FIFA World Cup: Can England save face against Costa Rica?

England return to Belo Horizonte today, scene of the country's greatest sporting humiliation, where they will attempt to restore pride against Costa Rica after another chastening World Cup experience

Rio de Janeiro: England return to Belo Horizonte today, scene of the country's greatest sporting humiliation, where they will attempt to restore pride against Costa Rica after another chastening World Cup experience.


England's players take part in a training session at the Mineirao Stadium in Belo Horizonte. Pic/AFP 

Belo Horizonte's Estadio Independencia provided the setting for England's sensational 1-0 loss to the part-timers of the United States at the 1950 World Cup — a game latterly dubbed 'The Miracle Match'.

Sixty-four years on, England are braced for another day to forget in the city, although with Tuesday's game taking place at the Estadio Mineirao, they will at least be spared a reunion with the ghosts of 1950.

Roy Hodgson's side had hoped to be heading into their final Group D fixture vying for a last-16 place, but their tournament is already over after consecutive defeats to Italy and Uruguay.

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