Groups E and F to decide their playoff competitors on Wednesday

The final group round of the World Cup goes on today (June 25). In Group E, Ecuador try to emulate their 2006 experience of making it to the playoffs, their best World Cup achievement so far. In order to stay in the competition, they must beat an already qualified squad at Maracanã at 5pm. A draw could as well benefit the Equadorians as long as Switzerland beat Honduras in the group’s parallel match on Wednesday.

The Hondurans have quite a challenge in store. While still holding out remote prospects for qualification, they must trounce Switzerland in today’s 5pm game in Manaus and hope for to win. On the other hand, because of the 5-2 rout inflicted on them by in the previous round, the Swiss will also need to score prolifically and improve their sub-zero goal difference so that they don’t depend on a defeat by Ecuador – who have the same number of points as them.

In Group F, Argentina take on Nigeria at 1 pm in Porto Alegre. Whereas the Argentinians have already ed their test, Nigeria, with three points, need only a draw to proceed with the competitions. The last time they got past this stage was in 1998 in .

Meanwhile, Bosnia and Iran face off in Salvador, also at 1pm. While the Bosnians are set to drop out of the tournament, Iran are badly in need of a victory and hoping for Nigeria’s defeat.

Translated by Mayra Borges