Group D has progressed as predicted, England were deemed as “inferior”, before being deemed as “young and exciting”, and now that they’re out from the World Cup, the blame game has begun. Italy and Uruguay will lock horns later tonight, not to decide who will take first or second in the group but to qualify outright. Costa Rica, received the script regarding this summer’s tournament, decides to throw it away and rewrote their own story, claiming the scalps of Uruguay and Italy. It’s been chock-full of surprises in group D that’s for sure.
COSTA RICA
Can they complete the triple crown?
Yes, I’m naming Costa Rica’s imaginary scalps so far as the triple crown, the fact that it is similar to the horse racing competition doesn’t matter to me. What matters is, can Costa Rica claim it?
Following their win against Uruguay, people would simply attribute it as a “fluke”, this Uruguay side are not the force they used to be three to four years ago, when they make the semifinal of the 2010 World Cup and claimed the 2011 edition of Copa America. Plus, they were also missing Luis Suarez who was short on fitness after recovering from a knee injury. In other words, it’s what the Uruguayans didn’t do, is the cause of Costa Rica’s win, instead of what the Costa Ricans did.
What did exactly the Costa Ricans did? Well, for one thing they pressed their opponents enthusiastically, knowing that they could not match either one of the three teams in their groups in terms of a slow-build up game, Costa Rica opted to run every chance they get with the ball. This was true in the build up to their equalizer against Uruguay, after taking possession in their own half, Costa Rica hit the ball out wide before delivering a cross that misses everyone but fall nicely for Joel Campbell to apply the finish. Another long ball not dealt with by Uruguay’s defense give Costa Rica the shock lead moments later. In the 83rd minute, Uruguay give possession needlessly and then from the right flank a long through ball set up Marco Ureña to score Costa Rica’s third.
Against Italy, there might be argument that Cesare Prandelli got his tactics wrong. Using only one striker, Costa Rica found it easy to nullify Mario Balotelli, add to the fact that perhaps in order not to let his side be stretched out against a run-happy Costa Rica side, Italy’s players mostly sat very deep. While it may worked in the sense that they didn’t got beaten too badly in the scoreline, Costa Rica managed to dominate possession against Italy in the first half. The long ball was once again Costa Rica’s weapon of choice, a cross from the left flank allows Bryan Ruiz, who made a smart run in behind Italy’s defense to head home.
Costa Rica knows their limitations, if they tried to kept the ball and engage in a slow paced buildup it would spell their doom against teams that are technically more superior than them. They’re also a threat with the set-piece and long balls, something that they have utilize to a great effect thus far in the World Cup. Against a hurting (and much changed) England side, Costa Rica has the perfect opportunity to sweep their groups.
ITALY
Which Italy will show up against Uruguay?
Italy played in a similar manner, yet had a differing results in their two games here in the World Cup. While their win against England was a brilliant tactical execution, their defeat against Costa Rica may be a result of overthinking it. Now with an elimination game against Uruguay on the cards, which Italy will appear?
This Italian side has a nice balance in almost every positions, barring the fullbacks. Their defense comprised of three Juventus stalwarts that dominated Serie A, Gianluigi Buffon, Andrea Barzagli, and Giorgio Chiellini are experienced internationals in their own right. Their midfield are also filled with technical players that suit Prandelli’s style. The evergreen Andrea Pirlo spraying balls everywhere on the field, Daniele De Rossi providing the grit (he’s no slouch in the passing department either, he’s had more successful passes than Pirlo), with Thiago Motta, Marco Verratti, and Antonio Candreva rounding up the side. Upfront, Balotelli may provide headaches but when he’s on song he’s capable of beating any defenses, while off the bench Serie A’s topscorer Ciro Immobille and Lorenzo Insigne provides attacking impetus if needed.
Italy’s two differing performances can be attributed to Cesare Prandelli. The tactician in chief set his team perfectly against England, knowing that England will try to utilize their pace, Italy opted to sit back and soak pressure, and they took their chance well (Italy had 13 shots compared to England’s 18, but hit the target on three occasions, with another two hitting the woodwork), they also exploit England’s vulnerable left back (Leighton Baines) whipping in crosses after crosses from his side of the defense (which lead to the winning goal).
But against Costa Rica, Prandelli was not bold enough in his tactics. With Costa Rica starting three centre-backs, Prandelli only use a lone striker in Balotelli, while Mario is a strong lad, three against one are asking too much of him. Italy’s fullbacks, did not offer attacking support by making runs into the opponents half, as evidenced by Matteo Darmian’s lack of passes in the attacking third (compared to against England here), only after the half-time with Italy trailing that Darmian started making his foray forward. By the end of the game, only two of Italy’s starters influenced the game in the opponent’s half, Balotelli and Candreva.
