FIFA World Cup 2014 Day 9 Roundup: Costa Rica stuns Italy, France score 5 for the good

If Sherlock Holmes was tasked with investigating the FIFA World Cup or if somebody in the higher echelons of an IT company conducted a “root cause analysis”, there would be two words sticking out in their reports prominently. “Goals” and “Upsets”.

This World Cup has been like a fountain of youth, which has provided us with the water that takes us to our younger days when we played football with free spirits and danced around the field, enjoying the game. Day 9 was no different as mouth-watering and heart-riveting football from the land of the Samba quenched the thirst for “good football” of all football fans around the globe.

3 games, 11 goals, 1 huge upset and 1 come-from-behind victory. Are you not entertained?

Oops! They did it again..

Costa Rica celebrates defeating Italy 1-0 during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group D match between Italy and Costa Rica at Arena Pernambuco on June 20, 2014 in Recife, Brazil.

If the game doesn’t cater to one of the main themes, it certainly has done to the other. Somebody might have leaked the theme to the Costa Ricans. So, in their second game of the campaign they obliged (again)

After defeating the 7th ranked team in the World Cup, Costa Rica weren’t satisfied. So just for the sake of appeasing their appetite, they went on and beat the 9th ranked team in the form of Italy.

Costa Rica took full advantage of a sluggish looking Italian side that seemed devoid of ideas.

The Azzuri certainly did start on a great note with Mario Balotelli coming close on two occasions. But a combination of bad finishing and steady goalkeeping from Keylor Navas made sure that the eccentric forward would later come back to rue the misses.

However the 2006 champions fizzed out as the Costa Ricans slowly but surely made their way back into the after a placid opening spell and by the half-hour mark were bossing it.

Oscar Duarte came close to opening the accounts in the 42nd minute and moments later, the Costa Ricans threatened again, but only to be left with question “Why?”

Joel Campbell was bundled over by Giorgio Chiellini inside the penalty box. While it looked the easiest decision that the referee would have all day to point to the spot, the official decided to look away, much to the disappointment and displeasure of the underdogs.

Costa Rica wisely decided not to dwell on the injustice that was served. 120 seconds later the Ticos had found salvation. Junior Diaz’s pinpoint cross from the left found Bryan Ruiz who nodded it in to set the net rippling.

The Azurri made a valiant effort in the second-half but never looked to possess the ability to set the cat amongst the pigeons. Even the introductions of Antonio Cassano, Alessio Cerci and Lorenzo Insigne didn’t make much of a difference for the 4 time winners, as they had to be content with long range efforts without any real venom in them.

Anticipated by most to be the whipping boys in Group D, the CONCACAF nation now find themselves at the top of the group standings. After 2 rounds of games, the Ticos now have a clear 3 point lead and an assured place in the second round of the competition.

Meanwhile, the game between Uruguay and Italy will now decide, who will join Jorge Luis Pinto’s men in the round of 16.

Bleus is the colour

Meanwhile in Salvador, France compelled us to think about their candidacy for becoming a favourite for the Cup this time round.

After mauling Honduras, the French hammered the Swiss as they pumped in 5 into the Swiss net for their due cause. In fact, it would not have been a surprise at all if the French had scored even more, with the chances they had.

To put in in a word, Didier Deschamp’s men were simply “magnificent”. They were the aggressor; the bosses in the game from the get go.

Even when Olivier Giroud opened the scoring in the 17th minute, it felt that they were a bit late to the party; so impressive was their performance.

La Nati was no match for Les Bleu in the game. A minute later and the net was sent rippling again. Karim Benzema fed the on rushing Blaise Matuidi, who slotted it at the near post to leave Diego Benaglio red-face and double France’s advantage. The game was slipping away from the Swiss like sand sliding away from between the fingers and there seemed nothing they could do to stop it.

Banglios made up for his error with a penalty save in the opening minutes of the second half, but it was criminal of Benzema from the spot and then Yohan Cabaye from the rebound to not punish the Swiss.

However, this game won’t be remembered for these misses as five minutes later Mathieu Valbuena put a three goal cushion between the team as he got himself at the end of a low Olivier Giroud cross to put the game to bed.

France’s unquenchable thirst however was not satisfied. Karim Benzema and then Moussa Sissoko pile on more misery for the Swiss with goals of their own to increase the cushion to an astounding five goals.

Blerim Džemaili and Granit Xhaka brought some semblance of pride back in to ranks of the Swiss as they hit two for the Swiss in the dying minutes, but it’s hard to see the pages of history recounting any Swiss at the end of this game.

France was an afterthought when this tournament began. After this result, it’s hard to see the others put them in the same box as before.

Valencia to the rescue

A brace from Enner Valencia ensured that Ecuador’s hopes of going through to the next round remain alive.

The forward’s strikes in the 34th and 65th minute made for a memorable come from behind win for the South American. In doing so, Ecuador became the eighth in 9 days of the competition to record a victory coming from behind. How is that for entertainment?

Enner Valencia had his first chance in the 19th minute when his namesake and Manchester United winger Antonio Valencia played the pacy striker in behind the Honduran the defence. The finish however eluded the heart-broken Valencia as his curling attempt failed to find the back of the net.

His misery was further compounded on 30 minutes when Honduras took the lead. Jorge Guagua’s mishit long hoof fell kindly for Carlo Costly, who made no mistake in beating Alexander Domínguez with a low shot to give Honduras the prized lead.

Enner Valencia however would redeem himself just four minutes later. He was man on the spot as Juan Carlos Paredes’ shot ricocheted off Jorge Claros, only to fall kindly at the feet of the forward. He made no mistake this time round, putting it past Noel Valladares to level the game.

The winner for this one came in the 65th minute. It was a sort of Déjà vu for La Tri, who they had scored from a more or less similar set piece against the Swiss in their opener. Walter Ayoví’s deep cross found a Enner Valencia who rose above all to meet the set-piece and give Ecuador a memorable victory.