Italy could throw England a World Cup lifeline Friday while France and Switzerland bid to move closer to the last 16 and avoid a possible meeting with Argentina in the knockout round.

Having lost 2-1 to Uruguay in Group D on Thursday, England need Italy to beat Costa Rica in Recife to avoid their earliest exit from a World Cup since 1958.

Even then England would require results to go their way in the final round of fixtures next Tuesday to achieve an improbable act of escapology.

"If we beat Costa Rica I want a kiss, obviously on the cheek, from the UK Queen," Italy striker Mario Balotelli quipped in a post on Twitter ahead of the Costa Rica clash.

While England face an early flight home, both France and Switzerland are favoured to avoid a repeat of the 2010 finals, where they bowed out in the first round, after both opened with victories over Honduras and Ecuador respectively.

Friday's match falls on the fourth anniversary of the French squad's infamous strike during their South Africa 2010 campaign when the team refused to train in support of Nicolas Anelka after the moody striker was sent home early after a foul mouthed outburst at unpopular coach Raymond Domenech.

France captain Hugo Lloris says the anniversary will not be a factor as they chase the win which would leave them on the verge of the knock-out phase.

"We don't have what happened in 2010 in mind, we're really focused on this tournament. What happened in 2010 belongs in the past," said Lloris, one of the few players still in the squad from the South Africa campiagn.

"We're here to live an adventure for as long as possible with the best results possible."

A win for either France or Switzerland would put them firmly on course to win Group E, averting the possibility of a last 16 meeting with Argentina, the expected winners of Group F.

If France or Switzerland win today they could qualify for the second round, if Honduras and Ecuador, who meet in the day's other game, draw.

Elsewhere, controversy mounted over FIFA rules regarding players who suffer head injuries following an incident involving Uruguay's Alvaro Pereira in the England match.

Pereira collapsed to the ground and lay motionless after appearing to be knocked out after Raheem Sterling's knee accidentally collided with his head in the 61st minute of the match.

The 28-year-old insisted on carrying on playing despite the Uruguay team doctor demanding he be substituted.

However players union FIFPro on Friday said the case highlighted an urgent need to review guidelines governing concussion.

"Football is awash with incidents in which players suffer potentially concussive blows to the head and stay on the pitch," FIFPro said in a statement.

Even though Pereira had insisted on staying on, FIFPro said players needed to be prevented from themselves or "rash" decision making.

"(A player) must be subjected to further evaluation and follow-up procedures that help determine if and when he can return to training," the body said.

"The World Cup must set the standard for player health and safety to educate the international football community," the statement continued.