Team Focus: Costa Rica’s Surprise Package Status Down to Flawless Tactics

If holders Spain were the shock fallers at the first hurdle, the surprise package to emerge and progress from the group stages of the 2014 Wolrd Cup are undoubtedly Costa Rica. Jorge Luis Pinto's side know that, having beaten both Uruguay and Italy, they could yet top Group D without needing a point in their final game with England.

It was a group from which the Central Americans were given no hope. They were supposed to be the cannon-fodder for the 'apparent' power three – all of whom are previous World Cup winners (Costa Rica have only once made it out of the group). Any assumptions to that end have been put to an abrupt halt after excellent displays in the first two matches. Their tactics to this point have been spot on, and the coach certainly deserves plenty of credit.

Costa Rica have deployed three centre-backs and more defensive wing-backs than the likes of Chile and Netherlands, but it's not to say they've simply sat back in games. Nevertheless there's a realisation of their limitations, as well as the strengths within the side, with just five sides having averaged less possession at the time of writing (41.8%).

They allow opposing teams to have the ball in areas that aren't threatening, performing the system to a T against Italy last time out. The Azzurri bossed possession, with 61%, but when you look at the action zones from the match, more of the touches in the game came in the Italians defensive third of the pitch (26%) than Costa Rica's (22%). It's a tactic that has somewhat dispelled any theory that a so-called underdog need to get in their opponents faces all over the pitch. Pinto's side don't really instigate a high press - between them their two most attacking players (Campbell and Ruiz) have completed juts two tackles.

They do, however, get amongst the opposition early when the ball comes into their half, with only 5 sides having won possession more times per game in the middle third than Costa Rica (23.5). This is where the wing-backs are so important, with Cristian Gamboa (9) and Júnior Díaz (7) having made the most tackles in the team. They play a key role given that Pinto doesn't really operate with wide midfielders.

That much has been evident in both games thus far, with the average player position map from the Italy game showing how Bryan Ruiz and Christian Bolaños tend to drift inside in support of Joel Campbell. What this enables Costa Rica to do is pack out the midfield area, which proved particularly effective against Pirlo and co. who thrive when given time on the ball and space to pass into. Italy were forced, instead, to look for balls over the top more often than not.

It's a facet that played into Giancarlo Gonzalez's hands in the last game, as he won all 5 of his aerial duels in the match and has won 8 of 9 in the tournament thus far. The two either side of the 26-year old are the ball-playing centre-backs that instill a certain calm to Costa Rica's defensive play. Oscar Duarte has a superb 89% pass accuracy while Michael Umaña's is at an impressive 86%. They don't lump it clear like one might have assumed from the 'minnows' of the group. Indeed, no outfield player has averaged more than 3 accurate long balls per game.

It wouldn't make sense for them to do so. After all the focal point to the Costa Rica attack is Arsenal loanee Campbell, who offers pace in abundance rather than aerial power. The 21-year old's displays will have excited Gunners fans this summer, particularly in the opener against Uruguay, blasting home the first before laying on the third.

Pinto's side have arguably been the most efficient of the tournament so far. Despite not holding a great deal of possession they've conceded just 10 shots per game, with only four sides allowing fewer on average. They've mustered just 12 per game at the other end but have scored 4 excellently taken goals.

While the likes of Chile have received the plaudits for the passion and energy levels that make up their approach to the game, Costa Rica, and coach Pinto, deserve a great deal of credit for the tactics that they have carried out to become this World Cup’s ultimate underdogs.

Top Group D and avoid a tough second round clash with Colombia and they'll have every right to believe that they can make it past the round of 16 for the first time in their history.

How have you rated Costa Rica's performances in the Group Stages? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below