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World Cup

3rd & 7 37yd

Blocked,

by Brian Tracey via Reuters 6/14/2014 4:12:18 PM
Greece is playing a possession game, advancing up the field methodically. A smart move against a team that likes to attack aggressively.

by Brian Tracey via Reuters 6/14/2014 4:15:34 PM
Of course Greece now attempts a 30 year pass that goes out of bounds.

by Brian Tracey via Reuters 6/14/2014 4:17:22 PM
The stadium is is sea of yellow, I guess it helps to share a border with the World Cup host country.

by Brian Tracey via Reuters 6/14/2014 4:19:15 PM
Some Greece's first touches are a little sloppy, unlike the Dutch last night where they and the ball seemed to be magnetized.

by Brian Tracey via Reuters 6/14/2014 4:24:12 PM
Columbia's Ibarbo makes a nice run but is stoned inside the box,

by Brian Tracey via Reuters 6/14/2014 4:26:56 PM
Carlos Sanchez gets the first yellow card of the game for tripping.

by Brian Tracey via Reuters 6/14/2014 4:27:28 PM
Greece free kick, but the header goes wide left.

by Brian Tracey via Reuters 6/14/2014 4:29:00 PM
As Sanchez is booked, remember b/c of recent rule change, yellows are wiped out after QFs, not SFs. Idea is to have best players for final.

by Andrew Das via twitter 6/14/2014 4:30:53 PM
Teofilo Gutierez goes off for treatment for cut to forehead.

by Brian Tracey via Reuters 6/14/2014 4:32:01 PM
Greece's Samaras takes a shot from the left wing but it hits the post.

by Brian Tracey via Reuters 6/14/2014 4:33:01 PM
Um, Luis Suarez is tying his shoes. Uruguay coach Óscar Tabárez better be sending him to get juices for everyone. Because reckless!!!

by Corey Bennett via twitter 6/14/2014 8:09:38 PM
Costa Rica's Ruiz drops in a nice free kick and at the far post, Muslera has to make a save. Fairly routine in the end, but that's the best chance for Costa Rica so far.

by walsh.benjamin via Reuters 6/14/2014 8:10:58 PM
GOAL COSTA RICA. Campbell leaves Muslera stranded with a hard half-volley from a deep right cross. Game on!

by walsh.benjamin via Reuters 6/14/2014 8:14:43 PM
That's a fantastic cross from Gamboa, too. Hopefully it'll liven the game up all round. #TeleWCN

by Sam Kelly via twitter 6/14/2014 8:15:08 PM
Uruguay seem rattled. First yellow card of the game goes to Walter Gargano for a tackle on Ruiz. Now Costa Rica have a dangerous free kick.

by walsh.benjamin via Reuters 6/14/2014 8:16:31 PM
COSTA RICA SCORE!!!

Wow. Ruiz floats looping ball from a fairly central right spot to the far post. And Duarte gets down low to drive a solid header past Muslera. The Costa Rican's erupt!

by walsh.benjamin via Reuters 6/14/2014 8:19:07 PM
No Uruguay make two changes. Forlan is off, Lodeiro is on. Gargano is off and Gonzales is on.

by walsh.benjamin via Reuters 6/14/2014 8:20:21 PM
Good work by England. Henderson combines with Welbeck down the right. Welbeck plays it back to Gerrard, who sprays it wide left to Sterling. Sterling hits a flat cross through the six yard box, but nobody can get a foot to it. Had they, it'd have been a goal.

by walsh.benjamin via Reuters 6/14/2014 10:23:09 PM
And another chance for England. Welbeck gets to the byline and almost gets it to Sturridge for a tap in. But Chillieni deflects it over Sturridge for a corner. The ball is lose in the six yard box and England win another corner. Baine takes it, Sigigu spills it but collects. Italy need to tighten things up asap.

by walsh.benjamin via Reuters 6/14/2014 10:25:40 PM
Wow, this match is actually entertaining.

by ILoveReal via twitter retweeted by BenDWalsh 6/14/2014 10:26:08 PM
Sturridge, Sterling, Henderson, Welbeck making Hodgson look smart. Rooney making himself look obsolete.

by Ben Walsh via twitter 6/14/2014 10:28:53 PM
Rooney makes his first significant contribution. He wins a freekick from a Totti foul. Gerrard's delivery goes straight to Sirigu.

by walsh.benjamin via Reuters 6/14/2014 10:32:33 PM
GOAL! England escape a dangerous ball over the top that is turned back across the goalmouth. Italy are moving the ball around the back four and Pirlo, then quickly moving it wide. They win a corner. The corner is taken short, Prilo plays a great dummy and Marchisio scores with a low-first time strike.

