World Cup 2014 France vs Ecuador LIVE STREAM: Group E Left Wide Open Just Ahead of Knockout Round
ByWith six points and a +6 goal differential, France may have a stranglehold atop Group E heading into their game against Ecuador, but they have yet to officially clinch a spot in the Round of 16.
Ecuador has three points and a goal differential even at 0, giving them a slight advantage over Switzerland, who also has three points, but a -2 goal differential. Ecuador's easiest way to advance would be to win, which would make the French vulnerable to the Swiss stealing the second spot atop the group.
CLICK HERE to watch the France - Ecuador match live online via WatchESPN. The game starts at 4 p.m. ET and coverage begins at 3:30.
Switzerland and Honduras start their match at the same time and either team would need to win by a score margin large enough to hold a tiebreaker advantage over France or Ecuador. In most groups, two wins and a +6 goal differential would be enough to secure a place in the knockout round, but Group E has proven itself particularly strong, as the final standings are not set.
According to FIFA.com, Estadio Do Maracana, an arena built in 1950 and that seats 74,738 people, will host the match Wednesday. The city of Rio De Janeiro should have clear skies and a mild temperature in the mid-70s, according to Weather.com.
In the last week of the 2014 World Cup group stage, Group E and Group G are the only two who do not have at least one team guaranteed to make the Round of 16. After Wednesday's earlier games, Argentina and Nigeria finished atop Group F, leaving six more spots open in the Round of 16.
As incentive to win and secure the top spot in their group, France would face Nigeria in the knockout round, as opposed to Argentina, who will take on Group E's second-place team.