ITALIA VS COSTA RICA: BATTLE OF THE GROUP D WINNERS

Let's look at what's happening in Group D for a minute.  

You have 3 World Cup powerhouses and past cup winning franchises: Italy, Uruguay and England... then you have Costa Rica with only 3 prior World Cup plays ever. Remarkably, the Ticos managed to sizable beat Uruguay 3-1. Then Uruguay, turnaround and beat England 2-1 (despite a questionable offside) with two goals from Liverpool F.C. forward Luis Suarez. Given Italy's tight 2-1 win over the UK, the Ticos are ACTUALLY #1 in the group…but that could all change in the match with Italy.

Let's look at the line up:

Veteran Goalkeeper and Team Captain  Gianluigi "Gigi" Buffon is one of the main reasons Italy could walk away the winner of Group D. Considered one of the top living football players…he was the glue that cemented Italy's 2006 World Cup win and one of the priciest and greatest goalkeepers in history. 

Aside from his talents, he's a spender to watch on and off field…but with a twisted left ankle, it's unclear if he will be playing against Costa Rica.

1

Gianluigi BUFFON

• 

  ITALY
• GOALKEEPER
• 140International Caps
• 0International Goals
• 36years old
• 190cm
• FIRST INTERNATIONALRussia - Italy 29 Oct 1997
• DATE OF BIRTH28 Jan 1978
• CURRENT CLUBJuventus FC (ITA)

If Buffon doesn't play…he's got a great replacement: 

12

Salvatore SIRIGU

• 

  ITALY
• GOALKEEPER
• 9International Caps
• 0International Goals
• 27years old
• 190cm
• FIRST INTERNATIONALItaly - Côte d'Ivoire 10 Aug 2010
• DATE OF BIRTH12 Jan 1987
• CURRENT CLUBParis Saint-Germain FC (FRA)

8

Claudio MARCHISIO

• 

  ITALY
• MIDFIELDER
• 45International Caps
• 4International Goals
• 28years old
• 179cm
• FIRST INTERNATIONALSwitzerland - Italy 12 Aug 2009
• DATE OF BIRTH19 Jan 1986
• CURRENT CLUBJuventus FC (ITA)

7

Ignazio ABATE

• 

  ITALY
• DEFENDER
• 20International Caps
• 1International Goals
• 27years old
• 180cm
• FIRST INTERNATIONALPoland - Italy 11 Nov 2011
• DATE OF BIRTH12 Nov 1986
• CURRENT CLUBAC Milan (ITA)

19

Leonardo BONUCCI

• 

  ITALY
• DEFENDER
• 37International Caps
• 2International Goals
• 27years old
• 190cm
• FIRST INTERNATIONALItaly - Cameroon 03 Mar 2010
• DATE OF BIRTH01 May 1987
• CURRENT CLUBJuventus FC (ITA)

9 Mario BALOTELLI

• 

  ITALY
• FORWARD
• 31International Caps
• 13International Goals
• 23years old
• 189cm
• FIRST INTERNATIONALItaly - Côte d'Ivoire 10 Aug 2010
• DATE OF BIRTH12 Aug 1990
• CURRENT CLUBAC Milan (ITA)

22

Lorenzo INSIGNE

• 

  ITALY
• FORWARD
• 5International Caps
• 1International Goals
• 23years old
• 163cm
• FIRST INTERNATIONALItaly - Malta 11 Sep 2012
• DATE OF BIRTH04 Jun 1991
• CURRENT CLUBSSC Napoli (ITA)

17

Ciro IMMOBILE

• 

  ITALY
• FORWARD
• 3International Caps
• 0International Goals
• 24years old
• 184cm
• FIRST INTERNATIONALSpain - Italy 05 Mar 2014
• DATE OF BIRTH20 Feb 1990
• CURRENT CLUBTorino FC (ITA)

15

Andrea BARZAGLI

• 

  ITALY
• DEFENDER
• 48International Caps
• 0International Goals
• 33years old
• 186cm
• FIRST INTERNATIONALItaly - Finland 17 Nov 2004
• DATE OF BIRTH08 May 1981
• CURRENT CLUBJuventus FC (ITA)

AND FOR COSTA RICA

7

Christian BOLANOS

• 

  COSTA RICA
• MIDFIELDER
• 56International Caps
• 2International Goals
• 30years old
• 178cm
• FIRST INTERNATIONALNorway - Costa Rica 24 May 2005
• DATE OF BIRTH17 May 1984
• CURRENT CLUBFC Kobenhavn (DEN)

4

 

Michael UMANA

• 

  COSTA RICA
• DEFENDER
• 83International Caps
• 1International Goals
• 31years old
• 180cm
• FIRST INTERNATIONALCosta Rica - Nicaragua 04 Jun 2004
• DATE OF BIRTH16 Jul 1982
• CURRENT CLUBDeportivo Saprissa (CRC)

10

Bryan RUIZ

• 

  COSTA RICA
• FORWARD
• 64International Caps
• 13International Goals
• 28years old
• 187cm
• FIRST INTERNATIONALChina PR - Costa Rica 19 Jun 2005
• DATE OF BIRTH18 Aug 1985
• CURRENT CLUBPSV Eindhoven (NED)

9

Joel CAMPBELL

• 

  COSTA RICA
• FORWARD
• 34International Caps
• 10International Goals
• 21years old
• 178cm
• FIRST INTERNATIONALCosta Rica - Cuba 05 Jun 2011
• DATE OF BIRTH26 Jun 1992
• CURRENT CLUBOlympiacos Piraeus FC (GRE)

21

 

Marcos URENA

• 

  COSTA RICA
• FORWARD
• 25International Caps
• 8International Goals
• 24years old
• 179cm
• FIRST INTERNATIONALVenezuela - Costa Rica 13 May 2009
• DATE OF BIRTH05 Mar 1990
• CURRENT CLUBKuban Krasnodar (RUS)

Whoever wins this game…will be the D group winner.