Everything you need to know about about Costa Rica, the unlikely leaders of the World Cup's group of championsWhen the 2014 World Cup groups were announced and Costa Rica were dumped in Group D with the unprecedented trio of past champions in Italy, England, and Uruguay, it was widely assumed by those unfamiliar with Costa Rica that they would be the sacrificial lamb for the three bigger teams fighting for the top two spots. But now they've beaten Uruguay 3-1 and proven it wasn't a fluke by beating Italy 1-0, sealing their place in the knockout stage and putting them in position to win the group. In other words, Costa Rica are the twist ending to the M. Night Shyamalan film that is the Group of Death.
By beating both Italy and Uruguay, Costa Rica not only guaranteed its place in the knockout stage — it killed any chance that
England, its next opponents, will qualify from Group D. England have not failed to advance from the group stage of the World Cup since 1958.