World Cup 2014 LIVE STREAM: Colombia vs Ivory Coast: Group C Supremacy on the Line in Battle of Unbeatens
ByThe winner of the Thursday afternoon's match between Colombia and Ivory Coast will clinch a spot in the knockout round of the 2014 World Cup.
Both teams started out their tournament schedule with wins, Colombia a 3-0 win over Greece and Ivory Coast a 2-1 defeat of Japan. With three points apiece, both teams want three more to clinch one of the two top spots in Group C.
CLICK HERE to watch the match online via WatchESPN. The game will start at 12 p.m. ET, but coverage begins at 11:30 a.m.
According to FIFA.com, Estadio Nacional, an arena in the city of Brasilia that seats 69,349 people, will host the match. Estadio Nacional was constructed in 2012 and is the second-largest arena in the World Cup.
Sitting toward the middle of Brazil, the mid-day match playing conditions are expected to be sunny, dry and hot. According to Weather.com, the temperature should peak 90 degrees. Both coming from hot weather climates, neither Colombia nor Ivory Coast should be affected much by the heat.
Colombia spread out its scoring throughout their match with Greece and among three different players. Pablo Armero scored first in the fifth minute, followed by Teofilo Gutierrez in the 58th and James Rodriguez in the 90th+.
Ivory Coast gave a goal to Japan in the 16th minute but answered with two goals within two minutes of each other. First, Wilfried Bony scored in the 64th and then Gervingo followed with a goal in the 66th.
Japan and Greece will play later on Thursday and the winner of that match will have a shot at taking the second spot atop the group. Unfortunately for the loser of the match, it would mean elimination.
Colombia and Ivory Coast have looked like the strongest teams in Group C, but this tournament has seen multiple upsets already.