Opta Stats: The less-lauded Valencia will net yet again

Honduras' Maynor Figueroa could be in for a hectic evening

Italy, Costa Rica and Enner Valencia should all score on Friday, but Switzerland and France won't be as productive...

Italy v Costa Rica
Friday, 17:00
Live on BBC One

Match Odds: Italy 1.558/15, Costa Rica 7.613/2, The Draw 4.47/2

Costa Rica have scored in all six World Cup games against teams from the UEFA confederation

This is the one stat that England fans won't want to hear, but despite Costa Rica's unremarkable World Cup record - exiting in the group stage on their last two appearances and making the last 16 the time before - European sides just don't know how to stop them scoring.

Despite forecasts that Group D would be one of the least entertaining quartets at this World Cup, every match so far has seen over 2.5 goals and both teams score, and it is difficult to see Italy breaking that streak. Opta note that Italy have netted in each of their last 15 World Cup fixtures.

Recommended Bet: Back both teams to score @ 2.1211/10

Switzerland v France
Friday, 20:00
Live on ITV

Match Odds: Switzerland 5.14/1, France 1.834/5, The Draw 3.814/5

The last three games between Switzerland and France have only produced two goals

Much as magic usually occurs when Argentina and Brazil clash, Switzerland and France is a standard-bearer at the other end of the spectrum, the closest thing to a guarantee of international monotony. Their last three collisions finished 0-0, 1-1 and 0-0, with the most recent staged at World Cup 2006.

Both sides have been in superb clean sheet-keeping form of late, with Les Bleus hushing up nine of their last 12 opponents, including first Group E adversaries Honduras, and Switzerland doing a similarly effective job silencing eight of their last 13 foes.

Recommended Bet: Back under 2.5 goals @ 1.8810/11

Honduras v Ecuador
Friday, 23:00
Live on ITV

Match Odds: Honduras 6.05/1, Ecuador 1.715/7, The Draw 4.03/1

Enner Valencia has scored in each of his last five appearances for Ecuador

Ecuador have been establishing themselves as serial scorers over the past nine months, striking in each of their last six encounters and nine of their last ten, and Enner Valencia has been the main protagonist.

The Pachuca bazooka has emerged ahead of Man United namesake Antonio and former Man City and Lokomotiv Moscow forward Felipe Caicedo as the South Americans' star, and will be optimistic of prolonging his run against Honduras, who have given up nine goals in their last four outings.

Best Bet: Back Enner Valencia to score @ 3.39/4