June 25 – Groups E and F play to conclusion with Nigeria needing to avoid defeat against Argentina to be Africa’s first, and potentially only, representative in the last 16. Though Iran will be looking to do the same for Asia. The Swiss need a good win over Honduras to beat Ecuador into the next round, assuming the South American can overcome a high flying French team.
Argentina v Nigeria
African teams have flattered to deceive but avoiding defeat would guarantee Nigeria a place in the last 16.
Argentina have already booked their spot in the knockout round but will be keen to win the game in order to avoid meeting France. In truth Alejandro Sabella’s side have yet to set the tournament alight and can’t keep relying on Lionel Messi to get them out of jail.
Head to Head games
25/06/94 Argentina v Nigeria 2-1 (World Cup)
10/01/95 Nigeria v Argentina 0-0 (Confederations Cup)
02/06/02 Argentina v Nigeria 1-0 (World Cup)
12/06/10 Argentina v Nigeria 1-0 (World Cup)
01/06/11 Nigeria v Argentina 4-1 (International)
06/09/11 Argentina v Nigeria 3-1 (International)
FIFA Ranking (June 5th 2014)
Nigeria: Rank: 44 Points: 640
Argentina: Rank: 5 Points: 1175
World Cup 2014 Qualifying
Nigeria
First in CAF Group F with 12 points (P6 W3 D3 L0 GF7 GA3)
Play-off v Ethiopia (First in CAF Group B): Ethiopia 1 – 2 Nigeria, Nigeria 2 – 0 Ethiopia
Argentina
First in CONMEBOL Group with 32 points (P16 W9 D5 L2 GF35 GA15)
Nigeria v Argentina stats
Argentina are already through to the next round but Nigeria will top the group if they win this game.
A draw would put Nigeria through to the next round. If they lose and Iran win their game it will come down to goal difference, then goals scored and then the drawing of lots.
Nigeria have never beaten a South American team at World Cup (L4).
Lionel Messi has scored 22 goals in his last 22 appearances for Argentina
Their win against Bosnia Herzegovina was Nigeria’s first in 10 World Cup games (W1 D3 L6).
Nigeria are the only team in the tournament yet to concede a goal
Argentina have won 11 of their last 14 World Cup group games (W11 D2 L1), scoring 27 goals and conceding just 5.
Bosnia-Herzegovina v Iran
Tickets remain for this unfashionable tie but the most unloved game of the tournament could to be a more than decent spectacle.
Iran came perilously close to pulling off one of the World Cup’s great upsets against Argentina last time out. That defeat leaves them with just one point from their first couple of games, but still in with a slight chance of making the knockout stages. To do so, they need to beat Bosnia and Herzogovona and hope Argentina beat Nigeria.
Head to Head games
22/07/01 Bosnia-Herzegovina v Iran 2-2 (International)
10/08/01 Iran v Bosnia-Herzegovina 4-0 (Tehran Tournament)
02/02/05 Iran v Bosnia-Herzegovina 2-1 (International)
31/05/06 Iran v Bosnia-Herzegovina 5-2 (International)
12/08/09 Bosnia-Herzegovina v Iran 2-3 (International)
FIFA Ranking (June 5th 2014)
Bosnia and Herzegovina: Rank: 21 Points: 873
Iran: Rank: 43 Points: 641
World Cup 2014 Qualifying
Bosnia and Herzegovina
First in UEFA Group G with 25 points (P10 W8 D1 L1 GF30 GA6)
Iran
First in AFC Group A with 16 points (P8 W5 D1 L2 GF8 GA2)
Bosnia and Herzegovina v Iran stats
Bosnia and Herzegovina have already been eliminated
Iran can still go through if they win this game and Argentina beat Nigeria, depending on goal difference/goals scored.
If both Iran and Argentina both win 1-0 or 2-1 or 3-2 or 4-3 then Iran and Nigeria would finish the group equal on goal difference, goals scored and, with the result between the two teams being a 0-0 draw, lots would have to be drawn.
Prior to the game a Nigerian FF spokesman reportedly claimed there was a plot for Bosnia to sell the game to Iran.
Bosnia’s first ever national team match since independence came against Iran in Tehran in 1993. Bosnia won this game 3-1.
