Segun Oluwaniyi

Na wa for my people, man. I do not see why our chickens have been banned when Morocco and Iran are poisoning the world's ears with non-stop horns that have no harmony at all. Chickens will not hurt anyone. Abeg, I am just hoping they will allow us the customary drums and trumpets into the stadiums because they were trying to ban them from entry in Brazil. We need to create a real Naija atmosphere It has been a poor tournament for Africa, so we will have to carry the flag now. The group is tough, but we have quality and a good group of players, so I am not worried. The main question I have with this team is really the same question I had four years ago. Namely, who is going to score goals for this side? Iheanacho and Musa are the two most prolific players in our ranks (especially with Moses Simon injured), but it appears they will be the first options off the bench rather than starters. Kelechi's situation reminds me of the Odemwingie conundrum from 2014 because in terms of quality in the final third, he is the best option, but we struggle to find a role for him to start because he is not a target man and has just been OK as #10 without someone like Vardy running in behind. Moses and Iwobi are very dangerous when they are on form and direct, but neither is really prolific. Ighalo, like Emenike last time, is really being picked to start because of his ability to hold up play when we are defending rather than his lethal goalscoring touch. The keeper is another question. Uzoho will be the best keeper in Africa one day, imo, but today may not be that day. He's only 19, and while he has great natural reflexes and a huge frame to dominate the box, he has indecisive and panicky moments where you can tell the boy is very green. I'm quite confident our defense and midfield are up to the task and they will need to protect young Uzoho.

My wife and I were running late to the Morocco-Iran match yesterday, so we just called a taxi to drop us off at the "football stadium". Unfortunately, this guy managed to take us to the Petrovsky stadium (The previous Zenit stadium, which is currently decrepit and has no tenant, rather than the billion-dollar structure hosting a World Cup match within the hour). In my idiocy, I decided we should just walk to Krestovsky, but this was a 3-4 mile distance, so I ended up missing the first 55 minutes or so and bringing home a seriously vexed girl that took the only bed in this flat for herself last night. The match was enjoyable, though. Any basic analysis of the match would lead you to think that Iran would sit deep and Morocco would struggle to break them down on the front foot, and this is exactly what transpired, though I was disappointed in how poorly Renard's side played. Still, it was a very fun atmosphere (seemingly better than came across on television) other than the old man constantly blowing his horn directly in my ear for 50 minutes and the Iranians were going completely mental from the time of the Bouhaddouz own goal until early in the morning. We had fun with them. For all the problems in construction and rubles wasted, St. Petersburg stadium is a beautful place for a football match. Every seat is a good view and it holds sound well. Generally, Russians seem very excited for Cup, tbh. Everyone seems far nicer than when I am usually in the country and many people are stopping to welcome us to Russia or even asking for thoroughly unwanted photos. It wouldn't stun me at all if Queiroz and co. can steal a 0-0 against Portugal or Spain, btw. They are such a well-drilled team and there will be nowhere near as much space on the pitch as those sides had last night. I can see Portugal struggling to break them down if Ronaldo has to drop deeper to get the ball. That may be all they need to get through, now as well. The group is still wide open.

He is still doing quite well at Barcelona...if a little lower than his heights of a couple years ago. Both Egypt and Morocco are going to be extremely cagey and likely dull sides outside of a few creative players. This is how they got to the tournament, and I doubt they will change their ways now. With all that I invested in getting people to Russia and procuring tickets, it will seriously vex me if most matches are half-full like this one is. It is easy to notice that the majority of the unfilled seats are in the areas likely reserved for sponsors and Yekaterinburg is very out of the way, tbf.

