ECUADOR 2-1 HONDURAS

Enner Valencia's brace led Ecuador to a 2-1 win over Honduras to keep their FIFA World Cup chances alive on Friday.

Valencia continued his fine form for his country as he scored for the sixth straight international game to see Reinaldo Rueda's men to an important win in Group E.

Carlo Costly had put Honduras ahead before Valencia's equaliser in the first half and his second in the 65th minute proved to be the winner at the Arena de Baixada in Curitiba.

Ecuador climb into second in Group E, behind a France team they face on Wednesday, while Honduras are still alive despite being bottom without a point.

Honduras coach Luis Fernando Suarez made two changes to the team that was well-beaten by France.

Jorge Claros replaced the suspended Wilson Palacios in midfield, while Andy Najar made way for Oscar Boniek Garcia out wide.

Ecuador, who suffered a late loss to Switzerland in their opening game, saw just one change to their starting XI as Oswaldo Minda took Carlos Armando Gruezo Arboleda's place in midfield.

Valencia had the first real chance in the 20th minute.

Frickson Erazo's long pass put Valencia through the centre of the Honduras defence, but the Pachuca forward missed the target in a one-on-one with Noel Valladares.

Ecuador looked most dangerous on the counter-attack, while Suarez's men had a good chance in the 27th minute.

A Garcia corner found Victor Bernardez, but the centre-back could only direct his free header well wide.

The game came to life just after the half-hour mark.

A long pass from Brayan Beckeles found Costly and, after Jorge Guagua failed to clear, the Real Espana forward fired a powerful left-footed strike past Alexander Dominguez in the 31st minute.

It ended a run of 510 minutes without scoring in World Cup matches for Honduras, dating back to the 1982 tournament.

But just three minutes later and Ecuador were level.

Valencia was quickest to react to Juan Carlos Paredes' deflected shot from the right to tap in the equaliser at the back post.

There was late drama in the half as Costly headed a Beckeles pass onto the post and Jerry Bengtson scrambled in the rebound.

Referee Ben Williams correctly ruled the goal out for a handball – while Bengtson also appeared to be offside – in a dramatic finish to the first half.

Dominguez kept out Beckeles' 20-yard effort early in the second half, while Ecuador were unlucky not to be awarded a penalty in the 58th minute when Felipe Caicedo appeared to be brought down.

Bengtson forced Dominguez into a save down low to his left moments later before Valencia put Rueda's side ahead in the 65th minute.

The 24-year-old climbed highest to nod in Walter Ayovi's fizzing set-piece from the left and the South Americans held on late in the encounter for a key win.

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SWITZERLAND V FRANCE PREVIEW

Side: The Swiss got a miracle goal with just seconds left on the clock that took this game against France from a must-win to one in which they are not even in desperate need of a draw. The substitutions were the difference in their match against Ecuador as Haris Seferović scored the winning goal and Admir Mehmedi was a huge part of why the Swiss looked much more dangerous late in the match. Switzerland used it’s defenders well in attack as the outside backs were constantly getting up the field to pressure the Ecuadorian defense. However, defensively they were often stretched and the normally compact Swiss allowed multiple goals to what should have been a lesser side. Also, goalkeeper Diego Benaglio had trouble with set pieces and looked on edge every time Ecuador sent in a cross. Expect them to drop back into their shell against France and make scoring much more difficult than it was for Ecuador.

The French were spectacular in their opening match of the 2014 World Cup. However, they were playing a Honduras side that thought they were part of an MMA fight rather than a soccer match. Patrice Evra, Mathieu Debuchy, and Mathieu Valbuena completely dominated the midfield and delivered service after service in to Kareem Benzema that eventually netted three French goals. Against the Swiss, they will have to be much more creative when they enter the final third. Honduras was all over the place defensively and the prominent French attack just played the ball to the empty spaces. When they find themselves in attacking areas against Switzerland it’s going to take much sharper combination play to break them down. Scoring will not be easy in this match, and they will need Benzema to pick up right back where he left off against Honduras. Easier said than done though.


