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SBI Saturday Rewind: Costa Rica’s shocking upset; Brazil in the U.S.; Leroux’s game-winner; and more

Brazil 2014 stadium

By CAITLIN MURRAY

The high-scoring affairs and surprising results haven’t been used up yet as the third day of the 2014 World Cup treated fans to another round of spectacular goals, plus a shocking upset.

After going down a goal to Uruguay in the first half, Costa Rica came surging back to net an unexpected 3-1 win. The result meant by the third day of Brazil 2014, CONCACAF was the only federation to not have lost a match in the World Cup so far. No. 7 FIFA-ranked Uruguay were easily the favorites against No. 28 Costa Rica, even without star striker Luis Suarez, who coach Oscar Tabarez said would rest to buy more time after his surgery.

In stateside news, American fans could be the first to see the new world champions play after winning the World Cup — as long as the winning team is Brazil. The Brazilians will come to the U.S. for two friendlies after the tournament, it was announced. And in women’s soccer, Sydney Leroux again netted the U.S. Women’s National Team a positive result in a friendly against France — the team’s first game with Jill Ellis as head coach.

Here is a rundown of all the stories featured on SBI today:

WORLD CUP:

Campbell leads Costa Rica to unexpected comeback win over Uruguay

SBI World Cup Man of the Match: Joel Campbell

Balotelli header the difference as Italy top England

SBI World Cup Man of the Match: Andrea Pirlo

Second half quick-fire double leads Ivory Coast past Japan

SBI World Cup Man of the Match: Serge Aurier

Colombia begin World Cup campaign with comfortable win vs. Greece

SBI World Cup Man of the Match: Mario Yepes

World Cup Day 3: Your Running Commentary

World Cup Day 3: A Look Ahead

INTERNATIONAL SOCCER:

Afternoon Ticker: Ronaldo back to 100 percent; Brazil schedules U.S.-based friendlies; and more

U.S. WOMEN’S NATIONAL TEAM:

Leroux lifts USWNT over France in first test for new coach Ellis

Comments

  1. Clearly, Uruguay thought they could rest Suarez and still beat CR. I am so happy they lost because now they are guaranteed to lose one of their other two group matches and Lil Bitey will have to skulk off the field in tears.

    Reply
    • Sorry. message sent before completed.

      I disagree that the Costa Rica victory was a “shocking upset.” Furthermore, by saying so, the whole of CONCACAF is diminished. Costa Rica really showed well in qualifying. I am not surprised they defeated Uruguay, nor will I be surprised if they also defeat England.

      Reply
      • CR can beat England. That would be a minor upset as well, but it could happen. Getting this win (and that third goal) in the opener was huge for the Ticos. They may only need a tie against England to get through with 4 points, assuming England can beat Uruguay, which is far from certain.

      • Was going to make the same point. An upset? I can go along with that. Shocking? No. CR is pretty good

      • Not shocking to me either, but in the land of Eurosnobia conventional wisdom, it is absolutely shocking. CONCACAF gets no respect. Even after their stunning display, the three Americans on ESPN with an inferiority complex still gave CR no chance of getting out of the group (ironically, the two Europeans said they could and maybe would).

        Games like this will help change the perception though. I said this elsewhere but anyone who watched WC previews, when this group was brought up Costa Rica was never even mentioned. Literally, they weren’t even acknowledged.

    • It was an upset for two reasons. One, in FIFA rankings there’s a large gap between the teams. I know that FIFA rankings aren’t the best measuring stick, but it’s one legitimate reason to call CR’s victory an “upset”.

      Second is the quality of players on each team. There’s no doubt that Uruguay has more talented individual players and so for them to lose to an inferior opponent.

      Each time a CONCACAF team wins, it will earn a little more respect for the region, but we shouldn’t just go in thinking that every team is equal because that’s just not true.

      Reply
      • I don’t rate this. Uruguay’s ranking was based almost primarily on their 2011 Copa America win. They had to go to a playoff to qualify for the World Cup finals. Costa Rica finished second in the Hexagonal, which was no cakewalk, by the way. This is why people don’t put much weight in the FIFA rankings.

        Uruguay has individual talent, sure; however, they haven’t been playing very well as a team. It might still be an upset, but nowhere near as large as the gulf between their rankings, or the prestige of their respective club teams, might suggest.

      • Brett,

        The Ticos beating Uruguay was an upset but it wasn’t surprising or shocking, not if after watching the first half.

        Uruguay is more or less the same 2010 team minus Suarez, and they look like it only four years older and that much slower.

        They underestimated Costa Rica, think of the US beating Spain in the 2009 Confederations Cup.
        Uruguay probably still don’t believe it happened. I hope Ghana, Portugal and Germany feel the same way about the USMNT.

        The Ticos played about as well as I have ever seen them.

        It’s great for CONCACAF but upsets like this are a staple in the World Cup.

        It should tell you that when people say that all the games in the World Cup are hard you should believe them.

  2. no mention yet of the NYRB result. People actually think that Petke is a somebody. He is a NY Metro. What greater insult could there be?

    Reply

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