Italy, France, Ecuador in action tonight

SAO PAULO: England will be praying Italy do them a favour and beat Costa Rica later on Friday to keep alive their slim hopes of avoiding their earliest exit from a World Cup in 56 years.

Even if the Italians were, who beat England 2-1 in their first game, to beat Costa Rica, which is no certainty given the CONCACAF side beat Uruguay 3-1, England would still require Italy to beat the Uruguayans next Tuesday and they would have to beat Costa Rica and hope to go through on better goal difference.

Elsewhere France play Switzerland in a clash for control of Group E, where a win for either side would probably ensure they finish top of their pool.

In the last match of the day Ecuador face Honduras in another Group E clash. Both the teams lost their opening games against Switzerland and France respectively.