The first two I’ll grant you, the time zone whine is precious, and the last is nonsense. By all accounts the ‘94 tournament was wildly successful and the game’s only grown since then. This will easily be the most attended and lucrative tournament yet. And you’re discounting Canada as a first-time host and Mexico, a country with an unquestionable footballing culture. All of it's a whine but it doesn't really make it any less relevant as a post on the football section of a Newcastle forum like. You can say what you want about how successful '94 was etc, but the context of that popularity is still that there are far more fitting countries, with vastly more prominent football cultures and infrastructures than the U.S and Mexico, especially considering they've had it in '86 and '94. It's pretty ridiculous that England hasn't had it since 1966 considering it invented the sport, like. The likes of Spain and Italy have got just as much to complain about too considering their own history, culture, infrastructures, and the last time they hosted the World Cup. It's a joke yet again tbh, South Africa, Russia, Qatar, and the U.S/Mexico/Canada make up 4 of the last 5 hosts and out of those Russia is probably the least undeserving. North America having the tournament 3 times in 40 years seems fine to me. Europe has had the tournament three times in the past 20, including two bordering countries hosting within an 8 year period. You will really have to explain to me what makes the Western European high-income countries that already have world class football every week more deserving than any other part of the world. With the exception of Qatar (which is nonsensical on many levels) and Canada, all the countries you listed have large football loving populations and the infrastructure/the willingness to build the infrastructure necessary for a World Cup, which is what should matter. I am confident in saying that Mexico and the USA both have more total football fans than any European country. Regional parity is paramount now that we are in an era where six continents can feasibly host the competition, imo. / Sure. All of North America probably does have more fans than a single European country. Completely irrelevant, but accurate? Aye, probably. I meant each country as a single entity (which is a fair comparison, imo, as the tournament is hosted by countries, not continents). My point is that there are plenty of fans to support the tournament and facilitate a good atmosphere around the country, which is what will happen. Baltimore is a relatively small US city, maybe the 20th biggest or so, and I was there in 2010 or 2011 for one of European club friendlies which could have sold out M & T Bank stadium twice over despite oppressive heat. The fans are there and the matches will sell out faster than any World Cup with the money in the US.

The first two I’ll grant you, the time zone whine is precious, and the last is nonsense. By all accounts the ‘94 tournament was wildly successful and the game’s only grown since then. This will easily be the most attended and lucrative tournament yet. And you’re discounting Canada as a first-time host and Mexico, a country with an unquestionable footballing culture. All of it's a whine but it doesn't really make it any less relevant as a post on the football section of a Newcastle forum like. You can say what you want about how successful '94 was etc, but the context of that popularity is still that there are far more fitting countries, with vastly more prominent football cultures and infrastructures than the U.S and Mexico, especially considering they've had it in '86 and '94. It's pretty ridiculous that England hasn't had it since 1966 considering it invented the sport, like. The likes of Spain and Italy have got just as much to complain about too considering their own history, culture, infrastructures, and the last time they hosted the World Cup. It's a joke yet again tbh, South Africa, Russia, Qatar, and the U.S/Mexico/Canada make up 4 of the last 5 hosts and out of those Russia is probably the least undeserving. North America having the tournament 3 times in 40 years seems fine to me. Europe has had the tournament three times in the past 20, including two bordering countries hosting within an 8 year period. You will really have to explain to me what makes the Western European high-income countries that already have world class football every week more deserving than any other part of the world. With the exception of Qatar (which is nonsensical on many levels) and Canada, all the countries you listed have large football loving populations and the infrastructure/the willingness to build the infrastructure necessary for a World Cup, which is what should matter. I am confident in saying that Mexico and the USA both have more total football fans than any European country. Regional parity is paramount now that we are in an era where six continents can feasibly host the competition, imo.

Nigeria were embarrassing in the first half. They looked disorganised and half-asleep. The second was an improvement, and if it means that Onazi never sees the pitch in Russia, I am pleased with the result. England is interesting because Kane and Sterling will trouble every team they play (one of the most dangerous attacking duos at the tournament, imo), but the depth in the squad is very average for a team that should have aspirations to win the World Cup.

I know Asia is obviously the mist coveted foreign market, due to its population size and relatively wealth, but Chelsea are massive throughout Africa and easily one of the top sides in America as well. They are a big and global name.

If one of the premier athletes in America got the same tattoo, it would not be a serious story at all. Maybe the usual suspects on Twitter would be making noise, but no one else would care.I watched the press conference for the match against Nigeria today, and the first question that was put to the manager of your national team, ahead of an important friendly and less than two weeks before the world's biggest sporting event, was pertaining to a drawing on his winger's leg that will almost certainly not be visible during actual matches. There is no logical reason for this to be leading news for more than a week. There is something seriously wrong with the media in that country. The campaign against Sterling in the past few weeks is both very unsavoury and highly unsurprising.

