Bryan Ruiz, a former star for Costa Rica, reflects on his game-winning goal against Italy in Brazil 2014 and the team’s incredible run to the quarterfinals. There were many amazing tales to come out of the 2014 FIFA World Cup BrazilTM, but Costa Rica’s remarkable journey to the tournament’s last eight was undoubtedly near the top of the list. The Ticos beat the odds and won the section after being drawn in a group with former winners England, Italy, and Uruguay, in part because of Bryan Ruiz’s game-winning goal against Italy.
Ruiz, who recently announced his retirement after competing in his third World Cup in Qatar 2022, talked with FIFA about the Central American team’s incredible run and their strategies for making it to a historic quarterfinal. Bryan Ruiz: There were a lot of nerves at the beginning of that tournament because it was the World Cup for so many of us. All of us were accustomed to playing various types of games, but a World Cup is unquestionably extremely different, and every member of a national team hopes to compete in one.
What was your reaction to the draw?
My wife said, “No, that can not be!” when I told her I was in England at the time. They are such a hard group. We are heading to the World Cup, though, I informed her. We wish to compete with the finest. That was, I believe, the first time that three past champions had been in the same group. Playing against the greatest is what you want at the World Cup, therefore that is what we preferred to do.
Was there a specific moment when you knew this team could be special?
It happened, I believe, in the qualifying match against El Salvador, when we needed to win on the road to survive. Because of what had occurred to us in the first game there, where we had to play in a snowstorm, I would also add in the second game versus USA – in the last round of qualifying. Something just happens that the Costa Rican, the Tico, discovers something more when people assume we are dead.
What made Jorge Luis Pinto such an effective coach?
Pinto taught us some really solid tactical skills. He also benefited from the fact that most of us were playing in Europe, in excellent shape, and all of that combined to allow us to create history. His tactical concepts were easy for us to comprehend and effectively implement on the field.
Would you agree that Costa Rica’s victory against Uruguay took root in the inter-confederation play-off you narrowly lost against them in 2009?
Yes, we were really determined to play Uruguay first since they had prevented us from going to South Africa 2010 in a very evenly matched play-off. We played Uruguay in our first group encounter four years later, and we were aware of their exceptional talents. For the first few minutes, we were anxious, but we eventually relaxed. At halftime, trailing 1-0, we knew we were playing well and just needed to keep going, so we headed to the changing room. We took control of the game after scoring two goals quickly.
When you think about the second game against Italy, what feelings does it bring you today?
Pinto’s method made sense because he had studied Italian football for twenty years. It is Costa Rica’s ideal World Cup encounter, in my opinion, because Italy, with all of their outstanding players, was unable to harm us in a game they had to win. Our line was so high that I believe we caught them offside nine or ten times. We thought the game was excellent because their best players were well marked.
What did you feel in the moment that you scored against Italy?
I used to tell my family and teammates that in order to win a World Cup, the ball needs to be struck hard, but that particular one didn’t! It hardly crossed the line (laughs)! After I headed it, I was exactly on the line and watched it cross, so I knew for sure that the ball had crossed. Knowing that goal-line technology was used in the competition also made me feel at ease. It takes eight passes for the ball to reach me, demonstrating once more the excellent collaboration we shown during that World Cup. Italy vs. Costa Rica | 2014 FIFA World Cup BrazilTM – Bryan Ruiz Goal 43′.Watch every single FIFA World Cup goal from 2014 here.
Do you watch that goal a lot still?
Not as much as previously. A much during the first year, but not as much now days. I get chills every time I watch it and hear how passionately the commentators described the celebration with all of my teammates.
What do you remember about your goal against Greece in the round of 16?
I usually prefer to hit the crossbar hard, but because the surface was damp that day, things did not go quite as planned. The ball stopped on the ground because I was unable to get it into the air, but it still nearly perfectly into the net’s side. Bryan Ruiz Goal in the 51st minute | Greece vs. Costa Rica | 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Watch all of the goals from Brazil’s 2014 FIFA World Cup.
Keylor Navas was such a massive part of your run. What stood out the most about his performance?
The world was made aware of his abilities during the World Cup. Without a doubt, we could not have progressed as far as we did without Keylor. He made some incredible saves in the Greece game after we lost a man. Then, in the closing seconds, he made a save that sent us into extra time. He made three or four more saves in extra time, I believe, which sent us to penalties. Later, in the shootout, he produced a save that sent us to the quarterfinals.
Costa Rica finished as one of the top eight teams in the world. What significance did that have?
I believe that we were not really aware of what we were doing at the time, but as time passes, you start to realize what that World Cup accomplished. We faced the Netherlands in the quarterfinals, and we prevailed. That is, in my opinion, crucial. During that World Cup, we played five games and never lost. We had a chance to win the Netherlands match in the 106th minute on a good goal opportunity, but we ended up drawing three and winning two. Even if we lost on penalties, the World Cup was still amazing.
Now that you are back living in Costa Rica, do people talk to you a lot about that World Cup?
Every single time. The driver of the taxi I was riding in just now said to me, “Bryan, your goal against Italy made me cry.” It will be hard to forget that the people here in Costa Rica experienced it with great emotion. It is a gift that will never expire. Knowing all the sacrifices made during a football player’s career makes it much more satisfying, thus it makes everything worthwhile when those things happen.