Costa Rica secured first place in Group D of the 2014 World Cup with an unspectacular 0-0 draw against England on Tuesday.
The Costa Ricans went into the game already qualified for the last 16 and good chances of topping the group, therefore not pushing forward with much resolve.
England were already eliminated from the tournament but were unable to breach the Costa Rica defence in hopes of getting their first victory in Brazil.
Costa Rica topped Group D with seven points and were joined in the knock-out stages by Uruguay, who finished with six points after defeating Italy 1-0. Italy dropped out with three points and England were last with one point.
In the last 16, Costa Rica will face off against the second placed team from Group C - either Colombia, Ivory Coast, Greece or Japan.
With his team already into the knock-out stages, Costa Rica coach Jorge Luis Pinto made two changes to his line-up. His counterpart Roy Hodgson swapped nine players, with Daniel Sturridge and Gary Cahill the only survivors from England’s loss to Uruguay.
Costa Rica had the first chance after just two minutes as Joel Campbell’s shot went off Cahill, looped over new keeper Ben Foster but just past the far right post.
Sturridge was close after 13 minutes but his good effort sailed just past the post.
The Costa Ricans were stopped by the woodwork in the 23rd minute with Foster just turning Celso Borges’ free kick off the crossbar.
England claimed a penalty in the 28th minute as Oscar Duarte appeared to take down Sturridge in the box. But the Algerian referee Djamel Haimoudi did not point to the spot.
The English invested more in the game but Sturridge’s header went just over the crossbar in the 34th.
Sturridge had another opportunity four minutes after the re-start, breaking free left of goal but Costa Rica keeper Keylor Navas rushed out just in time to block the Liverpool striker’s attempt.
Navas was again spot-on in the 59th minute, snatching Adam Lallana’s dangerous cross from the left side with Sturridge lurking to finally hit home.
With his team lacking any sort of offensive rhythm, Pinto brought on Christian Bolanos just before the hour mark and the FC Copenhagen midfielder challenged Foster with a blast from 25 yards out.
England however continued their push forward and were the more dangerous team.
Sturridge was a bit too greedy though in the 65th, sending his attempt just wide of the far left goal with Raheem Sterling wide open on that side.
England star Wayne Rooney was brought on in the final quarter hour and tried a nice chip but Navas got back to bat it over the bar. And England depart having scored just two goals.
