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"As the dust of the World Cup group stages begins to settle, the intensity of the round of 16 begins to loom over Brazil.\nGroup B is all but settled. Australia are heading home, as are the reigning champs Spain. The Netherlands and Chile move into the tournament's round of 16, though their order has yet to be determined. Group C saw its first playoff spot go to Colombia on Thursday, after it defeated the Ivory Coast 2-1.\nBut what about Group D and E? Let's take a look at what you should expect in Friday's matches.\nSee also: World Cup Day 8: I, For One, Welcome Our Superhuman Striker Overlords\nItaly vs. Costa Rica\n\nAndrea Pirlo of Italy in action during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group D match between England and Italy at Arena Amazonia on June 14 in Manaus, Brazil. Image: Jean Catuffe/Getty ImagesAfter both teams won their opening game, this match may determine the winner of Group D. Costa Rica currently leads the group due to goals; Italy are the heavy favorites, thanks to the deadly duo of Mario Balotelli and Andrea Pirlo.\nIt may not end with victory or goals for either team, of course. Matches like Mexico vs Brazil on Tuesday have shown that nil-nil draws are just as much as a reality in this tournament as sweeping victories.\nIf Italy does win, they'll likely face the Ivory Coast in the round of 16.\nSee also: Here's How England Can Still Advance in the World Cup\nThe match also has interesting implications as to who else could advance out of the group. \nEngland still has a shot at advancing if both Italy and England can score a combined 3 goals on Costa Rica, conceding none, and Italy beats Uruguay. \nBut with a revitalized Luis Suarez scoring two goals against England, that outcome is far from a foregone conclusion. Uruguay may well be able to force a draw against Italy \u2014 as might the surprise team of 2014, Costa Rica.  \nEither way, the hungry Colombia squad who topped Group C will be waiting to strike the runner up \u2014 whether it's Uruguay, Costa Rica or England.\nSwitzerland vs. France\n\nFrance's Karim Benzema celebrates after scoring France's third goal during the Group E World Cup soccer match between France and Honduras at the Estadio Beira-Rio in Porto Alegre, Brazil on June 15.Image: Jon Super/Associated PressThe clash between the boys in red and the boys in bleu on Friday will also determine a group winner.\nFrance currently holds the lead in Group E after a dominating performance by Karim Benzema, who was effectively robbed of the World Cup's first hat-trick, thanks to some questionable calls by officials (the honor later went to Germany's wunderkind Thomas M\u00FCller).\nLooking ahead to the round of 16, this match may be the most important of the day if either team wants to extend their World Cup lives. Winning Group E will allow France or Switzerland to dodge the very likely winner of Group F \u2014 Argentina. Messi and co. are not the team you want to meet early in the knockout round.\nMeanwhile, the winner of Group E is expected to have one of the easier match-ups in the round of 16. After the evident problems in Iran and Nigeria's tournament opener, Bosnia-Herzegovina should take the number 2 spot in Group F. \nAlthough they managed to put up a point against Argentina, Bosnia-Herzegovina are hardly a match for most other teams expected to make it out of the group stage.\nHonduras vs. Ecuador\nDepending on the number of goals scored in Switzerland vs France on Friday, the Honduras-Ecuador game could be quite thrilling.\n\nEcuador players celebrate after Enner Valencia scored the opening goal during the Group E World Cup soccer match between Switzerland and Ecuador at the Estadio Nacional in Brasilia, Brazil on June 15. Image: Michael Sohn/Associated PressIf Ecuador beats Honduras, and Benzema pulls out another stellar game against Switzerland for France, Ecuador stands a shot at advancing out of the group. It would come down to one of the final matches of Group E, between France and Ecuador, but at least Ecuador's fate would be in their own hands. \nStill, Ecuador's advance out of the group depends heavily on France playing some incredible soccer \u2014 and that's just not the team you want to hedge your playoff berth against.\nFor Honduras, the path to the round of 16 is almost impossible. Honduras would have to score three goals against Ecuador, let no goals in and then go on to beat Switzerland at least 1-0. With Honduras' weak opener against France, plane tickets home seem a more likely outcome.\nBONUS: The Complete Guide To World Cup Team Nicknames\n\n\nThe Wonderful World Cup Team Nicknames\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAlgeria, \"Les Fennecs\"\nIn honor of the national animal of Algeria, the national team is \"Les Fennecs,\" the small, nocturnal foxes native to North Africa.