DHAKA: The ninth day of FIFA World Cup 2014 in Brazil is trimmed with three important matches among Italy-Costa Rica, Switzerland-France and Honduras-Ecuador.
The first match will kick off at 10:00pm (local time) Friday at Arena Pernambuco, Recife.
England's slim chances of progressing from Group D rest on Italy beating Costa Rica.
Roy Hodgson's side will be eliminated if Costa Rica draw or beat the Italians in Recife.
Should Italy win, and also beat Uruguay next Tuesday, then England can qualify for the last 16 by beating Costa Rica.
Italy pair Gianluigi Buffon and Mattia De Sciglio are back in training but a late decision will be made on their availability.
Andrea Barzagli and Daniele De Rossi picked up minor knocks earlier in the week and will be assessed.
Costa Rica look set to continue with the 5-4-1 formation that served them so well in a 3-1 win over Uruguay.
Joel Campbell is again expected to lead the line, with Bryan Ruiz breaking from an advanced right position.
England need Italy to win their remaining group games against Costa Rica and Uruguay to stay in the tournament.
Roy Hodgson's side then needs to beat Costa Rica in their final group game.
England, Uruguay and Costa Rica would then each be on three points and qualification would be decided on goal difference.
But the statistics are not on England's side as no team has ever lost their opening two games at a World Cup and progressed from the group.
England needs favors from Italy after they were beaten 2-1 by Uruguay on Thursday.
"Italy are a fantastic team and capable of winning both of their remaining games but we're clutching at straws," England captain Steven Gerrard said.
"The position we're in is the position we didn't want to be in coming into the tournament, relying on other people's results. We need to be professional, keep fighting and pray for that score line to go for us."
The second match of Day-9 of FIFA 2014 between Switzerland and France will start at 1:00am (local time) Saturday, at Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador.
Switzerland head coach Ottmar Hitzfeld must decide whether to start with either of the substitutes who scored in the 2-1 win over Ecuador.
Admir Mehmedi could be preferred to winger Valentin Stocker but match-winner Haris Seferovic admits he is unlikely to displace Josip Drmic.
France are optimistic that midfielder Yohan Cabaye will recover from a groin problem in time to play.
Cabaye, Patrice Evra and Paul Pogba are all one booking from a ban.
As befits the traditionally close relationship between these neighbouring countries, Switzerland and France have been exchanging pleasantries ahead of a match which could all-but decide who wins Group E.
The last match of day-9 of the FIFA World Cup between Honduras and Ecuador will kick off at 4:00am (local time) at Arena da Baixada, Curitiba.
Honduras midfielder Wilson Palacios is suspended for his red card against France in the opening game, so former Hibernian loanee Jorge Claros or Oscar Boniek Garcia could start.
Defender Victor Bernardez is a fitness doubt, having been replaced by Osman Chavez at half-time in that match after suffering an ankle injury.
Ecuador are likely to field the same line-up that lost to Switzerland.
Juan Carlos Paredes is one booking from triggering a suspension.
A five-year strain in relations between these countries - caused by a Honduran coup - only ended in March, and the coach of either side could be forgiven for causing a minor diplomatic incident by inadvertently heading to the opposition dugout.
Source: BBC
BDST: 1101 HRS, JUN 20, 2014
