WORLD CUP TODAY: FRIDAY, JUNE 20
England’s World Cup hopes are on the thinnest of threads after losing to Uruguay on Thursday, while Japan couldn’t break down 10-man Greece and Colombia looked like world beaters in a 2-1 win over the Ivory Coast.
So what’s on tap for today? Plenty.
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MATCH 24: ITALY VS. COSTA RICA
Location: Arena Pernambuco, Recife
Time: Noon ET
SOCCERLY PREVIEW | SOCCERLY MATCHCENTER
What they’re saying:
Costa Rica coach Jorge Luis Pinto on hearing that Jose Mourinho thinks a second upset is unlikely: “I am really surprised that José Mourinho said something like that. He plays Sundays and Wednesdays and he is not able to repeat what he did the match before? Of course he is. We know that Italy is a very difficult opponent but we are confident that we will be able to repeat our performance.
“At the beginning, some people said that we were the worst and that we wouldn’t even get one point,” he said. “But we think about what we are able to do. Other people said that Spain would play the final against Brazil. That will not happen now.”
History:
Italy won 2-0 in 1985, the only meeting.
MLS Players:
Costa Rica: Giancarlo González, Waylon Francis (Colombus Crew), Roy Miller (New York Red Bulls)
RELATED: World Cup news, analysis from Soccerly
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Location: Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador
Time: 3pm ET
SOCCERLY PREVIEW | SOCCERLY MATCHCENTER
Cheater’s guide: The Swiss know they have to attack France in order to balance out the French club’s desire to push its offense forward. Frankly, this one could be one of the matches of the tournament as the nations battle for the top spot in Group E.
What they’re saying:
Switzerland assistant coach Michel Pont: “Us, favourites? Absolutely not. Frankly, the current French team impresses me, they have found harmony... It’s extremely difficult to find their weak points, it is the first time I have experienced this in 13 years.”
History:
France leads with 15 wins, nine draws and 12 losses and, though the nations have drawn their last three meetings, Switzerland hasn’t won a match-up since May of 1992.
Premier League players:
Switzerland – Philippe Senderos (Aston Villa)
France – Hugo Lloris (Tottenham Hotspur), Mathieu Debuchy (Newcastle), Bacary Sagna (Manchester City), Mamadou Sakho (Liverpool), Patrice Evra (Manchester United), Laurent Koscielny (Arsenal), Moussa Sissokho (Newcastle), Morgan Schneiderlin (Southampton), Olivier Giroud (Arsenal), Loic Remy(QPR).
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Location: Arena da Baixada, Curitiba
Time: 6pm ET
SOCCERLY PREVIEW | SOCCERLY MATCHCENTER
Cheater’s guide: Two Colombian managers (and friends) square off in an elimination game. Honduras will be without star Wilson Palacios on a red-card suspension.
What they’re saying:
Honduras coach Luis Fernando Suarez on a 3-0 loss to France: “"We ran away from football in the last match. It seems to me we were missing something ... we needed more confidence with the ball.”
History:
Ecuador has a slight edge in an even series, with three wins, eight draws and two losses.
Premier League players:
Honduras – Maynor Figueroa (Hull City), Wilson Palacios (Stoke City)
Ecuador – Antonio Valencia (Manchester United)
MLS players:
Honduras – Victor Bernardez (San Jose), Boenik Garcia (Houston), Marvin Chavez (Chivas USA), Jerry Bengtson (New England).
Ecuador – Oswaldo Minda (Chivas USA)