Drab draw leaves Costa Rica top, England last

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Drab draw leaves Costa Rica top, England last

England's midfielder Steven Gerrard and England's forward Wayne Rooney leave the field after a 0-0 draw during a Group D match between Costa Rica and England - RONALDO SCHEMIDT / AFP

Tournament sensations Costa Rica drew 0-0 with England in Belo Horizonte on Tuesday to top World Cup Group D unbeaten and leave their winless opponents bottom of the table.

The Central American outsiders had already defied the tag of minnows to record stunning wins over both Uruguay and Italy, taking them into the last 16 for the first time since their maiden World Cup in 1990.

The draw against England allowed them to secure first place, while Uruguay seized second spot with a 1-0 win against 10-man Italy in Natal.

"We're very satisfied," said Costa Rica's Colombian coach Jorge Luis Pinto.

"England are one of the main teams in the world. They're real champions, so we know it'd be a difficult game. We were able to get a point.

"I thought it was a very even game. We have proved we can play good football and this makes me feel proud."

Sixty-four years on from their humiliating 1-0 loss to the United States in the city, a youthful and much-changed England side were unable to restore pride after their earliest World Cup exit since 1958.

Manager Roy Hodgson made nine changes to his starting XI, notably handing first competitive starts to 18-year-old Luke Shaw and 20-year-old Ross Barkley, but his side laboured in the Estadio Mineirao sunshine.

Hodgson, however, struck an upbeat note, saying: "Apart from the first 10 to 12 minutes, we dominated totally.

"We didn't take our goal chances. If we did, we would have comfortably won. We created the chances and that's important.

"I thought we were really unlucky not to win this game. I thought the whole back four was absolutely excellent. We restricted the team to almost no chances. In midfield we dominated and outplayed them."

Further emphasising the mood of change for England, Frank Lampard captained the team and Steven Gerrard came on for what are likely to have been their final international appearances. But the day belonged to Costa Rica.

Pinto's side had already qualified thanks to their wins over Uruguay and Italy and they can now look forward to a likely last-16 encounter with the Ivory Coast, whose group concludes later on Tuesday.

- Sturridge's touch betrays him -

With Prince Harry, fourth in line to the British throne, watching from the stands, England's would-be footballing heirs looked to make an aggressive start, but it was Costa Rica who threatened first.

Arsenal forward Joel Campbell's 20-yard dig took a deflection off Gary Cahill that sent it fractionally wide of the right-hand post, but no corner was awarded.

Some of the Costa Ricans' interchanges conveyed the exuberance of a team riding the crest of a wave, but England began to make inroads, with Daniel Sturridge curling narrowly wide and thrashing a long-ranger off-target.

Celso Borges then came within inches of putting Costa Rica ahead, only for England goalkeeper Ben Foster -- making a first competitive start since 2009 -- to brilliantly touch his 25-yard free-kick onto the bar.

England finished the first half brightly, Sturridge heading over and Barkley blasting wide, but there was little tempo to the game.

The torpor persisted in the second period and England's technical deficiencies continuing to dog them, with Sturridge's poor first touch after a Shaw shot had ricocheted into his path allowing Costa Rica goalkeeper Keylor Navas to make a brave save.

When England belatedly produced a moment of quality, Sturridge initiating a smart one-two with Jack Wilshere, the Liverpool striker could only bend the ball wide from 10 yards.

Hodgson sent on Raheem Sterling, Gerrard and Wayne Rooney as the game drifted towards its conclusion.

Rooney saw a characteristic chip touched over the bar by Navas, but there was to be no late salvo from England, whose frustrated fans had to be subdued by riot police as the final whistle neared.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2014-06-25

[RickBradford]

What a shambles.

It's been written that young players like Shaw, Barkley, Wilshere, Sterling are England's new "golden generation".

If that was "golden", then sh*te's Coppertone.

