Costa Rica vs Greece: Latest news, likely line-ups and prediction

Sport360 staff 06:20 29/06/2014
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  • Better late than never: Georgios Samoras’ goal put Greece through at the death.

    Fernando Santos admits it would be foolish for his Greece team to under-estimate giant-killers Costa Rica, who will look to make history in Recife tonight.

    When Costa Rica were placed in Group D at the World Cup draw last December, there seemed little hope of the Central American nation making it through to the second round. But six months later, Costa Rica have taken everyone by surprise, out-smarting three former world champions to progress to the last 16.

    Jorge Luis Pinto’s men stunned Uruguay 3-1 and then beat Italy 1-0 to send England out of the tournament with one match to spare. In contrast, Greece only just squeezed into the knockout round by the skin of their teeth, Georgios Samaras converting a late penalty to hand Fernando Santos’s men a decisive 2-1 win over Ivory Coast to book their first ever last 16 appearance. It was only Greece’s second goal in three matches.

    Costa Rica’s progression has been one of the good news stories of the tournament so far and it has also made Greece wary of what awaits them in Recife.

    Greece coach Santos said: “We have to pay a lot of attention, they came out top in the ‘Group of Death’. We have time to think about the match with Costa Rica – we will go back to our base, think about it and study our opponents.”

    Santos, who had extensive experience as a club coach in Greece before replacing the UEFA Euro 2004 winning handler Otto Rehhagel in 2010, is not so amused by the continuing belief that Greece only know how to defend and hit people with the odd goal.

    “I can but laugh as it is a joke. In football one attacks and one defends. We know how to defend well and we are very good on the counter-attack,” he said.

    Greece will be without midfielder Panagiotis Kone through injury. Goalkeeper Orestis Karnezis should be fit despite suffering a knock against the Africans.

    Santos must decide whether to recall captain Kostas Katsouranis, who was suspended for the Ivory Coast match.

    The winner of this evening’s match will take on either Mexico or Holland, who play earlier in the day,in the quarter-finals. But if Greece progress, the country’s federation bosses will need to look for a quickfix solution to keep Santos on board for a few extra days.

    Santos’ contract runs out the day after the last 16 clash, and the trained electrical engineer has no intention of having it renewed come what may.

    LIKELY LINE-UPS

    Costa Rica (5-4-1)
    Navas; Gamboa, Duarte, Gonzalez, Umana, Diaz; Ruiz, Borges, Tejeda, Bolanos; Campbell

    Greece (4-2-3-1) 
    Karnezis; Torosidis, Manolas, Sokratis, Holebas; Maniatis, Karagounis; Salpingidis, Samaris, Christodoulopoulos; Samaras

    PREDICTION

    It won’t be pretty, but expect Greece to use their defensive organisation and nous to claim a narrow 1-0 win.

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