Costa Rica beat Italy 1-0 in one of the major upsets of the World Cup so far to qualify for the last 16 stage of the competition.

The result effectively eliminates England, who needed an Italy victory to keep on hoping following their two defeats against the azzurri and Uruguay.

It was a deserved win for the Costa Ricans as Italy appeared way below their standards all throughout the match. Costa Rica also deserved to be awarded a penalty when Campbell was felled in the penalty area by Chiellini.

 

Costa Rica captain Bryan Ruiz gave his side the lead in the 44th minute, heading in off the underside of the crossbar following a cross from Junior Diaz. Goal-line technology was used to confirm the goal.

There was a frenetic end to the first half, as moments before Ruiz's goal Costa Rica had a penalty appeal waved away when striker Joel Campbell went down in the area under a challenge from Giorgio Chiellini.

Costa Rica leads Group D with six points, while Italy and Uruguay have three each before Tuesday's showdown. England has zero points.

Italy had two chances before the goal, but Balotelli wasted both. In the second half, their only opportunity came from a Pirlo freekick saved by Navas.

Italy need a draw against Uruguay to qualify, while Costa Rica need just a point against England to win the group.

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Forwards Olivier Giroud and Karim Benzema each scored one goal and created another as rampant France blew Switzerland away 5-2 Friday to take control of Group E and all but seal a place in the next round.

France has six points and can qualify if Ecuador and Honduras draw later Friday.

Giroud and Blasie Matuidi scored a minute apart and Mathieu Valbuena added another to give France a 3-0 halftime lead.

Benzema made up for a penalty miss in the first half with a poacher's finish in the 67th, and then turned provider for Moussa Sissoko, who made it 5-0 with a neat side-footed effort in the 73rd.

Switzerland pulled two consolation goals back as Blerim Dzemaili scored with a free kick in the 81st and Granit Xhaka slotted in the second in the 87th.

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