Maradona slams FIFA over Costa Rica doping scrutiny

RECIFE: Football legend Diego Maradona hit out at FIFA after claiming seven of Costa Rica´s players were subjected to post-match doping controls over fears sponsors would not pay up if bigger teams like Italy failed to get out of the group stage at the World Cup finals.

Costa Rica, who stunned south American champions Uruguay 3-1 last week, qualified for the last 16 of the World Cup on Friday with a superb 1-0 win over four-time champions Italy in Recife.

In accordance with FIFA regulations, two players from each side underwent doping controls following the clash at Arena Pernambuco.

However five other Costa Rica players, unnamed in a report Saturday on www.gazzetta.it, were also called to give samples.

Maradona, who was sent home from the 1994 World Cup in the United States after testing positive for a cocktail of banned products including ephedrine, said FIFA´s decision amounted to a "lack of respect for the rules".

The Argentinian also suggested the central Americans had come under extra scrutiny because sponsors would not "pay as promised" if more established teams like Italy failed to go through. "Why test seven players from Costa Rica and not seven from Italy ?" said Maradona.

According to Gazzetta´s report, FIFA explained that, as well as the two players from each side normally scheduled for post-match doping controls, five Costa Rican players were added to the list because they were not available for pre-tournament testing beforehand. But Maradona said that explanation was unsatisfactory: "This is only happening because some people are annoyed Costa Rica, and not the big teams, are going through (to the next round), and so the sponsors won´t pay what they´d promised (to pay). It´s against the rules. Two players from each team are supposed to undergo doping controls. I know what I´m talking about, because it happened to me. But seven players? I´ve never seen something like that." (AFP)

Costa Rica beat Italy to advance and put England out

RECIFE: Costa Rica beat Italy 1-0 on Friday to secure their progress to the World Cup knockout stage from a Group D containing three previous winners and guarantee England´s first-round exit.

Captain Bryan Ruiz met Junior Diaz´s cross from the left with a great 44th-minute header to cap an excellent first-half display by his team, who had a strong penalty claim turned down moments earlier.

Mario Balotelli wasted two good early opportunities for the four-times winners but Italy failed to impose themselves on the game as the group outsiders played with confidence and control to claim their second victory.

Costa Rica lead the group on six points and go into the knockout stage for the second time.

Italy and Uruguay, who meet on Tuesday, each have three points but Italy´s superior goal difference means they need only a draw to go through. England, on zero points, are now certain to go out at the group stage for the first time since 1958. (Reuters)

Costa undergoes Chelsea medical - reports

LONDON: Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa has completed a medical examination with a view to joining Premier League giants Chelsea, according to reports in the British media on Wednesday.

The BBC and The Guardian both claimed that the Brazil-born player, who is currently preparing for the World Cup with Spain in the United States, is now close to completing a move to Stamford Bridge.

Costa, 25, is expected to cost Chelsea around £32 million ($53.6 million, 39.4 million euros).The rugged centre-forward scored 27 league goals and eight Champions League goals last season for Atletico, who won La Liga and were beaten 4-1 by Real Madrid in the Champions League final in Lisbon.

He notably scored from the penalty spot during Atletico´s 3-1 Champions League semi-final victory over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Costa began his European career with Portuguese club Sporting Braga and initially joined Atletico in 2007. After loan spells with Celta Vigo and Albacete and a season at Real Valladolid, he returned to Atletico in 2010, spending another period on loan at Rayo Vallecano in early 2012.

His time in Spain enabled him to acquire Spanish nationality and despite having made two friendly appearances for Brazil in March 2013, he decided to commit himself to Spain later that year.

Costa made his Spain debut in a friendly against Italy in March this year, playing for the full 90 minutes in a 1-0 victory at Atletico´s Vicente Calderon Stadium.

He is expected to lead the line for Spain at the World Cup in Brazil, although he is battling an ongoing hamstring problem that forced him off in the early stages of last month´s Champions League final. (AFP)

Atletico extends lead, Diego Costa injured in win

BARCELONA: Diego Costa was carried off with a bloody leg after scoring Atletico Madrid´s second goal in a 2-0 win at 10-man Getafe on Sunday, although the team said its star striker escaped without a serious injury.

Atletico extended its Spanish league lead to three points with five rounds to play as it closes in on what would be its first league title in 18 years.

Costa slammed into the post while poking in his 26th goal of the season in the 84th minute, opening a cut on his left shin and requiring the stadium´s medical crew to carry him off the pitch while he covered his face and muffled his screams.

While his teammates looked distraught as he writhed on the pitch, Atletico said less than 10 minutes after the match on Twitter that "luckily Diego Costa only has a cut after hitting the post." "He´s fine, calm, a cut doesn´t do any more harm," Atletico coach Diego Simeone said about his leading scorer. "We now have five games left, and we have to play each one like it was a final."

Despite the scare, Atletico took advantage of Barcelona´s loss on Saturday to open up a three point lead over Real Madrid with Barcelona another point behind.

Defender Diego Godin gave Atletico the lead in the 40th before Getafe´s Alexis Ruano was dismissed with a red card in the 66th for pulling Miranda down in the area, with goalkeeper Jordi Codina saving Diego Costa´s penalty and Raul Garcia´s follow-up try.

Atletico then applied the same stout defense that it used to eliminate Barcelona from the Champions League this week to keep Getafe in the relegation zone. "This was a tough rival to beat because a lot was on the line," Godin said. "(And) the victory is a bitter one for what happened to Diego Costa."

Costa was back in Atletico´s starting 11 having recovered from a right thigh injury that sidelined him for two games.The Brazilian-born player is having a breakout season that has earned him a spot on Vicente del Bosque´s squad for Spain in this summer´s World Cup.

He showed no signs of slowing down as he deployed the same physical style of play that has made him the revelation of the league this season, earning three fouls and two yellow cards for Getafe´s defenders in the first half hour. And after Codina blocked his penalty kick, Costa kept hustling and got his chance to pull to within two goals of league leader Cristiano Ronaldo when he slid to meet Adrian Lopez´s cross.

The goal came at a high price, with his cries heard across the pitch at Alonso Perez Coliseum following his brutal collision with the upright.

Godin put Atletico in front when he rose up over his marker to guide in Juanfran Torres´ cross with a well-placed header over Codina, who was caught off his line and yet nowhere near Godin. (AP)