2014 FIFA World Cup: Equador beats Honduras, England out of World Cup contest, France wins 5-2 over Switzerland
Get ready, North America. There might be days when there are better matches, or more important matches (the USA on Sunday), but no other day in Brazil will feature two CONCACAF teams. CONCACAF heroes Costa Rica can seal England’s fate with a point against Italy, who through one game is giving the Dutch a run for its money in terms of mixing in world-class older talent with some dynamic youngsters.
Switzerland and France also have a lot at stake in the middle match of the three . The Swiss played poorly for pretty much the entire game Sunday against Ecuador, only to steal a win in stoppage time.
- An Ecuador fan masked before the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group E match between Honduras and Ecuador at Arena da Baixada in Curitiba, Brazil. (Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)
- A Honduras fan cheers prior to the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group E match between Honduras and Ecuador at Arena da Baixada in Curitiba, Brazil. (Julian Finney/Getty Images)
- An Ecuador waits for the start of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group E match between Honduras and Ecuador at Arena da Baixada in Curitiba, Brazil. (Julian Finney/Getty Images)
- A Honduras fan waits for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group E match between Honduras and Ecuador at Arena da Baixada to start in Curitiba, Brazil. (Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)
- Ecuador’s Enner Valencia (13) collides with Victor Bernardez (5) of Honduras as they fight for the ball during their 2014 World Cup Group E soccer match at the Baixada arena in Curitiba. (Amr Abdallah Dalsh/Reuters)
- Roger Espinoza of Honduras competes for the ball with Antonio Valencia of Ecuador during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group E match between Honduras and Ecuador at Arena da Baixada in Curitiba, Brazil. (Julian Finney/Getty Images)
- Noel Valladares of Honduras makes a save during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group E match between Honduras and Ecuador at Arena da Baixada in Curitiba, Brazil. (Clive Rose/Getty Images)
- Jefferson Montero of Ecuador falls after a challenge by Maynor Figueroa of Honduras during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group E match between Honduras and Ecuador at Arena da Baixada in Curitiba, Brazil. (Clive Rose/Getty Images)
- Ecuador’s Enner Valencia scores past goalkeeper Noel Valladares of Honduras during their 2014 World Cup Group E soccer match at the Baixada arena in Curitiba, Brazil. (Darren Staples/Reuters)
- Ecuador’s Enner Valencia scores past goalkeeper Noel Valladares of Honduras during their 2014 World Cup Group E soccer match at the Baixada arena in Curitiba, Brazil. (Darren Staples/reuters)
- Carlo Costly of Honduras celebrates after scoring a goal past goalkeeper Noel Valladares of Honduras during their 2014 World Cup Group E soccer match at the Baixada arena in Curitiba, Brazil. (Darren Staples/Reuters)
- Carlo Costly of Honduras celebrates after scoring a goal past goalkeeper Noel Valladares of Honduras during their 2014 World Cup Group E soccer match at the Baixada arena in Curitiba, Brazil. (Darren Staples/Reuters)
- Ecuador’s forward Enner Valencia celebrates after scoring during a Group E football match between Honduras and Ecuador at the Baixada Arena in Curitiba during the 2014 FIFA World Cup. (Gabriel Bouys/AFP-Getty Images)
- Ecuadorian soccer fans react to their team scoring against the Honduras team as they watch on the screen setup at the Word Cup FIFA Fan Fest during on Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
- Ecuador fans cheer during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group E match between Honduras and Ecuador at Arena da Baixadav in Curitiba, Brazil. (Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)
- Enner Valencia of Ecuador collides with Maynor Figueroa of Honduras during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group E match between Honduras and Ecuador at Arena da Baixada in Curitiba, Brazil. (Clive Rose/Getty Images)
- Honduras appeal to referee Benjamin Williams after a call during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group E match between Honduras and Ecuador at Arena da Baixada in Curitiba, Brazil. (Julian Finney/Getty Images)
- Jerry Bengtson of Honduras (3rd L) is held back by teammates as referee Benjamin Williams (R) and assistant referees walk off the field at the half during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group E match between Honduras and Ecuador at Arena da Baixada in Curitiba, Brazil. (Clive Rose/Getty Images)
