COSTA RICA vs ENGLAND

Costa Rica vs England World Cup 2014 match preview: Frank Lampard expected to captain England's World Cup farewell

 England have to bow out early from the World Cup as two defeats from Italy and Uruguay respectively, as well as two wins for Costa Rica, mathematically spell the end of the Three Lions’ campaign.

                                        Costa Rica, the revelation of this year’s competition, need at least a draw to win the group that everyon

e saw them as its ‘whipping boys’. Manager Jorge Luis Pinto has decided to make a few changes in his starting line-up so as to rest his key players ahead of the next round. Therefore, Fulham striker Bryan Ruiz as well as Arsenal’s Joel Campbell are both expected to sit on the bench.

Both sides have never faced each other

STATS…

This is the first time ever those two sides will square off.

Costa Rica have advanced to the Round of 16 for the second time in their history, as their first qualification occurred at Italia ’90.

If England lose then they will record the worst World Cup performance ever with zero points at the group stage.

Wayne Rooney finally scored his first ever World Cup goal after eight years since his World Cup debut.

Last time England played a World Cup match at Belo Horizonte they were surprisingly beaten by outsiders USA in 1950.