GROUP D
URUGUAY 1, ITALY 0
NATAL, Brazil -- Captain Diego Godin scored in the 81st minute as Uruguay edged 10-man Italy 1-0 Tuesday to reach the second round of the World Cup, although the victory was overshadowed by a biting incident involving the South American side's star forward Luis Suarez.
With four-time champion Italy heading home after the group phase for a second time in four years, coach Cesare Prandelli and football federation president Giancarlo Abete both resigned moments after the match.
Godin rose above a crowd of defenders to meet a corner with his left shoulder and veteran goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon had no chance.
Moments earlier, replays showed Suarez apparently bite the shoulder of Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini as the pair clashed in the Italian penalty area.
Italy midfielder Claudio Marchisio was shown a direct red card for putting his boot into Egidio Arevalo's knee in the 59th. Mario Balotelli picked up his second yellow card in two matches during the first half, and was benched for the second half.
Uruguay had to win to advance while Italy needed only a draw and it was clear that the Azzurri were playing for that result when coach Cesare Prandelli replaced Balotelli with a defensive midfielder, Andrea Parolo, to start the second half.
It appeared the tactic could work when veteran goalkeeper Buffon stuck his right arm out to deny an excellent effort from Suarez in the 66th on a sizzling afternoon at the Arena das Dunas.
But Godin was waiting to meet a corner from substitute Gaston Ramirez, who had come on three minutes earlier. With his back to the goal, Godin managed to redirect the ball into the far corner.
Uruguay had argued for a penalty in the 51st when Edinson Cavani got his legs tangled with Leonardo Bonucci, but Mexican referee Marco Rodirguez motioned to play on.
The last time Italy failed to advance from the group stages in two successive World Cups came between 1950 and 1966, when Italy was eliminated in the first round four successive times.
Italy controlled much of the match with its passing accuracy in midfield while Uruguay relied on swift counterattacks and even attempted to surprise Buffon with shots from its own half.
Uruguay fans took over one entire corner of the stadium -- which is named after this coastal city's massive sand dunes -- and greatly outnumbered Italy's supporters.
In the 22nd, Balotelli was shown a yellow for a needless foul on Alvaro Pereira. Balotelli practically leapt over the midfielder, hitting the back of the opponent's head with his left shin.
Pereira was already the victim of a head injury in Uruguay's 2-1 victory over England.
GROUP D
COSTA RICA 0, ENGLAND 0
BELO HORIZONTE, Brazil -- Costa Rica has finished first in what many considered the World Cup's toughest group after a dour draw against a second-string England side.
Costa Rica only needed a draw to top Group D and it played that way, setting up in a defensive 5-3-2 formation.
England had already been eliminated and will go home without a victory after striker Daniel Sturridge missed a number of chances throughout the match.
Sturridge's best chance in the second half came in the 65th minute after a nice one-two with Jack Wilshere. But the forward's curling shot from the right just missed squeezing inside the far post.
Costa Rica will play Greece, the runner-up in Group C, in the second round. England lost its first two matches to Italy and Uruguay.
GROUP C
COLUMBIA 4, JAPAN 1
CUIABA, Brazil -- Substitute James Rodriguez scored a brilliant goal and set up two more for Jackson Martinez as Colombia beat Japan to confirm top spot in Group C and eliminate the Asian champions from the World Cup.
Already assured of advancing, Colombia guaranteed first place with its third consecutive victory, setting up a second-round match against Uruguay.
The Colombians started with a virtual second-string lineup but still went in front when Juan Cuadrado -- one of the few regular starters -- drilled in a 17th-minute penalty shot.
Japan equalized with the last touch of the first half through Shinji Okazaki's header but Martinez scored in the 55th and 82nd minutes -- both from superb passes from Rodriguez -- to put the result beyond doubt.
GREECE 2, IVORY COAST 1
FORTALEZA, Brazil -- Georgios Samaras scored an injury-time penalty to put Greece into the second round of the World Cup with a victory over Ivory Coast.
Samaras was ruled to have been brought down by substitute Giovanni Sio and Samaras calmly slotted in the spot kick for the victory that advances Greece to the knockout stage. Ivory Coast would have advanced with a draw.
Substitute Wilfried Bony had equalized for Ivory Coast in the 74th minute, beating goalkeeper Pangiotis Glykos from close range after being set up by Gervinho.
The Greeks had taken the lead just before halftime through substitute Andreas Samaris.
Veteran striker Didier Drogba started for Ivory Coast along with Yaya and Kolo Toure despite the recent death of their brother Ibrahim. The Ivorians wore black armbands as a sign of mourning.
Sports on 06/25/2014