- Honduras’ forward Carlo Costly celebrates after scoring during a Group E football match between Honduras and Ecuador at the Baixada Arena in Curitiba during the 2014 FIFA World Cup. (Christophe Simon/AFP-Getty Images)
- Honduras’ forward Carlo Costly celebrates after scoring during a Group E football match between Honduras and Ecuador at the Baixada Arena in Curitiba during the 2014 FIFA World Cup. (Rodrigo Arangua/AFP-Getty Images)
- Honduras’ players celebrate after Honduras’ forward Carlo Costly (2ndR) scored during a Group E football match between Honduras and Ecuador at the Baixada Arena in Curitiba during the 2014 FIFA World Cup. (Rodrigo Arangua/AFP-Getty Images)
- Honduras’ defender Maynor Figueroa vies with an Ecuador’s opponent during a Group E football match between Honduras and Ecuador at the Baixada Arena in Curitiba during the 2014 FIFA World Cup. (Gabriel Bouys/AFP-Getty Images)
- Players argue with Australian referee Benjamin Jon Williams (L) during a Group E football match between Honduras and Ecuador at the Baixada Arena in Curitiba during the 2014 FIFA World Cup (Rodrigo Arangua/AFP-Getty Images)
- Jerry Bengtson of Honduras is shown a yellow card by referee Benjamin Williams during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group E match between Honduras and Ecuador at Arena da Baixada in Curitiba, Brazil. (Julian Finney/Getty Images)
- Honduras’ defender Victor Bernardez (L) vies with Ecuador’s forward Enner Valencia during a Group E football match between Honduras and Ecuador at the Baixada Arena in Curitiba during the 2014 FIFA World Cup. (Christophe Simon/AFP-Getty Images)
- Ecuador’s Colombian coach Reinaldo Rueda looks on during a Group E football match between Honduras and Ecuador at the Baixada Arena in Curitiba during the 2014 FIFA World Cup. (Rodrigo Buendia/AFP-Getty Images)
- An Ecuador’s player gets ready to take a free kick during a Group E football match between Honduras and Ecuador at the Baixada Arena in Curitiba during the 2014 FIFA World Cup. (Rodrigo Arangua/AFP-Getty Images)
- Ecuador’s defender Juan Carlos Paredes (L) vies with Honduras’ forward Jerry Bengtson during a Group E football match between Honduras and Ecuador at the Baixada Arena in Curitiba during the 2014 FIFA World Cup . (Rodrigo Buendia/AFP-Getty Images)
- Honduras’ forward Jerry Bengtson kicks the ball during a Group E football match between Honduras and Ecuador at the Baixada Arena in Curitiba during the 2014 FIFA World Cup. (Christophe Simon/AFP-Getty Images)
- Honduras’ defender Juan Pablo Montes (R) vies with Ecuador’s midfielder and captain Antonio Valencia during a Group E football match between Honduras and Ecuador at the Baixada Arena in Curitiba during the 2014 FIFA World Cup. (Gabriel Bouys/AFP-Getty Images)
- Honduras coach Luis Fernando Suarez reacts during their 2014 World Cup Group E soccer match against Ecuador at the Baixada arena in Curitiba,Brazil. (Stefano Rellandini/Reuters)
- Ecuador’s forward Enner Valencia (R) vies with an Honduran player during a Group E football match between Honduras and Ecuador at the Baixada Arena in Curitiba during the 2014 FIFA World Cup. (Christophe Simon/AFP-Getty Images)
- Ecuador’s goalkeeper Alexander Dominguez (bottom) reacts a Group E football match between Honduras and Ecuador at the Baixada Arena in Curitiba during the 2014 FIFA World Cup. (Rodrigo Buendia/AFP-Getty Images)
- Ecuador’s forward Enner Valencia celebrates after scoring a second goal during a Group E football match between Honduras and Ecuador at the Baixada Arena in Curitiba during the 2014 FIFA World Cup. (Gabriel Bouys/AFP-Getty Images)
- Ecuador’s forward Jefferson Montero (R) is shown a yellow card by Australian referee Benjamin Jon Williams during a Group E football match between Honduras and Ecuador at the Baixada Arena in Curitiba during the 2014 FIFA World Cup. (Rodrigo Buendia/AFP-Getty Images)
- Honduras’ defender Maynor Figueroa (L) vies with Ecuador’s defender Jorge Guagua (C) during a Group E football match between Honduras and Ecuador at the Baixada Arena in Curitiba during the 2014 FIFA World Cup. (Christophe Simon/AFP-Getty Images)
- Honduras’ defender Brayan Beckeles (L) controls the ball during a Group E football match between Honduras and Ecuador at the Baixada Arena in Curitiba during the 2014 FIFA World Cup. (Rodrigo Arangua/AFP-Getty Images)
- Juan Carlos Garcia of Honduras tackles Felipe Caicedo of Ecuador during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group E match between Honduras and Ecuador at Arena da Baixada in Curitiba, Brazil. (Julian Finney/Getty Images)
- Enner Valencia of Ecuador celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group E match between Honduras and Ecuador at Arena da Baixada in Curitiba, Brazil. (Julian Finney/Getty Images)
