Colchester United

 After England's heartbreak at the hands of Uruguay (well, Luis Suarez) on Thursday, we're all swapping our white shirts for blue ones and cheering on the Italians on Day 9 of World Cup 2014.

With Italy in control of England's knockout-stage fate, a victory against Costa Rica on Friday and Uruguay on Tuesday combined with an England win against the Costa Ricans could see Roy Hodgson's men through. Optimistic, sure, but what else do we have to cling on to?

The Italians showed during their 2-1 victory against England in Group D's opener that they have what it takes to tactically outwit even the fiercest of oppositions.

Though Costa Rica are unlikely to provide the same threat as England, Cesare Prandelli's men still have a job to do. From an England perspective, all that matters is that Italy cross the line, and SkyBet have them at 8/15 to take three points at Arena Pernambuco.

With Italy likely to be going all-out attack from the first whistle, you can guarantee that football's bad boy Mario Balotelli will be playing a big part in the match.

Having asked for a kiss on the cheek from the Queen in exchange for an Italy victory, the AC Milan frontman is 7/2 to score the first goal against Costa Rica with SkyBet and 9/2 to find the net twice.

Interestingly enough, you can get the Queen going ahead with the Balotelli kiss at 10,000/1.

However, underestimating Costa Rica isn't advised, just ask Uruguay, who fell to a 3-1 defeat to their South American counterparts in their opener. Arsenal's Joel Campbell was at the heart of everything positive going forward for Costa Rica and is 8/1 to score first against Italy and set up another shock result.

With both Switzerland and France coming into Friday's clash off the back of opening victories, the race for top spot in Group E is well and truly on. The French completely outplayed Honduras on their way to a 3-0 victory on Sunday and they're 16/1 with SkyBet for a repeat performance against the Swiss.

Ottmar Hitzfeld's side also picked up three points in their opening match, but it was far from the comfortable encounter that France enjoyed. After going 1-0 down to Ecuador,

Switzerland rallied back and scraped to a 2-1 victory courtesy of a Haris Seferovic strike after coming on as a substitute. The Real Sociedad forward is primarily used from the bench for his national team and is 9/1 to have the final say of proceedings with the final goal of the match at the Arena Fonte Nova.

With both sides likely to show their attacking intent from the offset, we could be seeing a few goals in Group E's clash of the heavyweights. Both teams to score in Salvador is 8/11 with SkyBet, and considering the lethal forwards on show, that's a rather attractive-looking bet.

One of the frontmen looking to do some damage is France's Karim Benzema, who bagged a double in the victory over Honduras. The Real Madrid star is 5/1 to net another brace on Friday with SkyBet and 4/1 to score the game's opener against the Swiss.

The late game of the day sees Honduras take on Ecuador at the Arena da Baixada in an all-America clash that's sure to be a physical encounter.

Honduras rather kicked lumps out of France during Sunday's defeat, with Wilson Palacios being sent off for persistent fouling just before half time.

With Luis Fernando Suarez's side once again looking like having to endure long spells without the ball, the frustration will undoubtedly set in, and they're 4/7 to be given the first card of the day with SkyBet. 

Honduras haven't scored a single World Cup since 1982, when they drew 1-1 with Northern Ireland in Zaragoza. Based on their match with France, it's unlikely that their record is going to come to an end in 2014 and Ecuador are 11/8 to keep a clean sheet in Curitiba with SkyBet.

Meanwhile, Ecuador fought valiantly against Switzerland in their opening game and were unlucky to come away empty handed in cruel circumstances.

Enner Valencia headed Reinaldo Rueda's side into the lead on Sunday, netting his fifth international goal in as many games in the process. The Pachuca star is 5/1 with SkyBet to net his sixth in six with the game's first goal on Friday and 7/4 to score anytime in an Ecuador victory.

England's match with Italy aside, the late kick-offs have been somewhat of a let down during this World Cup, summed up by Japan's 0-0 draw with Greece on Thursday.

SkyBet are offering 12/1 for Honduras and Ecuador to deal out a boring goalless draw, making the eyelid matchsticks suddenly worth it.