After finishing last in Group D, England is heading home early from the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. Costa Rica and Uruguay have finished atop the group and are advancing to the round of 16, while Italy and the Three Lions finished third and fourth respectively.
England had a promising first group game against Italy, where they lost narrowly 2-1. In that match, forward Daniel Sturridge and midfielder Raheem Sterling had bright performances, with Sturridge netting England’s only goal. The Azzurri had played a particularly strong game, and England had their moments as well, so more was expected from them in their matches against Uruguay and Costa Rica.
England’s second group game against Uruguay was a pivotal match for both sides, as each had lost their first game of the tournament. The two sides looked equally matched until Liverpool forward Luis Suarez broke the deadlock in the 39th minute for Uruguay. Edison Cavani received the ball outside of England’s 18-yard-box and swung in a cross that Suarez redirected to the left of the goal and into the side netting. As each minute passed after Suarez’s goal, England’s World Cup hopes seemed to slowly diminish.
Just as the game seemed lost, forward Wayne Rooney scored his first ever World Cup goal. Defender Glen Johnson cut into Uruguay’s 18-yard-box and slide a pass behind the Uruguayan defenders, which Rooney ran onto and calmly put away. For the next ten minutes, England were the much better side as they were winning every challenge and were creating many scoring opportunities. Just as it seemed England had finally found their stride, Suarez put away the decisive, and his second, goal of the match in the 85th minute. Uruguay’s goalkeeper Fernando Muslera sent a goal kick past midfield where Cavani flicked it on and found a streaking Suarez behind the England defense. Suarez brought it into England’s 18 and ripped a shot past keeper Joe Hart at the near post. Suarez wasn’t ruled offside as the flick by Cavani also deflected off of England captain Steven Gerrard’s head.
All of the air seemed to leave the England fans in attendance, as did any last feelings of hope. Commentator and former England midfielder Steve McManaman personified all the feelings of England supporters and those watching with his response to the goal: “How can … that happen.” England had no response to Suarez’s second goal, and they fell for the second straight game 2-1. Mathematically England was still alive, but in reality, they’re was no way they could muster up anything for their next game against Costa Rica. And their third match against Costa Rica would become a consolation game for them as a win by Costa Rica over Italy officially knocked out the Three Lions.
A 0-0 draw with Costa Rica would close out England’s 2014 World Cup campaign, as well as the international careers of midfielders Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard, the current and former captains of England. This was the first World Cup since 1950 that England did not advance past the first round.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
