A look at the three teams that Costa Rica will face in Group D at the World Cup:
MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay — Liverpool striker Luis Suárez arrived at Uruguay’s World Cup training camp on Monday 11 days after undergoing surgery on an injured knee.
The English Premier League’s player of the year is hopeful of winning his race against time to be fit for Uruguay’s opening game against Costa Rica on June 14.
And his chances have been boosted after Uruguay team doctor Alberto Pan declared the striker was “on track” to recovery after his training session.
Pan added however that Suárez’s recovery was being monitored “on a day-to-day basis” by team officials and that no time frame had been put on his rejoining the team.
The 27-year-old — who is set to clash with Liverpool teammate Steven Gerrard as Uruguay has been drawn with England, Italy and Costa Rica — had surgery after injuring his knee in training on May 22.
He arrived back at Uruguay’s training camp outside Montevideo on Monday driven by his wife Sofía, according to media reports.
Suárez enjoyed a phenomenal season in becoming the first Liverpool player to score 30 league goals in a season since Ian Rush 27 years ago, as the club finished runners-up in the Premier League behind Manchester City.
Uruguay won their first World Cup warm-up match against Northern Ireland 1-0 and will next play Slovenia on Wednesday in Montevideo.
Sturridge stars in England’s shutout of Peru
LONDON — England forward Daniel Sturridge admits he can’t wait to get started at the World Cup after cementing his place with a majestic goal in the 3-0 win over Peru.
Sturridge produced a strike good enough to grace the World Cup final, let alone a low-key friendly, as his sublime curler into the top corner ended Peru’s stubborn resistance late in the first half of Friday’s clash at Wembley.
It was the Liverpool striker’s fourth goal in 11 appearances for England and his third in his last five starts, making it almost certain he will feature in the starting line-up when Roy Hodgson’s team begin their World Cup campaign against Italy in the sweltering tropical heat of Manaus on June 14.
Before the big kick-off in Brazil, Hodgson’s squad head to Miami for a training camp and two more friendlies against Honduras and Ecuador, but Sturridge is already thinking about how it will feel to take part in his first World Cup.
“It’s within touching distance. Everybody is looking forward to it,” Sturridge said. “It’s going to be a great time for everybody. It’s my first World Cup and I’m looking forward to embracing everything that it brings.
Italy in low spirits after major injury, draw with Ireland
LONDON – Italy manager Cesare Prandelli admits he faces a huge task to lift his shattered players in time for the World Cup after Riccardo Montolivo was ruled out of the tournament with a devastating broken leg.
AC Milan midfielder Montolivo suffered a fractured left leg in a challenge with Republic of Ireland defender Alex Pearce early in the first half of Saturday’s 0-0 draw at Fulham’s Craven Cottage.
The 29-year-old was rushed to hospital for scans that confirmed he would play no part in Brazil and he is expected to be flown to Milan for surgery on Sunday.
Prandelli’s players were visibly shocked by their teammate’s cruel exit and struggled to establish any momentum for long periods of a stalemate that extended their winless run to six matches.
There were emotional scenes in the dressing room after the final whistle as they came to terms with the extent of Montolivo’s injury and Prandelli knows it is essential to try to heal the psychological wounds as soon as possible.
“First all our thoughts are with Riccardo. We have to be rational. After what happened everyone got distracted. It is too emotional now,” he said. “We saw the players inside. Everyone is broken and really sad about what happened.”
To make matters worse, Prandelli also saw midfielder Alberto Aquilani, who had come on for Montolivo, forced off with an injury before halftime.
