MATCH REPORT: Costa Rica 0 England 0
England's struggles in front of goal continued until the very end of a desperately disappointing World Cup campaign as they played out a stalemate with Group D table-toppers Costa Rica in Belo Horizonte.
While Daniel Sturridge wasted four chances for Roy Hodgson's side, England's new-look defence managed to keep a skilful Costa Rica outfit at bay at the other end.
Sloppiness prevailed in the opening minutes for England, but Luke Shaw showed his potential with a spritely counter-attacking dash down the left wing.
Sturridge had the first chance on goal for the Three Lions, but the Liverpool striker's shot curled harmlessly wide of Keylor Navas' goal.
Celso Borges tested Ben Foster with a dipping free kick, after Adam Lallana tripped Joel Campbell, but the West Brom goalkeeper tipped the effort onto the bar and out for a corner.
Sturridge was in the action again and had a good shout for a penalty when Oscar Duarte looked to bring him down, but Djamel Haimoudi waved away the England protests.
England's lone striker then headed a good chance over Navas' crossbar following a Phil Jones knock-down from Ross Barkley's corner. But with the encouraging signs in the first half came the increasing awareness that England's clinical touch in front of goal was still eluding them.
This was epitomised after the break as well, when Sturridge again found himself through on goal, but a poor first touch let him down, resulting in a lunging tackle on Navas, who had rushed out to quell the danger.
Substitute Christian Bolanos had Costa Rica's first real chance on the hour with a pot-shot from 25-yards being comfortably collected by Foster.
Sturridge's fourth chance of the night was probably his best, collecting Jack Wilshere's pass and curling the ball past Navas, but also painfully past the left post.
Hodgson brought on Raheem Sterling, Steven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney in the final half-hour in an attempt to force the issue, but England's lacklustre two weeks continued in a familiar vain.
Rooney's late chip brought a smart save from Navas, but Costa Rica knowing they only needed a draw, defended stoutly to see out the clock. Los Ticos progress to the last 16 for the first time since 1990, going through unbeaten as Group D's surprise package.
Costa Rica: Navas, Gamboa, Díaz Campbell, Miller, Gonzalez, Duarte, Ruiz, Borges (Barrantes 78), Campbell (Ureña 65), Tejeda Valverde, Brenes (Bolaños 59) Subs not used: Acosta, Umaña, Myrie, Francis, Granados Maroto, Pemberton, Calvo, Cubero, Cambronero
England: Foster, Jones, Shaw, Smalling, Cahill, Milner (Rooney 76), Lampard, Wilshere (Gerrard 73), Sturridge, Barkley, Lallana (Sterling 62) Subs not used: Hart, Johnson, Baines, Jagielka, Welbeck, Henderson, Lambert, Forster.
Referee: Djamel Haimoudi.
Attendance: 57,823.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
