Italy vs Costa Rica

Italy vs Costa Rica

Italy vs Costa Rica: All the stats, facts and team news for the Group D clash
Both Italy and Costa Rica won their opening match
The victors of this game would be all-but sure of progressing
Mario Balotelli and Joel Campbell will look to add to goal tallies.

Group D: Italy v Costa Rica
Venue: Arena Pernambuco, Recife
Kick-off: 5pm (1pm, Brazil time)
TV coverage: BBC1 from 4pm
Referee: Enrique Osses, Chile
Managers: Cesare Prandelli (Italy), Jorge Pinto (Costa Rica)

This is Italy and Costa Rica’s first World Cup encounter.
Their only previous meeting was in a friendly on 11 June 1994 at New Haven in the United States before that year’s World Cup. Italy won 1-0 thanks to a goal by Giuseppe Signori.
Costa Rica has scored in each of their six World Cup games against teams from the UEFA confederation.
Italy’s pass completion of 93 per cent vs England is the highest rate ever recorded in a World Cup game (1966-2014).
Italy have scored in their last 15 World Cup games, a record run for them and the best current run of any side.
Andrea Pirlo made 108 passes in Italy’s first game but 59 of them were in his own half.
Other than Mexico and the USA, no CONCACAF team has ever won consecutive games at the World Cup.
Italy has not won their second game at a World Cup in any of the last three editions. (D2 L1).