Italy secure slim win over England

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Italy held out against diligent England to earn a 2-1 win, courtesy of goals from Claudio Marchisio and Mario Balotelli, which leaves them second on goal difference in Group D at the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™. Daniel Sturridge had equalised soon after the Juventus midfielder had opened the scoring, but Cesare Prandelli's side held on to their lead for the second time following an early goal after the break.

England began brightly, looking to improve on a record of just one competitive win over Gli Azzurri, as Raheem Sterling rippled the side-netting from range with a rasping effort, before Jordan Henderson forced Salvatore Sirigu into a low save inside the first five minutes.

Antonio Candreva gave Joe Hart a similar test at the other end, but his left-footed strike was dealt with - albeit uncomfortably - by the Manchester City goalkeeper. England continued to look the more threatening though, with Daniele De Rossi going agonisingly close to turning into his own net, diverting Danny Welbeck's cross away from Sturridge and just beyond the far post.

While clear-cut chances were hard to come by, Italy's midfield still looked capable of carving out opportunities, and it was a routine from the training ground that exposed England. A short corner was cut back towards the edge of area and, when Andrea Pirlo dummied superbly, Marchisio had time and space to sweetly fire into the bottom corner.

The Three Lions were behind for just two minutes, however, as Wayne Rooney broke well down the left wing, finding the unmarked Sturridge at the far post who just had to side-foot past Sirigu.

Italy were almost back in front on the stroke of half-time though, with Mario Balotelli almost scoring a spectacular lob from the left side of the area which had to be cleared off the line by Phil Jagielka. Candreva then rattled the post from the resulting corner.

Sirigu was the first goalkeeper forced into action after the break, with a purposeful run from Sturridge ending in a low effort, but Italy retook the lead as Balotelli rose at the back post to meet Candreva's in-swinging cross to beat former City team-mate Hart.

England looked dangerous though, with Rooney, Sterling and Sturridge all combining well, with the latter keen to test Sirigu at every opportunity. Rooney fired narrowly wide of the post after evading the offside trap, before substitute Ross Barkley tested the Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper as Roy Hodgson's side searched for an equaliser.

While England pressed as players progressively tired in the Manaus heat, it was Italy who came closest to scoring again as a Pirlo free-kick smacked the bar in the final moments.

Sturridge: We must repeat performance to Italy.

England may have lost their 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil ™ opener, but Daniel Sturridge want to crunch a repetition in Thursday game with Uruguay. Roy Hodgson, who described Three Lions display against Italy as the best of his Government, despite the Group D with Italy fight ends in a 2-1-defeat.

There were many positive from the game against the four-time champion, in particular their impressive attacking threat and Sturridge scorer take hopes that the result in their can replicate a must-win game with Uruguay, England, however a different result. "It is important that we continue the way we have against Italy to play," said the strong-form Liverpool striker.

"I thought we played very well, it was just unfortunate. There were two very good sites out there, but the breaks and we don't have it. We worked very hard as a team and played good football and created a lot of chances, we lost watching the game.

"We are disappointed because we deserved something from the game, but sometimes you can't get the breaks, which you wish to receive. We worked their "keeper - when you get shots on goal and their ' keeper makes a good save you have to say 'Fair Play'." It was regrettable that we to get something from the game. Sometimes you get lucky, sometimes you not lucky. That's football."

England's attitude and inclinations have deservedly in the aftermath, has been praised, although nothing in the ranks of the group that counts. Only goal difference separates you and below Uruguay placed after Costa Rica, a surprise 3-1-suffered defeat.

The fact that the lost Uruguay before, doesn't really change anything. If she had won their game she would still want to beat us.

England's Daniel Sturridge facing their match with Uruguay, this is a must-win situation for both sides

A delicious meeting is the results of the first round on Thursday in Sao Paulo, where the losers their group stage exit, which see everything else as confirmed. "It is a great game, but which are the ones where everyone is looking forward to the games," Sturridge said. "We all want to play, and regardless of whether we'd won today or not, we are seeking still into it with a positive mindset and positive attitude to win the game.

"Not really nothing to change the fact that the lost Uruguay previously. If they won their game, she would want to hit to us and secure their advance to the next round as early as possible. The Italy result change anything. We have to show two games, what we can do. There is to win two games."

Key is a stronger defensive performance from England and a more clinical edge at the gate to success against Uruguay. Sturridge that first half of the year was strike across England had for 18 shot against Italy with the wayward finishing and the back-up goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu thwart the good performance to show them.

It had looked like an injury, Captain Gianluigi Buffon would increase England's chances on the eve of the match, however, shone his Deputy between the sticks. Collect only, Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper produced several fine England saves his ninth cap for Italy in chess hold and Italy on track for qualification.

