Aleksandar Kolarov.s stunning freekick made the difference in Samara, as Serbia defeated Costa Rica 1-0 to take the early lead in Group E.
Neither team was able to sustain an attack, and chances were few and far between, with a few of the better ones ruled offside.
More than any other nation — even more than Spain’s tiki-taka or Brazil’s flair — Costa Rica has a defined playing style. Los Ticos pack eight defenders behind the ball at all times, and don’t counterattack so much as hope to find a goal.
This strategy was eminently successful during the first half, as Serbia found it impossible to attack through the middle, and instead looked to Dusan Tadic out wide to beat a defender or get a cross in. The one or two times Costa Rican defenders were unable with the subsequent ball, keeper Keylor Navas always was.
In the 56th minute Los Ticos defender David Guzman made a crucial mistake, taking down Serbian forward Aleksandar Mitrovic thirty yards out and to the right of the goal, giving Aleksandar Kolarov and his thunderous left leg the perfect free kick angle.
Kolarov didn’t disappoint, curling the ball up and over the wall, and tucking it inside the post. The dive from Keylor Navas was futile, as he had no chance.