[zaphod reborn]

One thing that has become painfully obvious was that the FIFA WC rankings were way off base. Group D was supposed to be the second strongest group, and was labeled a "Group of Death". It was a group of mediocrity at best with England being barely mediocre. Uruguay had been upset several times during the qualifications stage and had no business being in the top 20 of the FIFA rankings. The sides from CONMEBOL, like Brazil, Argentina, Columbia and Chile are very strong, and the CONCACAF sides (Costa Rica, Mexico and US) were much stronger than FIFA had ranked.

[Baerboxer]

Two losses and a very banal draw, from some of the highest paid soccer players in the world. And the manager remains upbeat. Says it all really.

[Baerboxer]

One thing that has become painfully obvious was that the FIFA WC rankings were way off base. Group D was supposed to be the second strongest group, and was labeled a "Group of Death". It was a group of mediocrity at best with England being barely mediocre. Uruguay had been upset several times during the qualifications stage and had no business being in the top 20 of the FIFA rankings. The sides from CONMEBOL, like Brazil, Argentina, Columbia and Chile are very strong, and the CONCACAF sides (Costa Rica, Mexico and US) were much stronger than FIFA had ranked.

You can certainly see the teams with the hungry passionate players as opposed to the over paid "stars" who repeatedly don't perform.

Something seriously needs looking at in UK football. England are 'the best" of the UK while Scottish football has been in the doldrums for what seems an eternity.

[lee b]

Well another fail for England. Hoped for more, stayed up all night watching there games and yet again let down. Well looking on the bright side, at least I am going to watch some good football now.

[RichBKK]

This

"I thought we were really unlucky not to win this game. I thought the whole back four was absolutely excellent. We restricted the team to almost no chances. In midfield we dominated and outplayed them."

Eh?

Oh and this...

Hodgson: "I'm pleased we gave the fans something to cheer about with our performance. We outplayed them in midfield." #CRC 0-0 #ENG.

Is he taking the mick? Sadly I don't think he is. Tipping point for me. Piss off back to Fulham you mediocre t***t

[stephen terry]

Well I don't know what you all were watching - or the commentators, come to that. I thought it was an intriguing game throughout until the subs came on and brought the England team back down to mediocre. Sterling, sorry, flatters to deceive - loses the ball too often. Gerrard, sorry, past it. Rooney, hasn't fired yet again. Why did RH bring them on, at all?

The whole defence played a hell of a lot better than the 'a' team, Smalling clicked with Cahill and the two full backs were solid, and Foster in goal commanded his 6 yard box admirably. The midfield was solid and the youngsters did well in the first half. Sturridge missed 5 opportunities by not thinking quick enough. I would have liked to have seen Lambert given a run out, even if he's pushing on a bit.

Hodgson - at last came to his senses and fielded a 442 which he should have done against Uruguay,but tactically he was naive throughout this tournament. His experimental line-ups were a disaster and cost us qualification - or at least a stab at it. He should do the honourable thing and resign, like the Italy manager.

[Ulic]

The FIFA rankings are about as accurate as the US Credit ratings agencies.

[bigbamboo]

Well I don't know what you all were watching - or the commentators, come to that. I thought it was an intriguing game throughout until the subs came on and brought the England team back down to mediocre. Sterling, sorry, flatters to deceive - loses the ball too often. Gerrard, sorry, past it. Rooney, hasn't fired yet again. Why did RH bring them on, at all?

The whole defence played a hell of a lot better than the 'a' team, Smalling clicked with Cahill and the two full backs were solid, and Foster in goal commanded his 6 yard box admirably. The midfield was solid and the youngsters did well in the first half. Sturridge missed 5 opportunities by not thinking quick enough. I would have liked to have seen Lambert given a run out, even if he's pushing on a bit.

Hodgson - at last came to his senses and fielded a 442 which he should have done against Uruguay,but tactically he was naive throughout this tournament. His experimental line-ups were a disaster and cost us qualification - or at least a stab at it. He should do the honourable thing and resign, like the Italy manager.

Some people are easily pleased! Roy should invite you round for tea.

We were playing a Costa Rica team who had already qualified, were resting key players and were more concerned with not picking up any injuries or bookings.

If we ever want to win a trophy again I suggest the FA revive the Home Internationals quick before Bale becomes world class and the Scots realise just how bad we are.