\n\nImage:  ESPN/Cristiano Siqueira\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nArgentina, \"La Albiceleste\"\nAs beautiful as it is eloquent, \"La Albiceleste\" means \"The White and Sky Blue,\" and refers to Argentina's famous striped uniforms.\n\nImage:  ESPN/Cristiano Siqueira\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAustralia, \"The Socceroos\"\nThis is probably the kookiest nickname: Australia's national team combines \"soccer\" and \"kangaroos.\" Now, you've got yourself the Australian squad.\n\nImage:  ESPN/Cristiano Siqueira\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nBelgium, \"The Red Devils\"\nThe Belgians are known affectionately in all three of the country's spoken languages -- Dutch, French and German -- as \"The Red Devils.\"  The name was coined when a journalist called the Belgian squad \"The Red Devils\" after three \"devilish\" wins in 1906, just two years after forming.\n\nImage:  ESPN/Cristiano Siqueira\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nBosnia and Herzegovina, \"Zmajevi\"\nLike Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina owes its nickname to a commentator who called the players \"zmajevi\" or \"dragons\" in 2010, and the name stuck.\n\nImage:  ESPN/Cristiano Siqueira\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nBrazil, \"Sele\u00E7\u00E3o\"\n\"The Selection\" is Brazil's nickname because it's what Brazilians call every soccer team: a \"sele\u00E7\u00E3o. But only the national team is \"the \"Sele\u00E7\u00E3o.\" Brazil is also known as \"Canarihno\" (\"Little Canary\") due to the team's bright yellow uniforms.\n\nImage:  ESPN/Cristiano Siqueira\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nCameroon, \"The Indomitable Lions\"\nCameroon's nickname is actually a nod to the country's lion-preservation efforts. In the wild and on the pitch, the Cameroon lions or \"Lions\" are \"indomitable.\"\n\nImage:  ESPN/Cristiano Siqueira\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nChile, \"La Roja\"\nThe Chileans prefer simplicity, earning their nickname from the team's notable red uniforms.\n\nImage:  ESPN/Cristiano Siqueira\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nColombia, \"Los Cafeteros\"\n\"Los Cafeteros\" loosely translates to \"one who makes or drinks coffee,\" and Colombians do both. The national team is nicknamed after one of Colombia's biggest exports: coffee.\n\nImage:  ESPN/Cristiano Siqueira\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nCosta Rica, \"Los Ticos\"\n\"Los Ticos\" is the shortened, more conversational name for \"Costarrincenses\" or \"native Costa Ricans.\"\n\nImage:  ESPN/Cristiano Siqueira\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nCroatia, \"Vatreni\"\n\"Vatreni\" means \"The Blazers\" in Croatian, a nod to both the passion of the players on the pitch and the fans in the stands. Lately, Croatia is also known as \"Bilic's Boys,\" a reference to the team's head coach, Slaven Bilic.\n\nImage:  ESPN/Cristiano Siqueira\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nEcuador, \"La Tricolor\"\n\"La Tricolor\" refers to the three colors of the Ecuadorian flag: yellow, blue and red.\n\nImage:  ESPN/Cristiano Siqueira\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nEngland, \"The Three Lions\"\nEngland's namesake refers to the country's rich history, going back to Richard the Lionheart, the King of England from 1189 to 1199. The three lions that appear on the national team's crest also appear on the Royal Arms of England.\n\nImage:  ESPN/Cristiano Siqueira\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nFrance, \"Les Bleus\"\nThe boys in \"bleu\" got their nickname because the color dominates the French team's uniforms. It's even a nickname for most teams across French sports.\n\nImage:  ESPN/Cristiano Siqueira\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nGermany, \"Die Mannschaft\"\nCall it German efficiency: \"Die Mannschaft\" means \"The Team\" in German. Simple, practical and formidable when spoken.\n\nImage:  ESPN/Cristiano Siqueira\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nGhana, \"The Black Stars\"\nA refrence to the sole black star on Ghana's national flag, the players of the national team are stars to their fans.\n\nImage:  ESPN/Cristiano Siqueira\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nGreece, \"Ethniki\"\n\"Ethniki\" or \"national\" is Greece's nickname. The Greek team is also known as \"Piratiko,\" after a Greek radio broadcaster who christened the team with the name during the opening ceremony of UEFA Euro 2004.\n\nImage:  ESPN/Cristiano Siqueira\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nHonduras, \"Los Catrachos\"\n\"Los Catrachos\" is the name for native Hondurans, derived from General Florencio Xatruch who fought an American insurrectionist's attempts to reintroduce slavery. Xatruch's men were called \"xatruches,\" which then became \"catruches,\" and so on.