#2014FIFAWORLDCUP: Costa Rica Defeats Greece 5 - 3 In Penalty Shootout

Costa Rica have progressed into the quarter-finals of the World Cup after beating Greece 5-3 in a thrilling penalty shootout in Recife tonight.

It was the Central Americans who managed to get away the first shot of the night, with Bryan Ruiz sliding a pass out to Christian Bolanos whose effort from a tight angle flew over the bar on eight minutes.

Shortly after, Lazaros Christodoulopoulos beat two men as he cut inside from the left flank, before dragging his long-range attempt wide of the target.

Greece started to enjoy more of the ball as the half progressed, and Giorgos Karagounis came close to opening the scoring when he struck the ball from 25-yards out which Keylor Navas did well to handle just short of the half-hour mark.

Navas was called into action once more before the interval, this time to deny Dimitris Salpingidis's first-time finish at the back post with a superb stop to ensure that the scores remained level at the break.

The breakthrough came seven minutes after the restart when Ruiz steered a low pass into the bottom corner of the net with Orestis Karnezis left rooted to the spot, to give La Sele a 1-0 lead with their first real attack of the second half.

With over 20 minutes still left to play, Costa Rica defender Oscar Duarte was shown a second yellow card of the night to give Greece real hope of staging a comeback.

Following a couple of half-chances, the Ethniki turned the screw further as Lazaros pounced on a loose cross which he could only send wide.

Some fine play on the left by Lazaros created an opening for substitute Kostas Mitroglou, but the striker was unable to convert the chance.

Then, as the game entered injury time, centre-back Sokratis Papastathopoulos levelled the contest as he tapped home after Theofanis Gekas's shot on the turn was pushed into his path by Navas.

Greece could have won it with seconds remaining, but Navas pulled off another superb save to deny Mitroglou to send the game into extra time.

Despite the numerical disadvantage, it was Costa Rica who came closest to breaking the deadlock during extra time as second-half substitute Randall Brenes volleyed narrowly wide of the mark minutes after the restart.

The Greeks could have then nicked it at the death but Navas, just as he did at the end of normal time, denied Mitroglou and it soon transpired that penalties were needed to separate both teams.

Seven perfectly executed penalties from both sides saw Costa Rica hold a slender 4-3 lead, but Navas's save from Gekas handed Michael Umana the opportunity to win it once and for all - and the 31-year-old duly obliged, stroking home the winning penalty to seal their progression and book a last-eight clash with the Netherlands.

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#2014FIFAWORLDCUP PREVIEW: Costa Rica Vs Greece

Costa Rica have caused one of the surprises of the World Cup by topping a group that included Uruguay, Italy and England.

However, Jorge Luis Pinto's side are fully deserving of a place in the last 16, and they will fancy their chances against a Greece side that only qualified for the second round in the final minute of their match with Ivory Coast.

Pinto is likely to keep changes to a minimum as he looks to maintain his team's momentum in the tournament.

Greece looked down and out against Ivory Coast on Tuesday evening before Georgios Samaras struck from the penalty spot in added-on time to help his team reach the knockout stages for the first time in their history.

However, the win came at a price as goalkeeper Orestis Karnezis and midfielder Panagiotis Kone both picked up injuries during the game, which leaves them as huge doubts for the showdown in Recife.

Recent form

Costa Rica: WLDWW

Greece: DWLDW

Possible starting lineups

Costa Rica: Navas, Gamboa, Diaz Campbell, Miller, Gonzalez, Duarte, Ruiz, Borges, Campbell, Tejeda Valverde, Brenes

Greece: Glykos, Torosidis, Holebas, Karagounis, Manolas, Papastathopoulos, Salpingidis, Maniatis, Samaras, Samaris, Christodoulopoulos

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#2014FIFAWORLDCUP: Greece 2 - 1 Ivory Coast

Greece have gone through to the second round of the World Cup at the expense of Ivory Coast, after a late penalty from Giorgios Samaras secured a 2-1 win for the Euro 2004 champions.

Both teams, eager to secure a win to try and secure progress to the knockout stages of the tournament, were lively from the opening stages.

Gervinho and Didier Drogba combined well to trouble the opposition goalkeeper on in the ninth minute, but Konstantinos Manolas was able to thwart the former Arsenal man.

