The most unlikely match of the second round will take place at the Arena Pernambuco today, as Greece squares off with Costa Rica. Listen to the match live on TSN Radio TSN 1050 Toronto, TSN 690 Montreal, TSN 1200 Ottawa and TEAM 1410 Vancouver at 4pm et/1pm pt. The Ticos have been one of the surprise packages in Brazil, topping Group D by pulling off upset wins over Uruguay and Italy before a 0-0 draw with England clinched the top spot in a group that Greece head coach Fernando Santos labeled the "Group of Death." Most observers felt that Costa Rica was the clear outsider in a group that contained three former World Cup winners. But the CONCACAF representatives used a high-pressure style to unsettle both Uruguay and Italy, and Greek boss Santos knows his side must be ready for a tough task. "I am delighted first of all that we bring joy to the Greek people," said Santos after his team secured a place in the knockout round for the first time in the nations history. "We have time to think about the match with Costa Rica. We will go back to our base, think about it and study our opponents. We have to pay a lot of attention to this game, they came out top in the Group of Death. As a result we cannot allow ourselves to underestimate them." The path Greece took to get to the last 16 was much different than the one the Ticos traveled as the Greeks lost their opening match 3-0 to Colombia. A 0-0 draw with Japan that saw Greece play the final 52 minutes with 10 men kept the team alive, but Santos and his side saved their best performance for last, notching a 2-1 win over Ivory Coast as Georgios Samaras converted a stoppage-time penalty kick to send his side through. The result was certainly a surprise to many, including Costa Rica midfielder Yeltsin Tejeda. "They are in the World Cup and they beat an excellent team, Ivory Coast," Tejeda said of Greece. "If they are there (in the Round of 16), it is because they were better." "We were thinking more about Colombia and the Ivory Coast and in the end came the least expected team. Now we have to change the video cassette." Costa Rica will certainly have to prepare much differently for Greece than for either Colombia or Ivory Coast if the team is going to reach the quarterfinals at a World Cup for the first time. Greece is known for a being a defense-first side that looks to steal a goal or two in order to win ugly. But Costa Ricas defense has been one of the best at the tournament, giving up just one goal in three games, which came on a penalty kick against Uruguay in its opening match. The winner of this contest will be in uncharted territory, while a Greece victory would bring about an interesting situation involving Santos. With his contract set to expire the day after the Costa Rica match, the 59- year-old may need to negotiate a quick extension if his side reaches the last eight, which is yet another indication of how unlikely a matchup this is at this stage of the tournament. Duane Underwood Jr. Jersey .C. -- The shot that would have beaten No. Ben Zobrist Jersey . - The Oakland Athletics have finalized an agreement on a 10-year extension to play at the Coliseum through the 2024 season. https://www.cheapcubs.com/1280t-bill-buc...ersey-cubs.html. Edwin Encarnacion carried the torch for two days at Fenway Park this week; Melky Cabrera and Jose Bautista have had their moments; lately Anthony Gose has contributed. Greg Maddux Cubs Jersey .A. remained bitter for Henrik Lundqvist and the Rangers on the long flight back home to New York. Anthony Rizzo Jersey . Nikolai Khabibulin was yanked in the second period, and the Ottawa Senators looked ready to put away a big road win.Arsenal’s pre-season campaign gets underway on Friday against Ligue 2 side Lens, but they will be without a number of key players after their exploits on the international stage this summer. Its a well-trodden path for Gunners stars after major tournaments under Arsene Wenger, with the Frenchman eager to give his international players time off before the new season begins.After their 2014 World Cup success, Germany trio Mesut Ozil, Per Mertesacker and Lukas Podolski were absent for the opening game of the season and with Arsenal well represented at the latter stages of this summers Euro 2016 and Copa America, it could be a similar story this time around. You consider the rest time because France had a long, long go [at Euro 2016] and I believe that they need four weeks holiday because they need to recover from that, Wenger told Arsenal Player. Arsenal have been preparing for the new season without a host of their international stars It takes you two or three weeks to regenerate…to recover completely, and they need to come back with hunger. That disappointment to lose a final, it takes some time to recover from that.If Wenger is true to his word it would rule at least five first-team regulars out of the Gunners pre-season preparations and possibly their season opener against Liverpool, which is live on Sky Sports on August 14.Here we take a look at the potential absentees…Olivier Giroud Giroud was part of the France squad that reached