Ramirez laments Costa Rica’s misses in Brazil loss

Costa Rica head coach Oscar Ramirez rued missed chances, but hailed his side’s battling efforts in the 2-0 defeat to Brazil that ended their World Cup campaign.

Los Ticos were the surprise package at the tournament four years ago, emerging as group winners in a section featuring traditional heavyweights Uruguay, Italy and England before eventually bowing out on penalties against Netherlands at the quarter-final stage.

But they are the fifth team eliminated this time around, with stoppage-time goals from Philippe Coutinho and Neymar belatedly ending their dogged resistance in St Petersburg.

“I don’t know what more we could have done,” Ramirez told a post-match news conference, his team having lost 1-0 to Serbia last time out in Group E.

“Considering what I had at my disposal and what they had, it was a good effort. They are one of the best teams in the world.

“We had a plan, a strategy, and an idea for how to control the opponents with and without the ball and in the first half we had enough possession and opportunities.

“We run, look at FIFA stats and they show we run a lot – I don’t think [Costa Rica are] less strong in that area. It was other things which failed – remember we were playing against a team with brilliant players.”

Namely among those shortcomings was Costa Rica’s finishing.

Despite only having 28.3 per cent possession, Ramirez’s men were able to make life difficult for Brazil’s defence on occasions and Celso Borges skewed a glorious early opportunity wide.

“My players made a huge effort, they defended well and whenever we had the chance to attack their goal they did. But unfortunately, in the end, we weren’t able to finish,” Ramirez added.

“I think we have seen several games in this World Cup that the results are very tight and things are decided by fine margins.

“Unfortunately it was not like in 2014, we were not able to finish when we had opportunities – unlike against Italy in Brazil where we had two chances and won 1-0.”