The Euro 2004 champions suffered several early setbacks, however, when Panagiotis Kone had to be substituted in the 12th minute, and midway through the first half, goalkeeper Orestis Karneis also had to leave the pitch after suffering a back injury.

However, Greece struck the crossbar on the half-hour mark thanks to Jose Holebas's thundering strike, and went on to score the first goal.

Cheik Tiote's error towards the end of the first half allowed Andreas Samaris to play a one-two with Samaras before slotting the ball into the net.

In the second half, both sides picked up from where they left off, but Greece had the best of the early chances, Georgios Karagounis striking a free-kick from 25 yards into the Ivory Coast wall, before Vasileios Torosidis volleyed the loose ball wide.

Veteran striker Georgios Karagounis was next to trouble the Ivory Coast goal when he struck the frame of the goal from long distance.

Elephants manager Sabri Lamouchi brought on Wilfred Bony for Cheik Tiote on the hour mark, and this would prove a crucial substitution as the Swansea City man, assisted by Gervinho, struck from close range in the 74th minute to put his side level.

However, Greece were awarded a late penalty after Samaras was brought down in the area, and he made no mistake from the spot to send his teammates and fans into a frenzy.

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#2014FIFAWORLDCUP PREVIEW: Greece Vs Ivory Coast

Ivory Coast face Greece on Tuesday knowing that three points would see them advance from Group C and into the last-16 stage of the 2014 World Cup.

The African side have collected three points from their two group matches this summer – first beating Japan, before losing to already-qualified Colombia last time out.

A draw could also be enough to see them advance, providing that Japan do not beat Colombia and overturn a slight goal difference disadvantage.

Greece, meanwhile, also have a slim chance of advancing despite taking just one point and indeed failing to score in their first two matches.

Three points for the European side would see them advance if Colombia beat Japan, while Greece could also make the last-16 regardless of the result in the other match if they record a big win over Ivory Coast, but a significant goal-swing in their favour would also need to occur.

Greece and Ivory Cost have both failed to make the knockout stages of the World Cup in their two previous attempts.

Greece will be without the services of Konstantinos Katsouranis, who saw red against Japan. As a result, experienced midfielder Giorgios Karagounis is expected to come into the side.

Kostas Mitroglou is struggling with an injury, meanwhile, with Theofanis Gekas pushing for a spot in attack alongside Celtic forward Georgios Samaras.

Didier Drogba is pushing for a spot in the Ivory Coast XI, but the experienced forward could once more miss out to Wilfried Bony. Salomon Kalou is expected to come into the team, however, with Gervinho and Max Gradel also providing support from attacking positions.

The back four is expected to remain unchanged, but Yaya Toure could drop into a deeper central midfield position.

Recent form

Greece: DDWLD

Ivory Coast: DLWWL

Possible starting lineups

Greece: Karnezis; Holebas, Torosidis, Papastathopoulos, Manolas; Karagounis, Kone, Maniatis; Samaras, Fetfatzidis, Gekas

Ivory Coast: Barry; Aurier, Bamba, Zakora, Boka; Tiote, Toure; Gervinho, Gradel, Kalou; Bony

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#2014FIFAWORLDCUP: Japan 0 - 0 Greece

Japan have been held to a goalless draw by 10-man Greece in their World Cup Group C match this evening.

Greece came close in the opening stages through Panagiotis Kone's long-range effort, which was held by Eiji Kawashima at the second time of asking.

Japan were next to threaten when Yuya Osako cut inside from the left and bent an effort inches wide of the top corner.

The Japanese began to take control of the match and Keisuke Honda saw his curling free kick saved by the keeper.

They were close again moments later as Yoshito Okubo headed over the bar from Yuto Nagatomo's delivery.

Greece suffered a blow in the 38th minute as Konstantinos Katsouranis was sent off for a late challenge on Makoto Hasebe.

Despite going down to 10 men, the Greeks were close to finding the net just moments later through Vasilis Torosidis, who saw his powerful strike beaten away by Kawashima.

At the beginning of the second half Giorgos Samaras attempted to chip the keeper directly from the kick off, but his ambitious attempt went wide of the goal.

Both teams were finding it hard to create clear-cut chances, but Theofanis Gekas had a good opening when his header forced Kawashima into a save.