Total: After the first group of matches the goals have been flying in, due to this the books have raised their totals dramatically. Switzerland vs. France is an excellent example of this. When France come up against strong opponents they rarely play games where both teams score, and Switzerland almost never play games over three goals. The Swiss will go right back into their defense-first formation and will attempt to make it very difficult for the French to break them down. As for France, they’ll want to create chances, but after seeing the way Switzerland were able to exploit the wings against Ecuador they’ll likely be a little more careful when sending wide players forward. One team will likely be shutout, and despite the strength of the French offense, it shouldn’t surprise anyone if this one ends in a scoreless draw.Pick: Under 2.5 goals (-115)

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ITALY V COSTA RICA PREVIEW

Italy played the perfect game from a stylistic standpoint. They attacked regularly while maintaining an excellent shape at the back. The midfield, defense connection was a little dicey in the early going but as the match wore on they became better and better and were a steel trap by the end. Both goals were distinctly Italian, as the first was set up by a brilliant dummy by Andrea Pirlo and the second off the head of Mario Balotelli. They’ll face a much different side, in a much different climate in game two however. Costa Rica stunned Uruguay, but did it in a clinical fashion. The Azzurri defense has to get back to the second half unit otherwise the Ticos will get in behind them often. The key for Italy will be how often they can maintain control in the final third. They have the players to score, but Costa Rica did a superb job of keeping the strong Uruguayan attack out of their area.

The Ticos were the surprise of the first set of matches. Their 3-1 stunner of Uruguay showed that they are not merely a formality in the group of former champions. Joel Campbell was unbelievable in the opener and he’ll be leaned on again if Costa Rica hope to get a point off of Italy. Costa Rica also scored directly off a set piece and could look to do so again. However, their one big mistake was the penalty kick that was also earned off a free kick. Trouble defensively with set pieces is one thing, trouble with set pieces against Pirlo, Balotelli and the rest of the Italian attack is another. The Costa Rican effort was not a fluke. The way they advanced the ball from defense to midfield and then up to the front will work against any team in the tournament. However, the final touches were there against a seemingly out of sorts Uruguayan defense, it’ll be a lot tougher to finish against Italy.

Costa Rica looked every bit the attacking side they claimed they were coming in, and Italy proved their front foot approach was not just noise coming from the handsomely dressed Cesare Prandelli. This being said, both teams proved to be tough to break down as each only allowed a single goal to strong attacking sides. Italy will be the determining factor in how many goals this game sees. They’ll have the ball for most of the match, it’s up to them how often they truly want to get forward understanding that the Ticos are dangerous in the counterattack. As in every match of first game winners, a draw suits both. It’s just hard to see Costa Rica playing so well at the back once again.

We predict a narrow win for the Italians

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JAPAN 0-0 GREECE

Greece held on for a scoreless draw against Japan in Natal on Thursday, ensuring Colombia will play in the round of 16 in Brazil.

Despite playing the entire second half with one less player, after skipper Kostas Katsouranis was expelled seven minutes before half-time, Greece denied the misfiring Japanese at the Arena das Dunas as both teams picked up their first points of the FIFA World Cup.

Katsouranis went into the book for the first time in the 27th minute when he slid into the back of Yuya Osako and his trip to halt Japan captain Makoto Hasebe's break 11 minutes later was the end of his match.

The draw saw Colombia, who had defeated Ivory Coast 2-1 earlier on Thursday, secure a berth in the knockout stages at their first World Cup since 1998, as they lead Group C with six points with one game to play.

The most intriguing selection for Greece was not a change with coach Fernando Santos sticking with Giannis Maniatis despite the Olympiacos defensive midfielder having threatened to leave Brazil on Wednesday after a training ground argument.

Maniatis retained his spot in defensive midfield, while Kostas Mitroglou and Ioannis Fetfatzidis replaced Theofanis Gekas and Dimitris Salpigidis respectively.

Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni made the brave decision of dropping Shinji Kagawa for Yoshito Okubo, while Yasuyuki Konno took Masato Morishige's spot in central defence.

Kagawa had been largely invisible against Ivory Coast but the sight of him on the bench at the Arena das Dunas was still a shock, with the playmaker having started all but one of his country's last 12 matches.

Both teams had pledged to attack in Natal after losing their opening games of the World Cup but 10 minutes passed before the first genuine chance was created; Panagiotis Kone driving through midfield before shooting powerfully straight at Eiji Kawashima.

Japan had over 75 per cent possession in the first half but generally struggled to test Orestis Karnezis with Okubo shooting tamely at Greece's goalkeeper and curling another effort wide either side of the 20-minute mark, before the game changed in the 38th minute, when Katsouranis was sent off.

With his team down to 10, Santos made two changes before half-time, sacrificing Fetfatzidis and Mitroglou for Giorgos Karagounis and Gekas respectively.

At the break, Zaccheroni brought on Yasuhito Endo for Hasebe in a bid to insert some creativity into Japan's line-up, before Kagawa was recalled in the 57th minute at the expense of Osako.

But despite the two substitutions, Japan still struggled to break down Greece's stubborn defence.

The Asian nation bombarded Greece's goal, with Okubo wasting the best chance when he blazed wide in the 68th minute, but the Europeans desperately held on to frustrate Zaccheroni's side and leave both teams needing a win in their final game to advance from Group C.

