×
GreekEnglish

×
  • Politics
  • Diaspora
  • World
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Cooking
Saturday
21
Mar 2026
weather symbol
Athens 12°C
  • Home
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • World
  • Diaspora
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Mediterranean Cooking
  • Weather
Contact follow Protothema:
Powered by Cloudevo
> Mundial 2014

Greece’s dream stops at the group of “16″

The match was decided on penalties after extra time

Newsroom June 30 07:49

Fernando Santos’ players fought like Greeks today, in the game against Costa Rica in the World Cup. They lost 5-3 on penalties by the Central American team.

After a thrilling match which came to a 1-1 with Ruiz scoring on the 52nd minute and Papastathopoulos scoring in extra time, the game was decided in penalties, but unfortunately it stopped Greece’s trip to Brazil.



In more details, minutes after the 2nd half started, Costa Rica scored with Bryan Ruiz. The Greeks took over after Duarte’s red card and missed their chances by the dozens. Just before the match was about to end, center back Sokratis Papastathopoulos stung the crowd. Fanis Gekas first shot was saved by Navas but Sokratis finally scored just before the match was ended.

 



With one less player Costa Rica looked shattered, but Greece could not find any way through. Costa Ricans would not give it up. Costa Rica’s defensive efforts took them to the penalty shoot out where they converted all penalties. “Fatal” to our national team was Fanis Gekas who missed the fourth penalty, after the Costa Rican hero Navas saved it. On the contrary to our players, the Costa Ricans didn’t miss any penalty The final penalty


 

Fernando Santos last game coaching the Greeks saw them almost clinching the win. The Portuguese’s contract expires tomorrow and Claudio Ranieri will be taking his spot to help them in the Euro 2016 qualifying rounds.

 

sokratis-1

 

sokratis-2

>Related articles

FIFA: See the top players of the World Cup

Argentina national team receives a hero's welcome

The German boys come home to World Cup fever

 

greece-costarica-3

greece-costarica-1

Ask me anything

Explore related questions

> More Mundial 2014

Follow en.protothema.gr on Google News and be the first to know all the news

See all the latest News from Greece and the World, the moment they happen, at en.protothema.gr

> Latest Stories

US prepares ground intervention in Iran, CBS says – Iran launched ballistic missiles at Diego Garcia base(Update)

March 21, 2026

Weather: Wintery conditions continue over the weekend, forecast for March 25

March 21, 2026

They had reported Tsagkarakis for fake artworks, over €200,000 in cash found in his gallery

March 21, 2026

The U.S. lifts certain sanctions on Iranian oil for 30 days

March 21, 2026

Return of 9 ancient vases to Greece from Budapest, see photos

March 21, 2026

Tzitzikostas: All actions to close the Strait of Hormuz must stop

March 20, 2026

“I think we’ve won the war,” says Trump, urging Europe and China to get involved with the Straits

March 20, 2026

Increase of 11.7% in cruise ship arrivals at Greek ports in 2025

March 20, 2026
All News

> Greece

Weather: Wintery conditions continue over the weekend, forecast for March 25

Temperatures will remain below normal levels with frequent rain and snowfall in mountainous areas – Tsatrafyllias’ estimate for Easter

March 21, 2026

They had reported Tsagkarakis for fake artworks, over €200,000 in cash found in his gallery

March 21, 2026

MIT study: Every time you ask ChatGPT it’s like turning on a light bulb

March 20, 2026

More than 300 forged paintings and over €200,000 in cash found in Giorgos Tsagkarakis’s gallery

March 20, 2026

The new era of the Navy: Kamikaze drones and precision strikes in the “UVEX 1/26” exercise – see photos

March 20, 2026
Homepage
PERSONAL DATA PROTECTION POLICY COOKIES POLICY TERM OF USE
Powered by Cloudevo
Copyright © 2026 Πρώτο Θέμα