- Head coach Reinaldo Rueda encourages Jefferson Montero of Ecuador into the pitch during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group E match between Honduras and Ecuador at Arena da Baixada in Curitiba, Brazil. (Clive Rose/Getty Images)
- Carlo Costly of Honduras clashes with Jefferson Montero of Ecuador during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group E match between Honduras and Ecuador at Arena da Baixada in Curitiba, Brazil. (Clive Rose/Getty Images)
- Enner Valencia of Ecuador (R) celebrates after scoring his team’s second goal with Frickson Erazo (L), Antonio Valencia (2nd L) and Juan Carlos Paredes (2nd R) during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group E match between Honduras and Ecuador at Arena da Baixada in Curitiba, Brazil. (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
- Ecuador’s goalkeeper Alexander Dominguez reacts at the end of a Group E football match between Honduras and Ecuador at the Baixada Arena in Curitiba during the 2014 FIFA World Cup. (Rodrigo Buendia/AFP-Getty Images)
- Switzerland’s midfielder Goekhan Inler (R) vies with France’s forward Karim Benzema (L) during a Group E football match between Switzerland and France at the Fonte Nova Arena in Salvador during the 2014 FIFA World Cup on June 20, 2014. (Dimitar Dilkoff/AFP/Getty Images)
- Steve von Bergen of Switzerland lies on the pitch as referee Bjorn Kuipers stands over during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group E match between Switzerland and France at Arena Fonte Nova on June 20, 2014 in Salvador, Brazil. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
- Gokhan Inler of Switzerland leads his team to the field with their player escorts during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group E match between Switzerland and France at Arena Fonte Nova on June 20, 2014 in Salvador, Brazil. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
- Giorgio Chiellini of Italy looks dejected during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group D match between Italy and Costa Rica at Arena Pernambuco on June 20, 2014 in Recife, Brazil. (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images)
- Ignazio Abate of Italy goes up for a header against Christian Bolanos of Costa Rica during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group D match between Italy and Costa Rica at Arena Pernambuco on June 20, 2014 in Recife, Brazil. (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images)
- Italy’s forward Lorenzo Insigne runs with the ball during a Group D football match between Italy and Costa Rica at the Pernambuco Arena in Recife during the 2014 FIFA World Cup on June 20, 2014. (Emmanuel Duand/AFP/Getty Images)
- Costa Rica’s forward Joel Campbell (L) in action during a Group D match between Italy and Costa Rica at the Pernambuco Arena in Recife during the 2014 FIFA World Cup on June 20, 2014. (Giuseppe Cacace/AFP/Getty Images)
- Bryan Ruiz of Costa Rica (not pictured) scores his team’s first goal past Gianluigi Buffon of Italy during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group D match between Italy and Costa Rica at Arena Pernambuco on June 20, 2014 in Recife, Brazil. (Photo by Jamie McDonald/Getty Images)
- Costa Rica’s forward Bryan Ruiz (R) scores against Italy’s goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon (2nd R) during a Group D football match between Italy and Costa Rica at the Pernambuco Arena in Recife during the 2014 FIFA World Cup on June 20, 2014. (Javier Soriano/AFP/Getty Images)
- Costa Rica’s Bryan Ruiz (L) heads the ball to score a goal during their 2014 World Cup Group D soccer match against Italy at the Pernambuco arena in Recife June 20, 2014. (Brian Snyder/Reuters)
- Costa Rica’s Bryan Ruiz (R) scores a goal against Italy’s Gianluigi Buffon (1) during their 2014 World Cup Group D soccer match at the Pernambuco arena in Recife June 20, 2014. (Ruben Sprich/Reuters)
- Costa Rica’s Joel Campbell reacts to a decision by referee Enrique Osses of Chile (not seen) during their 2014 World Cup Group D soccer match against Italy at the Pernambuco arena in Recife June 20, 2014. (Dominic Ebenbichler/Reuters)
- Costa Rica’s Bryan Ruiz (R) scores a goal against Italy’s Gianluigi Buffon (2nd R) during their 2014 World Cup Group D soccer match at the Pernambuco arena in Recife June 20, 2014. (Ruben Sprich/Reuters)
- Costa Rica huddle before kickoff of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group D match between Italy and Costa Rica at Arena Pernambuco on June 20, 2014 in Recife, Brazil. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
- Cristian Gamboa of Costa Rica controls the ball against Andrea Pirlo of Italy during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group D match between Italy and Costa Rica at Arena Pernambuco on June 20, 2014 in Recife, Brazil. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