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COLOMBIA 2-1 IVORY COAST

Colombia put themselves in the Group C driving seat with a 2-1 FIFA World Cup victory over Ivory Coast on Thursday.

Following a first-half that was low on goalmouth action, the match burst into life in the final 30 minutes.

James Rodriguez set the ball rolling with a powerful header from a Juan Cuadrado corner in the 64th minute, before Juan Quintero doubled the advantage six minutes later.

Gervinho pulled one back for Ivory Coast 17 minutes from time, but it proved to be mere consolation for the African outfit.

Ivory Coast created a number of late openings but Colombia captain Mario Yepes, playing in his 100th international was supreme throughout, repelling everything thrown at him.

Colombia go three points clear at the top of the group, and will be assured of their place in the second round if Greece fail to beat Japan later in Thursday's action.

The unchanged Colombians had the better of the early chances - Teofilo Gutierrez sending a half-volley wide of the right-hand post from the edge of the penalty area.

The Ivorians, meanwhile, were struggling to get the likes of Wilfried Bony, Gervinho and Max Gradel into the game, though Cheick Tiote drilled over the crossbar 25 minutes in as they got a rare sight of goal.

The best chance of the opening period came for the South Americans three minutes later.

Gutierrez found himself in acres of space in the centre of the Ivorian box, but could only scuff clumsily wide of the left-hand upright when he was delivered the ball on a plate by Rodriguez.

Serge Aurier's low drive at the other end forced goalkeeper David Ospina into a diving save shortly after the half-hour mark, before Gradel went down in the area in search of a penalty under the challenge of Cristian Zapata.

Howard Webb – refereeing his first World Cup match since the 2010 final – was having none of it.

Victor Ibarbo failed to get the ball out from under his feet as he tried to set up a shooting angle at the beginning of the second half, before Yaya Toure curled a free-kick well wide of the target at the other end from a promising position.

Didier Zokora then surrendered his place in Tuesday’s meeting with Greece by picking up a booking for a clumsy challenge on Cuadrado.

The Fiorentina man came agonisingly close to putting Colombia in front on the hour, firing an effort across goal only to see it touched onto the post by Boubacar Barry.

Barry was not so fortunate next time, however, as his touch was not enough to keep out Rodriguez’s powerful header from a Cuadrado corner.

And the match appeared to be all but won six minutes later as Quintero found the space to slot beyond Barry.

However, Ivory Coast were right back in it in the 74th minute when Gervinho burst into the box to power an effort into the back of the net, Ospina unable to keep the effort out despite getting a glove to the ball.

It would prove to be the Africans' only goal of the encounter, leaving them sweating on a place in the next round, with Greece to face in their final group fixture.

Colombia's last match will be against Japan, but they may already be through by then.

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ENGLAND 1-2 URUGUAY

Luis Suarez returned from injury to score twice as Uruguay beat England 2-1 to breathe new life into their FIFA World Cup campaign.

Uruguay were shocked by a 3-1 loss to Costa Rica in their opening Group D fixture last Saturday, but Suarez - who was absent for that game - proved the difference in Sao Paulo on this occasion.

The fitness of the Liverpool star dominated the pre-match headlines but, as expected, he was included from the start just four weeks after undergoing minor knee surgery.

And he marked his first appearance of this World Cup with a double, nodding in a superb Edinson Cavani cross six minutes before half-time to give Uruguay the lead.

Wayne Rooney missed two glorious chances for England in the first half, first heading into the bar from one yard while scores were level before shooting straight at Uruguay goalkeeper Fernando Muslera early in the second period.

But he made amends as he tapped in Glen Johnson's smart ball across the face of goal with 15 minutes left to equalise and set up a grandstand finish.

Suarez had the final say, though, pouncing on Muslera's long ball - which flicked the head of England captain Steven Gerrard - and firing past Joe Hart with just five minutes left to all but end England's chances of reaching the last 16.

Uruguay will now head into Tuesday's clash against Italy in buoyant mood, while England, beaten in both Group D matches, need a minor miracle to qualify.

Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez threatened to ring the changes after the Costa Rica match and he was true to his word, making five alterations, as captain Diego Lugano (knee) and defender Maxi Pereira (suspended) were not the only casualties.

In stark contrast, England were unchanged, and Roy Hodgson's faith was nearly rewarded when Rooney - the target of much criticism following their 2-1 defeat to Italy - curled a 20-yard free-kick just wide with Muslera rooted to the spot.

