Everything in the group stage of the World Cup is interwoven, with a result 1,500 miles away affecting teams preparing for their games 24 hours later. Such was the case Saturday as the favored Germans settled for one point, opening a glorious chance for the U.S. to seize first place Sunday evening with a victory over Portugal.
As Ticos across the country slumber through a National Day of the Hangover after defeating Italy 1-0 on Friday to advance to the next round of the World Cup Brazil 2014, we at The Tico Times were searching for a way to keep the party going.
Football legend Diego Maradona hit out at FIFA after claiming seven of Costa Rica's players were subjected to post-match doping controls over fears sponsors would not pay up if bigger teams like Italy failed to get out of the group stage at the World Cup finals.
RECIFE, Brazil – Costa Rica coach Jorge Luis Pinto said the sky's the limit after the Central Americans claimed their second major scalp of the World Cup on Friday to secure their place in the last 16 for only the second time.
Júnior Díaz set Bryan Ruiz up with an excellent cross. The team captain headed the ball past Italy's keeper, clanging it off the crossbar and just barely across the goal line at the 44th minute. That's all the Ticos would need. Costa Rica closed out Italy in a 1-0 victory.
A sea of red jerseys and Costa Rican flags inundated the main streets and avenues of the country's capital – and across the nation – on Friday following Costa Rica's incredible advancement to the next round of the World Cup Brazil 2014 after beating Italy 1-0.
A Tico win over Italy on Friday would guarantee Costa Rica a spot in the knockout round for only the second time ever. A tie would virtually put them in the next round.
