Brazil 2014: Day 14
Day 14 in Brazil. Group C and D completed, Italy surprisingly sent home along with their European counterparts England. Uruguay through but may lose Luis Suarez after a biting allegation. Costa Rica through as leaders of Group D. Columbia face Uruguay, and Costa Rica face Greece.
Results for Tuesday 24 June
Group C
Greece 2-1 Ivory Coast
Samaris 42′ Samaras 90′ (pen) Bony 74′
Ref: Carlos Vera
Att: 59,095
Japan 1-4 Colombia
Okazaki 45′ Cuadrado 17′ (pen) Martinez 55′, 82′ Rodríguez 89′
Ref: Pedro Proença
Att: 40,340
Group D
Costa Rica 0-0 England
Ref: Djamel Haimoudi
Att: 57,823
Italy 0-1 Uruguay
Godín 81′
Ref: Marco Rodríguez
Att: 39,706
Final Tables for Group C and D
| Group C | Group D | |||||||||
| Pos | Team | Played | GD | Points | Pos | Team | Played | GD | Points | |
| 1 | Colombia | 3 | 7 | 9 | 1 | Costa Rica | 3 | 3 | 7 | |
| 2 | Greece | 3 | -2 | 4 | 2 | Uruguay | 3 | 0 | 6 | |
| 3 | Ivory Coast | 3 | -1 | 3 | 3 | Italy | 3 | -1 | 3 | |
| 4 | Japan | 3 | -4 | 1 | 4 | England | 3 | -2 | 1 | |
Fixtures for Wednesday 25th June
Honduras v Switzerland. Group E, Match 41, kick off at 9pm BST, live on BBC 3 at the Arena Amazonia, Manaus
Ecuador v France. Group E, Match 42, kick off at 9pm BST live on BBC 1 at the Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro
Nigeria v Argentina. Group F, Match 43, kick off at 5pm BST, live on ITV at the Estadio Beira-Rio, Porto Alegre
Bosnia-Herzegovina v Iran. Group F, Match 44, kick off at 5pm BST, live on ITV4 at the Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador
Referee appointments
Wednesday 25th June – http://www.exeweb.com/2014/06/23/brazil-2014-referee-appointments-for-25-june/
Thursday 26th – http://www.exeweb.com/2014/06/24/brazil-2014-referee-appointments-for-june-26/
Round of 16 – so far
Saturday 28th June 2014
Brazil V Chile, 5pm
Columbia V Uruguay
Sunday 29th June 2014
Netherlands V Mexico, 5pm
Costa Rica V Greece, 9pm
Quotes
Japan v Columbia
Alberto Zaccheroni, Japan coach
After our previous results we had no option but to go and give it everything we had against the strongest side in Group C. I think we played a lot better today than we did in the previous two matches. You could see that, especially in the first half. Sadly for us, we didn’t approach the tournament in the right way and we didn’t play our usual game in the first two matches. This team could have done a lot, lot more. Unfortunately we didn’t, and as the coach I feel responsible for that.
Jose Pekerman, Colombia coach
Obviously we’re delighted. It was a very tough game for us today, just as we expected, but our confidence was high after our last two wins. Everyone knows how we play and how we can play, because we showed that on the pitch. We’ve maintained our momentum in this group phase, scored goals and we’ve also overcome the obstacles put in front of us. We’ve also been successful at an individual level. I haven’t had a look at Uruguay yet because we were focused on this game, but we know we’re going to be taking on one of the strongest teams in South America and the world and some very experienced players who never know when they’re beaten.
Jackson Martinez (COL), Man of the Match
We’ve gone to the top of the group because we’ve played really well. We had quite a few chances to score in the first half against Japan but it still wasn’t easy. We did a better job of fulfilling our responsibilities in the second half and the goals eventually came. We’ve now got Uruguay in the last 16. It’s not going to be easy at all but it’s also true that we know each other well. We know what we need to do and how we have to play that match.
Greece v Ivory Coast
Fernando Santos, Greece coach
The best team won; the one with the best strategy, most desire and most chances on the night. We scored twice and hit the bar three times. The win was deserved and we showed what we can do. In the first two matches we weren’t focused, which is usually our great strength. We showed we know how to attack too. I told the players this morning this would not be our last match. We are very happy and know that everyone in Greece is delighted.
Sabri Lamouchi, Côte d’Ivoire coach
My contract ended at this World Cup. It won’t be renewed and you can understand why. It makes sense given we came up short at the Africa Cup of Nations and at the World Cup. I gave it my all for two years but my time with Côte d’Ivoire comes to an end tonight unfortunately. I really enjoyed my time with this team and I was very proud to represent this great nation. It was a cruel way to lose, but the Greeks did enough to win. We were one minute away from a famous result but the small details are what decide games at this level. I’m very disappointed and frustrated.
Italy v Uruguay
Oscar Tabarez, Uruguay coach
We tried to play our very best football against a side who always looked to be our most difficult opponents, which they were. We changed the way we played in response to the team facing us: an Italy side with a lot of quality in midfield and which lined up with two strikers, unlike the first two matches. We managed to adapt to the situation when (Claudio) Marchisio was sent off, and we tried to spend more time in their half. Luckily for us, it paid off.
Gianluigi Buffon (ITA), Man of the Match
I’m pleased with my performance, but to be honest this isn’t a trophy I want to be picking up at a time like this. It’s a big blow for me personally, for the team and the whole country. We failed today. We’re sad about the way we played and we need to sit down and have a good think about it. Now is the time for us to examine our consciences.
Cesare Prandelli, Italy coach
It was an even game when it was 11 against 11, with both sides challenging for possession and us creating chances to go through. It was a good match but unfortunately for us Marchisio’s sending-off influenced the rest of the game. I spoke to the heads of the Italian FA afterwards and I told them I’m resigning. We’ve come up short in technical terms and I’m the one who’s responsible for that.
England v Costa Rica
Jorge Luis Pinto, Costa Rica coach
It was an even game today against an opponent who was looking for its first win. I’m delighted we’ve topped the group. We are prepared to face whoever comes and we will face them with great confidence. Our potential rivals from Group C will be difficult as they’re experienced, but we’ll approach them as we have been doing. We’re a well-balanced team with good tactics. It’s great to come to a country like Brazil where football is played and be so good in possession.
Roy Hodgson, England manager
Apart from first the 10 to 12 minutes we dominated totally. We didn’t take our goal chances – if we did we would have comfortably won. We created the chances and that’s important. I’m not concerned about Daniel Sturridge, he’ll take goal chances in the future. I thought we were really unlucky not to win this game. I thought the whole back four was absolutely excellent. We restricted the team to almost no chances. In midfield we dominated and outplayed them.
Keylor Navas, Man of the Match
Thank God we had a great match. I am personally very happy to receive an award, every footballer likes to have his work acknowledged. But I believe ours is a team effort,you can see that on the pitch and we’re very happy about it.