by walsh.benjamin via Reuters 6/14/2014 10:35:27 PM
Training ground goal - except when Italy practices it someone pressures Marchisio.

by Simon Evans via twitter 6/14/2014 10:36:39 PM
GOAL! ENGLAND SCORE. Sterling cuts down the left and plays a great ball to Sturridge. A side-footed half volley levels it. Amazing, immediate response.

by walsh.benjamin via Reuters 6/14/2014 10:38:18 PM
I don't think I've ever seen this before. After the goal, the England physio was stretchered off.

by walsh.benjamin via Reuters 6/14/2014 10:40:19 PM
England physio Gary Lewin carried off on a stretcher. Injured himself celebrating. V odd.

by Matt Law via twitter 6/14/2014 10:41:08 PM
And Italy almost go ahead twice! First Balotelli chips a stranded Joe Hart and Jagielka heads it off the line and then Hart is forces to a low saved that comes off his near post.

Half-time. Brb, going to take a quaalude.

by walsh.benjamin 6/14/2014 10:48:41 PM
"Defi-ant Uruguayans laugh off new ten-ants shock" - reuters.com/article/idUSKB… #Brazil2014 #WorldCup #URU

by Ossian Shine via twitter 6/14/2014 10:49:59 PM
"Brazil forgets the Scot who brought them football" - reuters.com/article/idUSKB… #Brazil2014 #saintsfc #WorldCup

by Ossian Shine via twitter 6/14/2014 10:50:04 PM
The @Reuters #ENGvsITA liveblog is covering the craziness in Manaus. Come watch! brazil-soccer.reuters.com/?ss=1

by Ben Walsh via twitter 6/14/2014 10:51:53 PM
"French call in FIFA to investigate drone snooping" - reuters.com/article/idUSKB… #Brazil2014 #WorldCup

by Ossian Shine via twitter 6/14/2014 10:52:08 PM
Awesome Skol Brazilian beer TV ad at half time celebrating England: 'they invented football, but haven't won anything since '66' #Brazil2014

by Mary Milliken via twitter 6/14/2014 10:52:52 PM
Andrea Pirlo completed a game-high 65 (of 69) passes in 1st half, sending them everywhere: http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BqICuUWCUAAf5ks.png

by Paul Carr via twitter 6/14/2014 10:57:13 PM
Pirlo also had 74 touches. Not bad for a guy who barely moved above a canter for most of the half.

by walsh.benjamin via Reuters 6/14/2014 10:59:46 PM
It's all starting again! England kick off, play it bakc to Johnson then build an attack. They win a throw deep on the left. Baines, Welbeck, and Sterling trying to pass their way through but can't.

by walsh.benjamin via Reuters 6/14/2014 11:06:02 PM
Sturridge has a shot from distance as he cuts in on his left foot. Sigiu pushes it wide and Rooney picks it up adn wins a corner. Baines take it and it bypasses everyone and is out for a goal kick.

by walsh.benjamin via Reuters 6/14/2014 11:08:44 PM
GOAL! Italy attack down the right flank, Damian crosses to Balotelli and he beats Cahill to nod it in.

by walsh.benjamin via Reuters 6/14/2014 11:10:04 PM
England attack right back and Strurridge gets into the box, but loses the ball. Welbeck goes down and some English players appeal for a penalty. It's not given and Italy move into full momentum-killing possession mode.

by walsh.benjamin via Reuters 6/14/2014 11:11:27 PM
Great pass from Sturridge to Johnson wide who puts in a low cross but no white shirts can get to it. England are back on the attack and win a corner.

by walsh.benjamin via Reuters 6/14/2014 11:14:03 PM
Gerrard takes the corner, and de Rossi clears, but Rooney finds Welbeck in the box. Welbeck chests it down to an underlapping Gerrard who surges to goal but is tackled.

by walsh.benjamin via Reuters 6/14/2014 11:15:20 PM
Sub for Italy: Veratti off, Motta on.

by walsh.benjamin via Reuters 6/14/2014 11:16:18 PM
The Italian fans are chanting ole as their team keeps the ball. A cross is aimed for Balotelli and he almost gets to it, but Hart collects. At the other end, Sturridge hits a shot wide.

by walsh.benjamin via Reuters 6/14/2014 11:19:45 PM
A sub England fans will be excited about: Barkley on, Welbeck off.

by walsh.benjamin via Reuters 6/14/2014 11:20:06 PM