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Netherlands vs Costa Rica preview World Cup 2014: Costa Rica coach Jorge Luis Pinto fears Arjen Robben will dive to win match

Winger went down for a penalty against Mexico

Simon Hart
Saturday 05 July 2014 16:38 BST
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Arjen Robben won a controversial late penalty as the Netherlands beat Mexico in Fortaleza
Arjen Robben won a controversial late penalty as the Netherlands beat Mexico in Fortaleza

Costa Rica’s coach, Jorge Luis Pinto, has criticised the Netherlands attacker Arjen Robben for diving and said he hoped the match officials at today’s Salvador quarter-final would be alert to the Dutchman’s habit of going to ground easily.

Robben was heavily criticised by the Mexico coach, Manuel Herrera, after winning a disputed injury-time penalty in the last 16 with an exaggerated fall after contact from defender Rafael Marquez. Robben denied it was simulation but admitted to diving in a first-half incident and Pinto said that the Bayern Munich player’s antics were his biggest worry going into the Costa Ricans’ first World Cup quarter-final.

“We are really worried about it and I would like to ask Fifa and the referees to watch Robben closely,” Pinto said. “I think he is one of the three or four best players in the world, [but] we have to say referees have to watch out. I hope the referee [Ravshan Irmatov of Uzbekistan] and assistant referees are careful. I respect Fifa and the referees but I tell them to please watch out.”

Pinto added that the “logical” thing would be for referees to book Robben for diving.

The damage that Robben, who has four goals in Brazil, can do with his speed and finishing is another obvious worry for Los Ticos, and it will be intriguing to see how their defence, who have conceded just one goal in open play in Brazil, will cope with the tournament’s 12-goal top scorers.

Pinto admitted the Dutch attack was “very dangerous” but said there was no fear on the part of a team who have defied expectations to get this far. “There is no shiver down the spine,” said Pinto, whose goalkeeper Keylor Navas has recovered from a shoulder injury. “I respect them, but we have played against England and Italy, and even Greece are a difficult team, and we are never scared.”

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