Italy v Costa RicaFriday, June 20, 2014
Arena Pernambuco, Recife
Kick-off: 9.30 am Sri Lankan Time
Italy head coach Cesare Prandelli will have been boosted by the return to training of goalkeeper and captain Gianluigi Buffon.
The 36-year-old missed the 2-1 win over England with an ankle problem, but could return against the Costa Ricans.
Full-back Mattia De Sciglio is also thought to be nearing a return to action, but the match may come too soon for the AC Milan defender.
As for Costa Rica, they are likely to pick the same side that started against Uruguay, with Arsenal's Joel Campbell their lone centre-forward again.
Both teams recorded important wins first time out and so this tie is crucial for both.
The two men charged with scoring goals have Premier League links; Italy's Mario Balotelli infuriated and thrilled in equal measures at Manchester City while Costa Rica's Joel Campbell remains a work in progress at Arsenal.
The odds suggest the experts are not expecting another shock.
- 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 have 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 have not won their second game at a World Cup in any of the last three editions. (D2 L1).
