Segun Oluwaniyi

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.

The majority of the players on the pitch were bought during his tenure, so if Rafa does not trust them, that is Rafa's own problem. Three seasons ago, Carver ended the season with a run of seven points in the final 13 matches. Currently, they are on a run of 5 points in 12, so hopefully he can better Carver's run with a win against Stoke.

Maguire is far inferior to Lascelles. He's the weakest link in Leicester's side, and Salah took advantage of him today. I wonder when Stoke will just give Hughes his payoff, so he will leave him. He and his side are sleepwalking though this season; possibly towards relegation.

I find it genuinely hard to believe that there exists no one that could implement some sort of cohesive attacking play after being at the club for 21 months. People are making far too many excuses for Benitez. Good managers make teams into more than the sum of their parts, and I have not seen enough of that this season. The club is essentially operating with no ownership structure at the moment, so sacking him is not a viable option, but Rafa has been average, imo.

You can say this for any manager. The performances have been timid, the tactics confused. This has to fall on the manager at some point. I feel as though there is enough in the side that it can be one that is tough to beat, rather than one that capitulates.