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Attendance: 57,823
Costa Rica national football team
World Cup | Group Stage
Jun 24, 2014 at 5pm UK
 
England national football team

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Preview: Costa Rica vs. England

Sports Mole looks ahead to England's final World Cup encounter against Costa Rica.

England may have played a more expansive game in Brazil, but it hasn't produced results. Defeats to Italy and Uruguay mean that no matter what result Roy Hodgson's men achieve against Costa Rica in Belo Horizonte on Monday, they cannot qualify for the knockout stages of the World Cup.

With little riding on the contest, Hodgson may give some of those that haven't featured in the first two matches a start.

Consequently, the likes of Phil Jones, Chris Smalling, Luke Shaw and Ross Barkley could all feature, while it may be Steven Gerrard's last outing for England, with reports having suggested that the captain will retire from international football.

As for the Costa Ricans, they have been one of the tournament's surprise packages. With maximum points from their first two encounters, the Central Americans have already guaranteed their place in the last 16.

To avoid injuries or suspensions, head coach Jorge Luis Pinto is expected to make numerous alterations to his starting lineup, with Bryan Ruiz and Joel Campbell among those to be omitted.

Belo Horizonte was the venue where England, who have never previously met Costa Rica, were famously defeated by the USA at the 1950 World Cup.

Recent form

Costa Rica: LWLDWW

England: WWDDLL

Possible starting lineups

Costa Rica: Pemberton; Acosta, Miller, Diaz, Francis; Barrantes, Calvo, Granados, Tejeda; Urena, Brenes

England: Hart; Jones, Smalling, Cahill, Shaw; Gerrard, Wilshere; Lallana, Barkley, Rooney; Sturridge

Sports Mole says: 1-1


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 Manager Roy Hodgson of England looks on during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group D match between England and Italy at Arena Amazonia on June 14, 2014
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Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Germany Germany32107
Q Switzerland Switzerland31205
3 Hungary Hungary31023
4 Scotland flag Scotland30121

Group B

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Q Spain Spain33009
Q Italy Italy31114
3 Croatia Croatia30212
4 Albania national flag Albania30121

Group C

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Q England flag England31205
Q Denmark Denmark30303
Q Slovenia Slovenia30303
4 Serbia Serbia30212

Group D

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Q Austria Austria32016
Q France France31205
Q Netherlands Netherlands31114
4 Poland Poland30121

Group E

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Q Romania Romania31114
Q Belgium Belgium31114
Q Slovakia Slovakia31114
4 Ukraine Ukraine31114

Group F

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Q Portugal Portugal32016
Q Turkey Turkey32016
Q Georgia Georgia31114
4 Czech Republic Czech Republic30121


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