Italy shocked by unfancied Costa Rica

Italy's chances of progress are jolted by Costa Rica who seal their place in the last-16 at Brazil 2014 with the win.

Costa Rica produced another huge upset to reach the knockout stages of the World Cup for the second time with Bryan Ruiz's goal securing a 1-0 Group D win overItaly that also ensured England were eliminated.

Ruiz headed powerfully home a minute before halftime to leave Costa Rica fans dancing in the sunshine at Recife's Pernambuco arena.

"We kept up our heads. It was a beautiful match... The people of Costa Rica deserve this. They supported the team and me. This was for them," said ecstatic coach Jorge Luis Pinto.

Costa Rica top the group with six points, having already beaten Uruguay in their first game, while Italy, three points adrift, now need at least a draw from their final game against Uruguay, also on three points, to go through on goal difference.

"We knew this would be a particularly tough group. We will try to recover all our energy for the Uruguay game," said Italy coach Cesare Prandelli.

"We didn't get our tactics wrong. They were very, very aggressive and we were trying to find different ways into the game but we didn't manage it."

In making the last-16 for the first time in 24 years, the Central Americans ensured England became the latest team to make a surprise early exit, leaving at the group stages for the first time since 1958.

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