Iran have scored 16 goals across their 5 previous official matches against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Iran have never beaten European opposition in the World Cup (W0 D1 L4).
Iran have won only one of their 11 games at the World Cup (W1 D3 L7).
Bosnia have kept just one clean sheet in their last 6 matches.
Out of the last 12 World Cup goals conceded by Iran, 11 were scored in the second half.
Honduras v Switzerland
Honduras manager Luis Fernando Suárez will have midfielder Wilson Palacios back after he was sent off for a second bookable offense in the opening match against France.
Switzerland coach Ottmar Hitzfeld has some rather more difficult decisions to make after he watched his changed lineup mauled 5-2 by France last week.
His only enforced change is the absence of defender Steve von Bergen, who suffered a facial injury in that defeat. Fabian Schär or Philippe Senderos will replace him. Elsewhere, Valon Behrami will likely edge Blerim Džemaili to a start in the midfield, and Josip Drmić could come in for Haris Seferović up top.
Head to Head games
25/06/2010 Switzerland v Honduras 0-0 (World Cup)
FIFA Ranking (June 5th 2014)
Honduras: Rank: 33 Points: 731
Switzerland: Rank: 6 Points: 1149
World Cup 2014 Qualifying
Honduras
Third in CONCACAF Group with 15 points (P10 W4 D3 L3 GF13 GA12)
Switzerland
First in UEFA Group E with 24 points (P10 W7 D3 L0 GF17 GA6)
Honduras v Switzerland stats
In order to qualify for the next round, Honduras need to win this game 3-0 or 3-1 and hope France beat Ecuador by a sufficient margin for the current 4 goal goal deficit to be overcome.
Switzerland can go through to the next round with a draw, as long as France beat Ecuador. However, if both games are drawn, France and Ecuador will go through.
Honduras have never won (and in their last 4 games have failed to score) against European opposition at a World Cup (W0 D3 L3).
Switzerland are yet to lose against a CONCACAF team at the World Cup (W1 D2).
Honduras have played 8 matches at the World Cup without a single win – more than any other team. (W0 D3 L5).
Honduras have only won one of their last 9 matches (W1 D3 L5).
If Tranquillo Barnetta plays it will be his 8th World Cup match – equalling the Swiss record of Charles Antenen.
France v Ecuador
France are now sitting comfortably in Group E’s top spot after overcoming all the doubts regarding the team’s unity. Les Blues have proven that the team has absolutely no resemblance to Raymond Domenech’s side in South Africa four years ago and have beaten Honduras and destroyed Switzerland in the space of two weeks.
Ecuador will need a win to secure their qualification as long as Switzerland do not beat Honduras by too many goals.
Head to Head games
27/05/08 France v Ecuador 2-0 (International)
FIFA Ranking (June 5th 2014)
Ecuador: Rank: 26 Points: 791
France: Rank: 17 Points: 913
World Cup 2014 Qualifying
Ecuador
Second in CONMEBOL Group with 25 points (P16 W7 D4 L5 GF20 GA16)
France
Second in UEFA Group I with 17 points (P8 W5 D2 L1 GF15 GA6)
Play-off v Ukraine: Ukraine 2-0 France, France 3-0 Ukraine
Ecuador v France stats
Ecuador would likely go through with a win, unless Switzerland also win and overturn the current 2 goal goal deficit. A draw will not be enough for Ecuador, if Switzerland win their game.
Theoretically France could still go out, but only if Ecuador win by four goals and Switzerland by five.
France are unbeaten in 6 World Cup matches against South American opposition since a 2-1 defeat by Argentina in 1978.
If France win this game it will be only the second time they have won all 3 World Cup group games – the other was in 1998 when they went on to win the tournament.
Karim Benzema has scored 9 goals in his last 8 appearances for France
Enner Valencia has scored 7 goals in his last 6 appearances for Ecuador. He requires just one more goal to become Ecuador’s top World Cup goalscorer.
Ecuador reached the last 16 in their last World Cup tournament in 2006 (before losing 1-0 to England.)
This match will be Reinaldo Rueda’s 50th match as Ecuador’s manager (W20 D15 L14).