\n\nImage:  ESPN/Cristiano Siqueira\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nIran, \"Team Melli\"\nLike other teams in the World Cup, \"Team Melli\" simply means \"National Team.\" \n\nImage:  ESPN/Cristiano Siqueira\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nItaly, \"Azzurri\"\nLike France's team, \"Azzurri\" means \"the blues.\" Though not part of the national flag colors, blue was the color of House Savoy which unified Italy in 1861.\n\nImage:  ESPN/Cristiano Siqueira\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nIvory Coast, \"Les Elephants\"\nIvory Coast; ivory tusks. The national team is named \"Les Elephants\" due to their part in the 19th century ivory trade.\n\nImage:  ESPN/Cristiano Siqueira\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nJapan, \"Samurai Blue\"\nAdorned in \"blue\" uniforms, the Japanese squad honors the country's historical warriors, and become \"samurais\" on the pitch.\n\nImage:  ESPN/Cristiano Siqueira\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMexico, \"El Tri\"\nEvery national team's nickname honors its country, but Mexico's nickname \"El Tri\" conjures up intense national pride. A shortened \"El Tricolor,\" Mexico's nickname refers to the three colors -- red, white and green -- of the Mexican flag.\n\nImage:  ESPN/Cristiano Siqueira\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nNetherlands, \"Oranje\"\nNamed for the team's famous orange kits, the color is actually nowhere to be found on the Netherlands' flag. Instead it refers to the color of the old Dutch royal family: House of Orange-Nassau. The team's invention of a precise method of passing to maintain ball control -- Total Football -- also earned the Dutch team the nickname and Kubrickian homage \"Clockwork Orange.\"\n\nImage:  ESPN/Cristiano Siqueira\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nNigeria, \"The Super Eagles\"\nNigeria's nickname is rooted in classic one-upmanship. The national team adopted the nickname \"The Super Eagles\" after losing to Cameroon's \"The Indomitable Lions\" in the 1988 Africa Cup of Nations finals.\n\nImage:  ESPN/Cristiano Siqueira\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nPortugal, \"Sele\u00E7\u00E3o das Quinas\"\nPortugal's nickname, \"The Selection of the Shields,\" refers to the five shields (the \"quinas\") and the five dots within each shield (the bezants) on the country's flag.\n\nImage:  ESPN/Cristiano Siqueira\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nRussia, \"Sbornaya\"\nShort on originality, but strong and powerful in pronunciation, Russia's \"Sbornaya\" means \"National Team\" in Russian.\n\nImage:  ESPN/Cristiano Siqueira\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSouth Korea, \"Taegeuk Warriors\"\nThe \"taegeuk\" refers to the symbol on South Korea's national flag, which represents a spiritual balance, similar to China's yin and yang symbol. Also known as \"The Reds\" due to the team's red uniforms, fans have called themselves the \"Red Devils\" since 1995.\n\nImage:  ESPN/Cristiano Siqueira\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSpain, \"La Furia Roja\"\n\"The Red Fury,\" Spain's nickname, comes from two sources. \"La Roja,\" like other team nicknames, comes from the color of the team's uniforms, while \"La Furia\" describes its \"direct, aggressive, spirited style\" of play in the 1920s -- a \"fury\" on the pitch.\n\nImage:  ESPN/Cristiano Siqueira\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSwitzerland, \"La Nati\"\nThe Swiss team kept its nickname short and to the point. \"La Nati,\" means \"The National Team\" in French. Due to the many languages used in Switzerland, the team is also known as \"Schweizer Nati\" in German and \"Squadra Nazionale\" in Italian, but they ultimately all mean the same thing. \n\nImage:  ESPN/Cristiano Siqueira\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nUruguay, \"La Celeste\"\nNot quite Argentina's \"La Albiceleste,\" but equally as beautiful when spoken, Uruguay's \"La Celeste\" also refers to the team's sky-blue uniforms.\n\nImage:  ESPN/Cristiano Siqueira\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nU.S.A., \"The Yanks\"\nUnlike other countries competing in the World Cup, the U.S. doesn't have an official nickname. In the past, the team has been called \"The Yanks,\" but the jury's still out on it being the official name of the U.S. Men's National Team. Other nicknames include \"The Stars and Stripes\"  or just \"Team USA.\"\n\nImage:  ESPN/Cristiano Siqueira\n\n\n\n\n\n\nHave something to add to this story? Share it in the comments."^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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