- Mario Balotelli and Giancarlo Gonzalez of Costa Rica go up for a header during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group D match between Italy and Costa Rica at Arena Pernambuco on June 20, 2014 in Recife, Brazil. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
- Italy’s fans walk in Rome, on their way to watch the FIFA World Cup 2014 football match Italy vs Costa Rica displayed on a giant screen in central Rome’s Piazza Venezia on June 20, 2014. (Filippo Monteforte/AFP/Getty Images)
- Mario Balotelli of Italy and Joel Campbell of Costa Rica go up for a header during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group D match between Italy and Costa Rica at Arena Pernambuco on June 20, 2014 in Recife, Brazil. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
- Italy’s forward Mario Balotelli (L) and Costa Rica’s defender Giancarlo Gonzalez vie for the ball during a Group D football match between Italy and Costa Rica at the Pernambuco Arena in Recife during the 2014 FIFA World Cup on June 20, 2014. (Emmanuel Duand/AFP/Getty Images)
- Costa Rica’s Oscar Duarte fouls Italy’s Claudio Marchisio (front) during their 2014 World Cup Group D soccer match at the Pernambuco arena in Recife June 20, 2014. (Dominic Ebenbichler/Reuters)
- Italy’s Andrea Barzagli (L) fights for the ball with Costa Rica’s Yeltsin Tejeda during their 2014 World Cup Group D soccer match at the Pernambuco arena in Recife June 20, 2014. (Dominic Ebenbichler/Reuters)
- Costa Rica’s Giancarlo Gonzalez and Italy’s Mario Balotelli (R) jump for the ball during their 2014 World Cup Group D soccer match at the Pernambuco arena in Recife June 20, 2014. (Ruben Sprich/Reuters)
- Costa Rica’s Yeltsin Tejeda (R) fights for the ball with Italy’s Andrea Barzagli during their 2014 World Cup Group D soccer match at the Pernambuco arena in Recife June 20, 2014. (Brian Snyder/Reuters)
- Italy and Costa Rica soccer players wait for the start of their 2014 World Cup Group D soccer match at the Pernambuco arena in Recife June 20, 2014. (Ruben Sprich/Reuters)
- Italy’s Thiago Motta (L) and Costa Rica’s Christian Bolanos jump for the ball during their 2014 World Cup Group D soccer match at the Pernambuco arena in Recife June 20, 2014. (Ruben Sprich/Reuters)
- Switzerland’s goalkeeper Diego Benaglio watches France’s Moussa Sissoko score France’s fifth goal during their 2014 World Cup Group E soccer match at the Fonte Nova arena in Salvador June 20, 2014. (Fabrizio Bensch/Reuters)
- France’s Karim Benzema (C) scores a goal past Switzerland’s goalkeeper Diego Benaglio (R) and Johan Djourou during their 2014 World Cup Group E soccer match at the Fonte Nova arena in Salvador June 20, 2014. (Fabrizio Bensch/Reuters)
- France’s Karim Benzema celebrates after scoring a goal during the 2014 World Cup Group E soccer match between Switzerland and France at the Fonte Nova arena in Salvador June 20, 2014. (Fabrizio Bensch/Reuters)
- France’s Karim Benzema celebrates after scoring their fourth goal against Switzerland during their 2014 World Cup Group E soccer match at the Fonte Nova arena in Salvador June 20, 2014. (Jorge Silva/Reuters)
- France’s forward Karim Benzema celebrates after scoring during a Group E football match between Switzerland and France at the Fonte Nova Arena in Salvador during the 2014 FIFA World Cup on June 20, 2014. (Dimitar Dolkoff/AFP/Getty Images)
- France’s midfielder Moussa Sissoko celebrates scoring his team’s fifth goal during a Group E football match between Switzerland and France at the Fonte Nova Arena in Salvador during the 2014 FIFA World Cup on June 20, 2014. (Franck Fife/AFP/Getty Images)
- Karim Benzema of France celebrates scoring his team’s fourth goal past goalkeeper Diego Benaglio of Switzerland during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group E match between Switzerland and France at Arena Fonte Nova on June 20, 2014 in Salvador, Brazil. (Photo by Christopher Lee/Getty Images)
- French soccer team fans watch their team play against the Switzerland team as they watch on the screen setup at the Word Cup FIFA Fan Fest during on Copacabana beach June 20, 2014 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Italy lost 1-0. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
- French soccer team fans react to their team scoring against the Switzerland team as they watch on the screen setup at the Word Cup FIFA Fan Fest during on Copacabana beach June 20, 2014 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
- Italy forward Antonio Cassano (10) goes down in pain during the second half of their 1-0 loss to Costa Rica in a 2014 World Cup game at Arena Pernambuco. (Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports)
- Costa Rican soccer fans celebrate their win over Italy after their 2014 World Cup soccer match in San Jose June 20, 2014. (Juan Carlos Ulate/Reuters)