Colombia vs. Ivory Coast: Date, Time, Live Stream, TV Info and World Cup Preview

Colombia and the Ivory Coast meet in Brasilia on Thursday with the knowledge that a win for either team will likely be enough to see it progress from Group C.

Each outfit began its 2014 World Cup with a win, as Jose Pekerman's side beat Greece 3-0, while the Elephants had to come back from a goal down to beat Japan 2-1.

The victor of this fixture is most likely to go on and top the pool, and to ensure you don't miss out on the action, all viewing details and a match preview are included below.

Date: Thursday 19 June

Time: 5 p.m. BST/12 p.m. ET

Live Stream: BBC Sport website (UK), ESPN Player (US, subscription required)

TV Info: BBC One (UK), ESPN (US)

Key Players To Watch

Colombia: Teofilo Gutierrez

Radamel Falcao's World Cup-ending injury will have been viewed as an almighty blow to Colombia's chances of success, but the team was recently hit with the news that striker Carlos Bacca will now miss the rest of the group-stage fixtures.

TalkSPORT's Ian Abraham's confirms the Sevilla man's absence, placing an even greater need on Teofilo Gutierrez to hold up the South Americans' attacking line against the Ivory Coast, where support from the bench will be more limited:

The Colombian Football Federation released a statement regarding Bacca's condition, per David Kent of the Daily Mail:

Following the tests done by Colombia's medical team, led by Doctor Carlos Ulloa, it has been determined that player Carlos Bacca has suffered a first degree muscle strain and will require a period of treatment from seven to 10 days.

Controversial River Plate forward Gutierrez managed to get his World Cup scoring off the mark during last week's win over Greece, and it's pivotal that he offers his very talented wingers another visible target to work from in the middle.

Ivory Coast: Yaya Toure

Colombia made their way through CONMEBOL qualification with the stingiest defensive record in South America, but there will have been few individual tests like Yaya Toure in their path.

Of course, no one man can shoulder an entire team's fortunes, but Squawka shows just what kind of a creative impact the Ivorian made against Japan during the Ivory Coast's tournament opener, and the Colombian pair of Carlos Sanchez and Abel Aguilar will have a struggle in restricting his influence:

Toure will be a menace to mark on his own, but Colombia will have to be equally as aware of Gervinho and Salomon Kalou being brought into play from the flanks in order to stop Toure getting his work done.

Key Battle

Victor Ibarbo vs. Serge Aurier

Two players very much enjoying some hype in the Italian and French top flights, respectively, Victor Ibarbo and Serge Aurier are set to clash for a most enticing battle on Thursday.

And even though Aurier may be the more defensively anchored of the two, the full-back had an extremely influential impact going forward last time out, setting up both Ivory Coast goals against the Japanese, as detailed by OptaJoe:

Should the Toulouse right-back overstay his welcome in Colombian territory, he risks seeing Ibarbo take full advantage of the space left in behind. Serie A club Cagliari can profess as to just how damaging that can be once the 24-year-old is unleashed with time on the ball.

Ibarbo must also be aware defensively, though, and with Pablo Armero likely to roam from left-back, Colombia's winger will need to offer cover at the right times in order to prevent Aurier's raids.

A fascinating tactical battle awaits and will arguably decide the outcome of the match.