Barkley gets full runout in England draw with Costa Rica

, 23 June, 0comments  |  Jump to most recent
Costa Rica 0 - 0 England
Ross Barkley was handed the chance to impress from the start as England played their pride-salvaging exercise against Costa Rica but he struggled to impose himself in a poor game. The Everton star showed a couple of flashes of his talents but was largely peripheral in a toothless performance from Roy Hodgson's side. Daniel Sturridge missed England's best chances as the contest petered out to a goalless conclusion that saw the Central Americans top the group.

Having lost their opening two games in Group D, Roy Hodgson's side are already out of the World Cup and will head home this week so the manager will give playing time to more of his 23-man squad.

The team sheet, released a day early by the England camp, sees Phil Jagielka making way for Chris Smalling in central defence while Leighton Baines misses out because of a hamstring injury. He is replaced by Luke Shaw.

Barkley made cameos as a substitute in the defeats to Italy and Uruguay and to date has only started one match for his country, that the 2-2 friendly draw against Ecuador in Miami.

He will be hoping to impress on Hodgson how effective he could have been with more action in the tournament.

Costa Rica have already secured their place in the knockout phase with wins in their encounters with the Uruguayans and the Italians and can top the group if they avoid defeat.

 



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