Against Uruguay, Prandelli can’t afford to be cautious. This doesn’t mean that Italy should go gung-ho and disregard their shape and defending. After all, Uruguay have Luis Suarez, a player notorious for exploiting the gap between midfield and defense. With Daniele De Rossi a doubt for this game, perhaps a start for Immobile is on the cards, giving Uruguay’s defense another threat to deal with while also serving as Italy’s targetman and giving space for Balotelli to work with. As Italy’s fate hang in the balance, can Prandelli make the necessary changes?
URUGUAY
Can Luis Suarez carry this team single handedly?
As he showed against England, Suarez can be the decisive factor, even at less than 100%, but can he do it again against a more solid Italy? And how far can Uruguay go depending on Suarez? Those are the questions that face Uruguay as they prepare for a showdown against Italy where only a win will do for them (a draw would favor Italy who have a goal difference of 0 compared to Uruguay’s -1).
We’ve seen in the past how one man has single-handedly carry a team to success, in 1986 Maradona dazzled and leads Argentina to their second World Cup glory, but nowadays it’s getting harder to find such an example. In this World Cup alone, two of the world’s best has found it tough to carry their team to win games. Ronaldo struggles with Portugal, and added to the fact that he’s less than 100% healthy (with four of his teammates on the mend as well), Portugal are very likely looking at an early exit. Lionel Messi had it better thus far, with him scoring twice to give Argentina two wins, but you wonder how far can Argentina rode their luck on Messi’s brilliance alone.
Thus the prospect of Suarez single-handedly carrying his team to something resembling their 2010 achievement is perhaps a bit far-fetched. Back in 2010, Suarez was not Uruguay’s main threat, instead he was part of an attacking trident spearheaded by Diego Forlan, along with Edinson Cavani. Though he did scored three goals, he was best remembered for stopping Ghana from making the semifinal with his hand (which he did with both hands). This year, Forlan is an aging striker playing in Japan, while Cavani has endured a tough season in PSG playing second fiddle to Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Don’t discount Suarez from providing a moment of magic, after all he did score twice against England and put them to the sword. But with just one game to go, Suarez World Cup adventure is likely to end prematurely, unlike in South Africa.
ENGLAND
Where did it go wrong for England?
Balotelli’s winner, Rooney’s header hitting the crossbar, and Gerrard’s unfortunate header beating England’s back line, are just some moments that can be singled out as “ahh that’s where England lost it” moment. Balotelli’s goal, though it came early in the second half was decisive, Rooney made amends after his header hit the crossbar, tapping in from close to restore parity against Uruguay. Gerrard’s unfortunate header from Fernando Muslera’s long punt, did set up Suarez’s winning goal, but the moment it went wrong for England was a bit earlier.
After an impressive display where he terrorizes Italy’s defense, Raheem Sterling started his second World Cup match. Against a rattled Uruguayan side that has had their confidence shook by Costa Rica, Sterling had the perfect opportunity to carry on and help England to a much needed three points. But there was one small detail, Sterling was started on the right side of an attacking trio behind lone striker Daniel Sturridge, instead of in the No.10 role, which was given to Wayne Rooney.
While in these days and age, positions aren’t so rigidly defined with players capable of roaming from left to right and interchanges with others, it was a significant move for Sterling. Against Italy, playing in the centre he was able to interchange with Rooney drifting inside, while Sterling goes wide and took on Italy’s leftback-of-the-day Giorgio Chiellini. He had quite a ball against Chiellini as several times he glided past the Juventus defender. The exact opposite happened against Uruguay, with Sterling unable to influence the game as much as he did against Italy.
The reason for this? Being stationed on the right means that Sterling’s movement was less static, and his interchange with Rooney was basically non-existent as he’s already in his preferred spot. It made Uruguay’s defenders job easier as they don’t have to worry of getting pulled out of place. Uruguay’s left back, Alvaro Pereira took advantage of this by making overlapping runs towards England’s half, which means that Sterling had to track back. Comparing Pereira and Chiellini’s passes in the attacking third, one gets the idea of who was more involved in supporting their team’s attack.
Sterling’s influence thus was greatly reduced, almost all indicators proved this. He only attempted a single cross compared to the seven he attempted against Italy. His passes in the attacking third was infrequent and limited to the right side, whereas against Italy he did it more frequently from both sides of the field. Sterling, who was carrying a yellow card from the previous match, was subbed-off in the 64th minute by Ross Barkley, perhaps as a precaution for the next game. In hindsight, Roy would probably best served replacing the ineffective Danny Welbeck instead and risked Sterling. After all, if Sterling misses the game against Costa Rica, Hodgson can still bring in Adam Lallana to replace him. Sterling will now start off the bench against Costa Rica, with England already out. While keeping Sterling on the field does not guarantee an England win, perhaps it could’ve make a world of difference, just like swapping Sterling and Rooney in the line-up.
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