Costa Rica are expected to revert to the same side that beat Italy in their second group game. That would see experienced centre-back Michael Umana and left-sided midfielder Christian Bolanos come back in for Roy Miller and Randall Brenes. Greece captain Kostas Katsouranis is available once again, having been suspended for the Ivory Coast match. Goalkeeper Orestis Karnezis looks to have shaken off a knock, but Panagiotis Kone is out injured. Greece coach Fernando Santos: "We have to pay a lot of attention in this game, they came out top in the 'Group of Death'. "As a result we cannot allow ourselves to underestimate them." Costa Rica defender Michael Umana: "To have qualified top of the group makes us proud "It gives us great satisfaction as a group. We have grown as a team although we have always been characterised by strong and silent work." Head-to-headThis will be the first ever meeting between Costa Rica and Greece. Costa RicaCosta Rica have reached the last 16 of the World Cup only once before, in 1990, when they lost 4-1 to Czechoslovakia. Current squad members Yeltsin Tejeda, Joel Campbell, Waylon Francis and Diego Calvo were not born then. The last team from CONCACAF to go further than the last 16 at the World Cup are the USA in 2002. Costa Rica are yet to let in a goal from open play at this World Cup, having only conceded a penalty against Uruguay's Edinson Cavani. They conceded the equal fewest goals in the group stage along with Mexico and Belgium. Keylor Navas has saved seven of the eight shots on target he has faced in this World Cup. GreeceThis is the first time that Greece have ever reached the knockout stage of the World Cup. Greece's seven wins at major tournaments have never been by more than one clear goal (four 1-0 victories and three 2-1 wins). They have only won two of their nine World Cup games, both 2-1 wins and both against African sides (v Nigeria in 2010 and Ivory Coast in 2014). Those victories are the only games in which they have managed to score. Their only clean sheet in those nine matches came against Japan earlier in this tournament. Greece are the only nation in the last 16 that ended the group phase with a negative goal difference (-2). Georgios Samaras' goal against Ivory Coast in Greece's last game ended his goalscoring drought of 1,478 minutes (24 hr 38 min) with the national team. His penalty against Ivory Coast is his only shot on target at this World Cup (270 minutes). courtesy of Lamb from s'ton
I think it'll be close but I've been impressed by the Costa Ricans who epitomise how to play as a team. Greeks haven't got enough goals in them imo so I'm going for CR.
I don't think this one will be as close as might be expected. An early goal from Costa Rica and there's no way back for the Greek. Admittedly they were free scoring by their standards last time out but that's not their normal game.
I was mortified to get Costa Rica in the draw but, fair play, they've done me proud so far. Not forgiven the Greeks for ending Bony's World Cup with that penalty con so, for all sorts of reasons, including the fact that I think they're a better side than Greece, I see CR by 2/3 clear goals.
Klinsmann has said from the off that you underestimate CR at your peril so it was no surprise to me they're a decent team, though I honestly didn't think they'd escape the group. The U.S have played them a lot and it's always a tough game.
