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.
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.
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.
