rica that go through, then theyโll really fancy their chances.
Itโs been a remarkable story so far for the men from Central America, and it doesnโt look like coming to an end anytime soon.
Prediction: Costa Rica 2-1 Greece