Phil Jagielka's mishit clearance allowed Cristian Rodriguez in at the other end, but his fiercely hit left-foot effort sailed inches over the crossbar in the 15th minute.

Diego Godin was then perhaps lucky to stay on the pitch, as the defender, given a yellow card for a handball that led to Rooney's early free-kick, caught Daniel Sturridge by the throat with his forearm, but avoided further punishment.

England should have taken the lead in the 31st minute but Rooney, who rose above Martin Caceres, inexplicably headed into the bar from one yard from a Gerrard free-kick, and they were soon made to pay for their profligacy.

Nicolas Lodeiro instigated the opener, beating Gerrard in midfield, and he fed Cavani, who, from the left, produced an inch-perfect cross that looped over Jagielka and onto Suarez's head, with the striker nodding across Hart and in from eight yards.

Sturridge nearly produced a quick response for England but they had to weather a storm after the break as Uruguay ramped up the pressure.

Suarez caught Hart napping as he shot from a corner, with the goalkeeper having to scramble back to keep it out, and he also fired wide after England were caught out at the back.

Cavani then wasted a fine chance to double Uruguay's lead, shooting wide when one-on-one with Hart before Rooney could only shoot at Muslera when played in at the other end.

Rooney finally opened his World Cup account in the 75th minute as Johnson, who cut in from the right and beat Alvaro Gonzalez, saw the Manchester United man steal in front of Caceres and shoot past Muslera.

England's celebrations were cut short, though, as Muslera's hopeful punt forward saw Suarez pounce on Gerrard's inadvertent flick-on, the striker keeping his cool to slam the winner past Hart.

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AUSTRALIA 2-3 NETHERLANDS

The Netherlands moved to the brink of the FIFA World Cup knockout stages after defeating Australia 3-2 in an enthralling Group B contest.

Arjen Robben and Robin van Persie stole the show with a brace in the Netherlands' 5-1 demolition of Spain in their opening game last week, and the duo once more took centre stage by scoring again in Porto Alegre on Wednesday.

Tim Cahill earlier cancelled out Robben's opener with one of the greatest goals in World Cup history before a controversial penalty from Mile Jedinak nine minutes after the restart had Ange Postecoglou's men dreaming of a famous upset.

However, Van Persie quickly quashed those hopes by levelling in the 58th minute with a neat finish inside the area.

And Memphis Depay – who had come on as a substitute for the injured Bruno Martins Indi - broke Australian hearts with a speculative effort that goalkeeper Mat Ryan will feel he should have kept out.

Louis van Gaal's men can now become the first team to qualify for the round of 16 if Group B's other match on Wednesday between holders Spain and Chile ends in victory for the latter or a draw. Australia, meanwhile, face a near impossible task to progress having lost both group games.

Robben's third goal of the tournament in the 20th minute ensured the match exploded into life after a lacklustre opening.

The winger escaped the attention of Alex Wilkinson on the halfway line and surged into the box before drilling a low, angled shot into the bottom right-hand corner.

That lead proved short-lived, however, as Cahill equalised less than 60 seconds later with a goal of the highest quality that will live long in the memory.

Ryan McGowan – playing at right-back in the absence of the injured Ivan Franjic - pinged a superb cross-field pass towards Cahill, who watched the ball over his shoulder and lashed an unstoppable left-foot volley that crashed past the helpless Jasper Cillessen and struck the crossbar before nestling in the net.

It could have been even better for Australia on the half-hour mark, Mathew Leckie fizzed a ball across the area, but the onrushing Mark Bresciano could only side-foot over the bar.

The half ended on a sour note for the Netherlands when Martins Indi was carried off the pitch on a stretcher after a poorly timed challenge from Cahill, who received a booking that means he misses Australia's final group game with Spain.

It got even worse for the Netherlands after the break. Van Persie was first cautioned for an elbow on Matthew Spiranovic that rules him out of the last pool game with Chile before Jedinak put Australia ahead from the spot in 54th minute.

Referee Djamel Haimoudi deemed Oliver Bozanic's cross had been handled by Daryl Janmaat and Jedinak kept his cool to send CIllessen the wrong way.

However, four minutes later, the Netherlands restored parity.

Wesley Sneijder's intricate throughball was collected by Van Persie and the Manchester United striker turned well in the area before rifling a shot into the roof of the net for his 11th goal in his last 10 international appearances.

And, with just over 20 minutes remaining, the Dutch turnaround was complete.

Van Persie's clever run saw the pitch open up for Depay and his speculative effort from 25-yards found its way home via a costly error from Ryan.

Australia pushed forward in the closing stages in desperate search of an equaliser, but the Netherlands easily dealt with the danger to all-but book their place in the last 16.

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