WC 2014 Match 37 - Costa Rica vs England

[Hoop Blah]

Agreed Mags, although this game was never going to be one to get the heart racing or one to provide us with a vintage performance.

It did show us yet again that we just aren't clinical enough in front of goal. Sturridge does some really good things at times but his finishing is a little hit and (more often) miss. It's like he's trying to make it look too good at times instead of just concentrating on hitting the target (the pundits on BBC made a nod to Shearer after Suarez's second against England as he just used his technique to leather it past Hart with no messing about).

The rest of the side did ok without really standing out. Lallana, Barkley and Wilshire all tried a few things but, Wilshire aside, just showed they didn't really add much more than Roy's first choice XI. I'd still like to have seen more of Lallana instead of Welbeck in the opening two games though, but Roy obviously wanted the pace and work rate of the latter over the technical ability of the former.

Shaw was probably another positive, although not tested to the extent Baines was against Italy.

[No Fixed Abode]

Well, that was our first point.

And first time we haven't scored

You can blame Sturridge for that.

[Man Friday]

The first 15 minutes CR completely outplayed us

And the last 75 minutes we outplayed them

Bollox did we. Carved out a few half-chances that's all.

Even if we did, it's Costa Rica FFS, a team who didn't have anything to play for.

[Hendo]

And won the group.

[Man Friday]

Exactly.

[double d]

Who would have thought a month ago we would be going home and Costa Rica would be topping the group. Either a testament to how far teams like that have come over the last few years or how cap we are. I knew from watching those abysmal friendlies that we would be in serious trouble at the world cup. Drew with Honduras and Roy Hodgson treats it like a result. We are no longer a 'power force' in football, had we ever been one.