Midway through the half Okubo should have given Japan the lead, but after meeting Atsuto Uchida's low cross at the back post, he blazed an effort wide.

Uchida himself came close soon after, but could only fire wide when the ball broke kindly to him at the back post.

In the final minute of the match Yasuhito Endo tried his luck with a free kick from just outside the box, but his effort was beaten away by Orestis Karnezis as the game ended level, ensuring that both teams picked up their first points of the tournament.

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#2014FIFAWORLDCUP PREVIEW: Japan Vs Greece

The bottom two sides in Group C - Japan and Greece - meet on Thursday night in Natal in what will be viewed as a must-win game for both.

Japan surrendered a one-goal lead against the Ivory Coast in their opening game, while Greece were beaten 3-0 by Colombia.

Neither manager has any need to make changes, but both might want to tinker with their lineups as they go in search of a win.

For the Greeks, Fulham striker Kostas Mitroglou will be hoping to earn a start after his competitors in attack failed to find the net in the first game.

The last two times these sides met was nine years ago in the Confederations Cup, when Japan came out on top 1-0.

Recent form

Japan: LWWWWW

Greece: LWDDLD

Possible starting lineups
Japan: Kawashima; Uchida, Yoshida, Morishige, Nagatomo; Hasebe, Yamaguchi; Okazaki, Honda, Kagawa; Osako

Greece: Karnezis; Maniatis, Manolas, Samaras, Kone, Salpingidis, Torosidis, Gekas, Sokratis, Cholevas, Katsouranis

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#2014FIFAWORLDCUP: Colombia 3 - 0 Greece

Colombia have got their World Cup campaign off to a winning start thanks to a 3-0 victory over Greece in Group C.

The Colombians made the breakthrough with just five minutes on the clock when Pablo Armero arrived in the box to scuff his shot home from 12 yards.

Greece almost responded instantly, but Panagiotis Kone could only slice his shot wide following a quick break from the former European champions.

Both sides showed little fear in going forward for the remainder of the opening half as James Rodriguez shot off target before Jose Holebas headed wide at the other end.

Colombia looked the more likely to score as the half drew to a close thanks to some incisive attacking play, but it was Greece who came closest when Kone's rasping drive from the edge of the area was parried away by David Ospina.

The South Americans started the second half in lively fashion, and they were able to double their lead on 57 minutes when Teofilo Gutierrez was on hand to prod in a corner from close range.

Greece should have had a goal back five minutes later as Theofanis Gekas was afforded plenty of space inside the Colombia box, but the forward somehow hit the crossbar from close range when he looked certain to score.

The Greeks huffed and puffed as time began to run out for them, but they were unable to give themselves a lifeline as Giorgios Samaras curled a good chance wide late on.

Instead, Colombia made sure of the win deep in stoppage time as Rodriguez provided a cool finish into the bottom corner following a dynamic break.

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#2014FIFAWORLDCUP PREVIEW: Colombia Vs Greece

The wait will be over for Colombia and Greece when the two sides meet in their opening Group C game on Saturday in Belo Horizonte.

In a group which also includes Japan and Ivory Coast, all four teams will genuinely believe that they have enough quality to qualify for the knockout stages.

Colombia reached the tournament in comfortable style as they finished only behind Argentina in the South American standings, but their bid to make an impact in Brazil has been dealt a blow due to the injury of Radamel Falcao.

Jose Pekerman's side are expected to play three at the back, with wingbacks being deployed to give them extra numbers going forward, but they will be missing influential midfielder Fredy Guarin, who is suspended.

Greece qualified in similar fashion, with only Bosnia and Herzegovina beating them to top spot in their group, but they face a tough task to avoid the first-stage exit they suffered four years ago.

However, with no injury problems disrupting the Greek squad, they head into their opening match full of confidence as they attempt to upset one of the dark horses of the tournament.

Recent form

Colombia: WWDDDW

Greece: WDLDDW

Possible starting lineups
Colombia: Ospina; Balanta, Yepes, Zapata; Armero, Sanchez, Aguilar, Zuniga; Gutierrez, Rodriguez, Bacca

Greece: Karnezis; Torosidis, Sokratis, Manolas, Holebas; Salpingidis, Karagounis, Maniatis, Tziolis, Samaras, Mitroglou

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