the Euro 2016 final Wenger has confirmed Giroud will not return for pre-season training until a week before the Premier League season starts.The France international has been granted four weeks of holiday after helping his national team reach the final of Euro 2016, and with Danny Welbeck injured it leaves the Gunners short of options up front.It is no secret Arsenal are on the hunt for a striker in the transfer market but, after missing out on Jamie Vardy, and so far coming up short in their reported pursuit of Napolis Gonzalo Higuain, it leaves Chuba Akpom as the clubs only fit recognised striker, although Theo Walcott could fill in up front if required.Laurent Koscielny Koscielny has been given four weeks off following his exploits at Euro 2016 Like Giroud, Koscielny was a key man in Frances run to the Euro 2016 final, and is crucial at the centre of Arsenals defence.Koscielnys importance at the heart of Wengers backline cannot be overstated, but he is also set for an extended break after the tournament in France.It will be left to Per Mertesacker, Gabriel and Calum Chambers to fill the void left in Arsenals defence by the Frenchman during pre-season, whose participation in the Gunners season-opener with Liverpool appears to be in doubt.Alexis Sanchez Alexis Sanchez celebrates with the Copa America trophy (r) and the Player of the Tournament award Rewind 12 months and Sanchezs participation in Arsenals first game of the season against West Ham was in question following Chiles 2015 Copa America success.Sanchez could only make the bench that day but was introduced for the final 23 minutes at the Emirates as Arsenal suffered a disappointing 2-0 defeat to Slaven Bilics side.With Chile once again lifting the Copa America this summer, Sanchez, who scored 13 league goals last season, will likely be afforded similar time off to that of his French team-mates. Alexis Sanchez shows off his injuries (Copyright: Twitter @Alexis_Sanchez) His absence would be a huge blow for the Gunners, with the 27-year-old scoring three goals on his way to the Copa America Golden Ball.ddddddddddddMesut Ozil Ozil missed the start of the 2014 season after winning the World Cup with Germany Ozil was a key figure as Germany reached the last four at Euro 2016 and is no stranger to Wengers policy after major tournaments, after missing Arsenal opening game of the 2014/15 season following Germanys World Cup win.The 27-year-old was an influential figure for the Gunners in the league last term, laying on 19 assists.Aaron RamseyRamsey was the one of the driving forces behind Wales run to the semi-finals of Euro 2016. Aaron Ramsey has admitted he could miss the start of the Premier League season after helping Wales to the Euro 2016 semi-finals The Welshman scored once and grabbed four assists on his way to being named in the team of the tournament in France, but has already admitted he could miss the start of the new season.I am back on August 1 so I have a few weeks off but obviously it kicks off a couple of weeks afterwards, Ramsey said.I know [Arsene likes to give players a long rest] - a few years ago Germany won the World Cup and they came in just a few days before the first game of the season but they missed that. So he does like to give players a little break and Ill be getting the same treatment. I feel I need a few weeks off now.Other Absentees Alex Iwobi could feature for Nigeria at the Olympics The Olympic Games could also get in the way of Arsenals preparations for the new campaign with three members of Wengers squad set for Rio.New signing Takuma Asano will definitely be involved with Japan, while Serge Gnabry has been named in Germanys squad. Alex Iwobi could also be involved having been named in Nigerias provisional squad. New signing Takuma Asano is part of Japans squad for the Olympics The tournament runs from August 3-20 which potentially rules all three players out of Arsenals final pre-season preparations and their opening Premier League game at home to Liverpool.However, if Germany, Japan or Nigeria went all the way to the final then Gnabry, Asano or Iwobi would not be available until Arsenals third game of the season at Watford. Returning soon Jack Wilshere is back in pre-season training with Arsenal Jack Wilshere is already back in training following Englands disastrous Euro 2016 campaign, as is Joel Campbell, who was part of the Costa Rica side that suffered a group stage exit at the Copa America.Petr Cech and Hector Bellerin were also at Euro 2016 and with Czech Republic and Spain exiting the tournament in the group stage and last 16 respectively, they can be expected back in training very soon.New signing Granit Xhaka was another Arsenal player to leave Euro 2016 at the first knockout stage and Wenger will want to get him up to speed before Arsenal kick-off against Liverpool.David Ospina helped Colombia reach the semi-finals of the Copa America but is expected to be back before the Premier League campaign gets underway. Also See: Giroud could miss Arsenal start Napoli firm on ￡78.5m Higuain Drogba, Pirlo to face Arsenal Pre-season fixture guide ' ' '