Preview: COSTA RICA v ENGLAND
[dropcap]W[/dropcap]hatever happens tonight, England will be on the plane back from Brazil so all that remains to be seen is if they go out with a blaze of glory or with a whimper?
For me, England have been a complete enigma. There was so much promise in the first game against Italy, despite the defeat, when they played with a very positive attitude but they looked to have slipped back to their old ways against Uruguay when it finished England 1 Suarez 2.
The final games in Group D take place simultaneously at 5pm today and there’s much more at stake in the Italy v Uruguay match in terms of who progresses to the knock out stages.
England are hot favourites (and being backed) to beat Costa Rica at the Estadio Mineirao in Belo Horizonte which at face value seems strange.
Is it is a case of Costa Rica continuing to be under-estimated?
They were the original outsiders in Group D but won both their games against Italy and Uruguay. True, they may ease off a little tonight, safe in the knowledge that the hard work is done, but equally they still need a point to guarantee winning the Group which is always an advantage to take into the knock-out phase.
There are widespread changes to the England team, so many so that I wouldn’t be surprised to see Roy Hodgson himself in the starting 11.
The latest news is that there will be nine changes including Wayne Rooney being overlooked and Ben Foster replacing Joe Hart in goal.
James Milner, Frank Lampard, Ross Barkley, Jack Wilshere and Adam Lallana are brought into midfield.
It’s the first ever clash between Costa Rica and England and I could easily see this finishing as a draw.