The Italians lost to Costa Rica, 1-0, last Friday. However the four-time World Cup champions only needed a tie against Uruguay to advance to the knockout round of the tournament.

Uruguay skipper Diego Godín scored to send Italy crashing out of the World Cup on Tuesday amid a new biting controversy for South American star striker Luis Suárez.

It's about time Costa Rica's flag appeared on the homepage of the search engine giant after everything the Ticos have accomplished in Brazil.

England manager Roy Hodgson will field an experimental side as his team's miserable World Cup draws to a close against Costa Rica in Belo Horizonte on Tuesday at 10 a.m.

Italy striker Mario Balotelli joked on Thursday that if his side rescues England's chances of World Cup qualification by beating Costa Rica, he expects a kiss from British monarch Queen Elizabeth II.

Heavyweights England and Uruguay must resurrect their World Cup hopes or face the prospect of an early flight home when they collide in a Group D fixture on Thursday at 1 p.m.

Gianluigi Buffon was back in World Cup training on Tuesday, but Italy would not say whether or not he will be fit to face Costa Rica on Friday.

Uruguay coach Óscar Tabárez said he won't rush Luis Suárez back from a knee injury for his side's World Cup opener against Costa Rica in Fortaleza on Saturday

Suárez underwent an operation on his knee on May 22 and has since been facing a race against time to play any part in the World Cup group stages.

England were held to a goalless draw by ten-man Honduras on Saturday in their final friendly before heading to Brazil for the World Cup.