"It was good to win, because it showed that we have a little more patience," Sirigu said. "We got some criticism, but it will make us feel relaxed. If I had to play, I would be ready. We hope to come back to him, but.

"He's a big name and he had his little today to say a few words before the game. So there is no problem at all. If he wins, he knows that he back his old place, and I know where my will be. It's so easy."

Buffon to miss Italy opener

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Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon confirmed on Saturday he had been ruled out of his team's opening FIFA World Cup™ clash with England in Manaus.

Buffon limped out of a training session on Friday suffering with a knock and, after receiving treatment, immediately had to undergo sessions of physiotherapy late into the night.

On his personal Twitter page, Buffon urged fans to make light of his absence and support his replacement Salvatore Sirigu in Saturday's Group D battle: "Life is great... and a missed match or another missed World Cup is not going to change my opinion on that !!"

Even if you're not out on the pitch, there are other ways in which you can play an important role.

Gianluigi Buffon, Italy

"And, even if you're not out on the pitch, there are other ways in which you can play an important role. So, go on Salvatore Sirigu !! Go on the lads !! Go on Italy !!"

The loss of Buffon, one of the world's best goalkeepers and a pillar of an Italian side looking to make amends for their first-round exit in 2010 could be a huge blow for Italy. The Juventus 'keeper played only one half-time in South Africa, coming off with a back injury and being replaced by Federico Marchetti.

Italy drew 1-1 with Paraguay, and with Marchetti between the sticks, Italy stumbled badly in their next game, drawing 1-1 with underdogs New Zealand. Italy eventually crashed out thanks to a 3-2 defeat to Slovakia.

Italy fairy tale inspires Ticos heroes

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Every dedicated Costa Rica fan remembers the goal that sent Los Ticos through to the last 16 at the 1990 FIFA World Cup Italy™. It came against Sweden in their final group match and involved Alexandre Guimaraes heading into the path of Hernan Medford, who bore down on goal and planted a right-footed cross-shot into the back of the net.

El Pelicano’s strike gave the Central Americans a 2-1 win, the most important in the country’s history and one that clinched them a place in the knockout phase for the first and only time to date. It was a triumph Los Ticos have been dreaming of repeating ever since, and one that edged closer to becoming a reality on Saturday as the Central Americans came from behind to down Uruguay 3-1 in Fortaleza.

Basking in the afterglow of a famous win, Costa Rica’s heroes spoke to FIFA.com.

Thanks for the memories
The first to present himself before the microphone was Oscar Duarte, the tall central-defender who stooped low to put his side 2-1 ahead with a classic diving header.

Recognising the influence of the 1990 generation on the current Tico crop, the No6 said: “I was only one at the time but everyone knows the story inside out. I’ve also had coaches who played at that World Cup and told me about it. It’s a real motivation for us.”

The defeat of the Swedes 24 years ago has acquired an almost mystical significance for the people of Costa Rica, as Duarte explained. “They even made a film out of it back home. We picked up things from it that we could use on the pitch, and it helped us in a mental sense more than anything else. We just thought that if our predecessors could do it, then there’s no reason why we couldn’t do it.”

The scorer of La Sele’s equaliser against the Uruguayans and the Budweiser Man of the Match, Joel Campbell, also spoke of the inspirational example set by the class of 1990: “Before we came here we decided we would write our own story and go even further. Today was the starting point.”

Turning a page
Mixed in with the delight of getting off to a winning start was a feeling of relief. Defeating Uruguay has allowed the latest Tico generation to move out of the shadow of their illustrious forerunners.

“To be honest, it’s been a heavy burden for several generations of national-team players, every one of which is compared to that one,” acknowledged Cristian Bolanos, one of Costa Rica’s standout performers on Saturday. “Every side gets compared to that team and it isn’t easy. We’ve had to fight against our rivals and our own happy memories.”

Clearly delighted at generating the same happiness as the squad that overachieved at Italy 1990, Bolanos said: “I was just a little boy at the time, only six years old, but I have very vivid memories of the celebrations and people going crazy in the streets. It makes me very, very happy to think that we are now causing that same kind of excitement.”

Having chased the ghosts away, the sky is now the limit for Jorge Luis Pinto’s side, as Marcos Urena, the scorer of Los Ticos’ third goal in Fortaleza, pointed out: “We are very happy but we are not going to lose sight of our objective.

“The history books say that Costa Rica’s best achievement is reaching the last 16 and we want to get there too. This is a really tough group and our remaining opponents are both top sides, though that’s only going to help us maintain our focus.”

Urena’s goal will also live long in the memory of the fans. Like Medford 24 years before him, the front man latched on to a through ball, advanced on goal and placed a precise cross-shot into the back of the net.

His strike will no doubt inspire thousands of Costa Rican youngsters, just as Medford’s epoch-defining goal captured Urena's imagination. The only difference is that this story has yet to reach its conclusion.