We are still carrying 25 players, so it is not final, but I would be stunned if he is not there. I think he will start at left back, tbh. It's the weakest outfield position, and he is better than Uwa and more experienced than Ola Aina. I wish more people shared this opinion, so it was actually possible to purchase one somewhere online. I want one two for myself and my wife, but thing is seemingly sold out worldwide. I think I will settle for one of the Lagos sold/China made versions that have flooded Naija already.

This one is just ok, not as catchy as Brazil's. The South Africa one will stay with me forever. The football in that World Cup was relatively poor, but I'll always remember sitting in my Auntie's house in Lagos every evening and hearing that song while I was cursing Yakubu and laughing at the crying Ghanians. Great memories. Russia will be the first World Cup I attend in person, and I am unreasonably excited, despite the mental cost of everything. I just hope the Super Eagles do not ruin my trip. They have a very decent chance of a good run, imo. Group D is tough, but I like the team that Rohr has put together, it will be a hard fought thing for all four teams, I don't believe Argentina will get out of it unblemished, either. Of the other African sides, my heart holds optimism for Senegal and Egypt, primarily because of their groups. Morocco are better than Egypt and probably equal to Senegal, imo, but they will need to steal at least a draw against one of the Iberians. They were the second best side to Naija in the qualifiers and did not concede a goal, so it is definitely possible. There is no hope for Tunisia, they are poor. Egypt England are fortunate because 2 of the 3 worst sides are in their group, imo (the other being Panama).

I laughed at the first error, but just feel terrible for Karius now. I cannot imagine how the guy will feel tonight.

What a strange and entertaining football match this is.

Benteke looks like he has severe Wilfried Bony syndrome. The Benteke of years past would have been an ideal signing, he is someone with pedigree and many of the attributes that I look for in a forward to lead the line, but I do not want him in his current, afflicted state. Despite being young, he looks half the player he was in his first season at Villa. On low wages, it would be a decent risk, but he'll be able to get a higher wage from another Premier League side or China.

I strongly advise you to support the Super Eagles of Nigeria in the forthcoming FIFA World Cup.

West Brom under [insert name of heretofore unknown to me Black manager] are actually a fairly competent, competitive, and average lower tier Premier League side rather than the embarrassment they were under the charlatan Pardew. Midtable sides that are already on holiday don't tend to win against those types of teams. I am not optimistic for points here.

Diabate is only three years younger and has never scored a single goal in the top flight league of any country, yet he is better than Zaha.

Ciro Immobile has just scored the goal of the season with blind backheeled volley from the top of the box in stoppage time to salvage a draw for Lazio. Incredible finish. He has struggled at times this season, tbf, but I believe Iwobi is a serious talent with the right attributes to be at the top, imo. It is frustrating how many of his Arsenal performances are spent floating on the periphery, though. He has the quality and physicality to be more direct and impactful. Arsenal syndrome.

Evra was absolute rubbish at OM before he abruptly ended his tenure there by assaulting a supporter who reminded him of his rubbishness. He is 100% done and I am suprised he has come to England rather than retiring or grabbing fat cheques from somewhere in Asia. Ashley has brought true desperation to this club.

Lambert doesn't seem to me particularly worse than Mark Hughes or any number of other average managers in this league. His stint at Villa obviously ended in disaster, but the real strange part of his tenure was the fact was that it was allowed to continue for so long. Most managers will fail at some point, and he has found success elsewhere. For the purposes of this season, the most important aspect was to simply remove Hughes from the dressing room. It was fairly clearly that he had lost the ear of what is ostensibly a fairly talented squad, and I would expect results to improve with a new man.

Maguire is far worse than Lascelles and frankly the weak link in the partnership with Morgan, who is also superior to him.

Chants of "USA!" around the ground An incredible strike too.

I like Murphy, but the boy is a 23 in a month and was an expensive purchase, yet plays like an 18 year old academy debutant. Obvious talent, but no confidence, assertiveness, or intelligence. As always, you have to give a player a full season to adjust to a new team and league, but it is worrying.

He always "looks good", but he is rubbish for the most part.

Stoke are more talented, imo, but they are playing with all the vigour of a side that want the manager sacked. This is a great opportunity that they cannot afford to waste.

Perez is playing very well thus far. His movement is causing serious problems.