Navas: Costa Rica leaves with ´heads held high´

Costa Rica goalkeeper Keylor Navas said his side’s FIFA World Cup quarter-final exit to the Netherlands was no shame on them.

The Central American nation bravely forced a penalty shoot-out after keeping the more-fancied Dutch at bay for 120 minutes in Salvador, with extra time ending 0-0.

Navas tallied seven saves as he ensured Louis van Gaal’s men remained scoreless, but he could not keep out any of the Netherlands’ four penalties – with the fresh Tim Krul, substituted on late in extra time, the difference at the death.

Regardless of their exit, Navas said their Brazil campaign was a success.

“This World Cup has been a great experience and we’re leaving with our heads held high. Everyone did a good job,” Navas said, as reported by FIFA.com.

“We left everything on the pitch. Nobody likes to lose and it’s hard. We didn’t lose any game – a penalty shoot-out isn’t a defeat.”