France's much-vaunted attack missed a series of chances as it drew 0-0 with 10-man Ecuador to reach the knockout stage of the World Cup on Wednesday, while the South Americans bowed out of the tournament.

In the other final Group E game, Switzerland defeated 3-0 Honduras to finish in second place behind the French.

A double from Lionel Messi a day after his 27th birthday inspired Argentina to a 3-2 win over African champions Nigeria and assured them of finishing top of Group F at the World Cup finals on Wednesday.

Nigeria's defeat -- their fourth in four meetings at the finals against Argentina -- came with the considerable consolation that they still progressed to the second round as Iran lost 3-1 to Bosnia-Hercegovina in the other group game.

Edin Dzeko weighed in with a first-half goal as Bosnia-Herzegovina knocked Iran out of the World Cup with a 3-1 win in Salvador on Wednesday.

Iran had needed to beat Bosnia and hope Nigeria lost to Argentina to keep alive faint hopes of reaching the last 16, but Carlos Queiroz's side came up well short in the Group F clash.

Five-time champion Venus Williams overcame a slow start to beat Kurumi Nara 7-6 (4), 6-1 on Wednesday to reach the third round of a major for only the second time in her last 10 Grand Slam tournaments.

The 30th-seeded American won six straight points in the tiebreaker and ran off six straight games in the second set to beat Nara on Court 3 at the All England Club.

Uruguay's volatile star Luis Suarez's propensity for biting opponents stems from his under-privileged childhood, a leading sports psychologist told the BBC.

The 27-year-old Liverpool striker -- who has been banned for lengthy periods for two previous biting incidents -- is alleged to have bitten Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini in their World Cup Group D game on Tuesday.

France coach Didier Deschamps has "far too much respect" for Ecuador to talk up his team's chances of another goal-feast in their final group game Wednesday.

France followed up its 3-0 win against Honduras with a 5-2 thrashing of Switzerland last Friday and comfortably tops Group E with six points. It has a massively superior goal difference, meaning that it could even lose and still go through.

Tim Howard rarely makes it through a game without accepting multiple celebratory embraces from relieved American teammates.

It happens almost every time the U.S. goalkeeper launches his solid, 6-foot-3 frame to make spectacular saves — diving, leaping and even punching the ball away for difficult stops.

Greece doesn't score often at the World Cup, but its goals certainly come at the right time.

Greece doubled its total scoring tally at World Cup tournaments by netting twice against the Ivory Coast on Tuesday — the second coming through an injury-time penalty that secured a 2-1 victory and a spot in the knockout rounds.

With or without Luis Suarez, Uruguay faces a serious challenge keeping the Colombia juggernaut at bay in the last 16 of the World Cup.

Inspired by a brilliant cameo performance off the bench from James Rodriguez, the Colombians completed a near-perfect group-stage campaign with a 4-1 win over Japan on Tuesday that eliminated the Asian champions from the tournament.

Costa Rica drew 0-0 with England to top World Cup Group D unbeaten and leave their opponents without a win and an early flight home on Tuesday in Belo Horizonte.

England had chances to rescue something form a terrible campaign but Daniel Sturridge sent both shots wide.