2014 World Cup - Costa Rica Shock Football Establishment!

The 2014 World Cup has definitely started with a bang! It's not just the goals and more goals that have made the headlines. The shocks have just been as good as have the surprise fall of the so-called favourites, and rise of the so-called underdogs.

There are not really any more minnow teams at this World Cup Finals - such has been the relentless progress of globalisation of the game that all 32 teams are quite competitive even if technically they may not be as good.

That has been particularly evident in the so-called Group D, Group of Death, with the shock rise of Costa Rica, the side that was supposed to play the supporting role to the established former world champions, Uruguay, Italy and England, rather than be the first side to book their place in the 2nd round after two surprise wins over Uruguay (3-1) and Italy (1-0).

Costa Rica can head into their game in Belo Horizonte against an England side already eliminated and likely to field their substitutes in their game.

In fact, Costa Rica could be buoyed by the fact that the last time England played a World Cup match in this city, they were at the wrong end of a shock win by then minnows, the United States. Los Ticos will be wanting to emulate the achievements of their CONCACAF rivals and now big brothers - and given their form, it won't be such a surprise.

The truth is that Costa Rica can boast many players based in Europe's top leagues, i.e. Bryan Ruiz at Fulham, Joel Campbell at Arsenal and Olympiakos, and star keeper, Keylor Navas who came to Brazil on the back of a strong campaign with Levante in Spain - expect the big clubs to chase Navas' signature after this World Cup.

Indeed, they could have been joined by rampaging left back, Bryan Oviedo were it not for that horrific leg break he suffered while playing for Everton last season. Leighton Baines versus Bryan Oviedo in a couple of days time could have been interesting.

No wonder, Wellington Phoenix stars, Carlos Hernandez and Kenny Cunningham couldn't make this side.

Scotland check. England check.

Costa Rica is one of those countries in the world that is easy to forget and easy not to care about unless you're an environmentalist or zoologist - Costa Rica is considered one of the greenest countries in the world with the most varied wildlife in the world.

The country's shock rise in 1990 when they upset Scotland and Sweden to make the 2nd round put them on the world football map. This latest rise will put them in the stratosphere of world football.