Nigeria 0-0 Iran World Cup 2014 MATCH REPORT: Super Eagles booed off after failing to break down minnows

Let's not end on a flat note though. The World Cup action isn't over yet, with Ghana and USA concluding the evening's action.

Germany defeated Portugal 4-0 earlier in the day, opening up the path for one of these sides to clinch a runners-up spot in Group G.

Follow all the action on the above link. I'll see you there soon.

Boos on the final whistle - all from the Nigeria fans after the World Cup sees it's first draw of the competition.

The booing is justified too. Nigeria were so poor creating chances and even at times just controlling the ball or playing a simple pass was too difficult.

90min: There will be two added minutes as Iran win a free-kick in the Nigeria half..

89min: Second change for Iran as Khosro Heydari is replaced by Masoud Shojaei.

87min: Time is running out, and we look no closer to a goal as as Ambrose's back post cross finds Ameobi, only for his looping header to provide an easy catch for Haghighi in the Iran goal - that's saying something as he has looked nervous all night.

84min: Odewmingie shows how it's done though, bringing the ball down with his right shoulder before drilling just wide with his left foot from 20 yards. Handball is given against the Nigeria striker - a harsh decision but one that doesn't change much in the grand scheme of things.

81min: So 10 minutes to go and Nigeria sink to a new low as a simple action to control the ball on the thigh proves too difficult for Juwon Oshaniwa, as it just hits him and bounces out of play.

78min: And that's Dejagah's last chance to shine as Alireza Jahanbakhsh is on to replace him.

77min: So poor are Nigeria in attack, I'm starting to think Iran might steal this. The Asian side are starting to counter attack late in the game and a back post cross to Dejagah sees the midfielder just miss out on connecting cleanly with a header.

75min: First signs of tired legs from Iran as Andranik Teymourian is the game's first cautioned player after a trip.

72min: Basics, Nigeria, basics! Musa has Ambrose in a promising position overlapping down the right flank, but his short pass to the Celtic star is overhit and goes out for a goal kick. More boos from the crowd.

Ameobi has seen a header go wide for the African side, but even then he was penalised for a foul beforehand.

69min: Rinse and repeat. Peter Odemwingie is going to come on for Nigeria , but first Azeez has another near post corner headed clear.

It's the midfielder's last course of action as he is replaced by the Stoke striker.

66min: It's been a good couple of minutes for Iran who have begun to attack Nigeria. The African side fail to clear a corner and a free-kick, before a Haji Safi cut-back is blasted way over the bar by Ghoochanneijhad

64min: Even the Nigeria fans are getting fed up of this, with boos starting to come from the crowd frustrated at the lack of urgency from their attacks.

There have been no bookings yet, perhaps proving just how easy Iran are finding it to defend.

61min: This is far too slow for Nigeria. You get the feeling Iran could defend this all night if they wanted to - especially as Ambrose, with the outside of his boot, delivers a woeful cross out of play aiming for the far post.

...and suddenly it all adds up

58min: Just over 30 minutes to go and the pattern of this game really hasn't changed. Ameobi looks sharper than Moses, but Nigeria are still not creating anything to worry Iran.

Someone is clearly happy with Nigeria's latest change...

55min: If I was a Nigeria fan, I would be tearing my hair out over how poor their side's set-pieces have been. Now Moses has departed, you'd expect them to improve but instead it's Ramon Azeez failing to beat the first man from a corner.

52min: Moses has faded badly since the opening 10 minutes and he is replaced by former Newcastle striker Shola Ameobi.

51min: Iran win a free-kick 40 yards out but still they cannot threaten as Dejagah's delivery is easily cleared after a flick on into the box.

48min: So what have Nigeria got to show in the second half in a game they really must win for a realistic chance to progress?

Not much so far. Excitement builds in the crowd as a corner won, but it's soon deflated as Moses's delivery fails to beat the first man.

Here's some stats from the first half regarding possession. Considering Nigeria have had 70 per cent of the ball, it's quite poor that Haghighi has hardly been tested in the Iran goal.

Click here for more maps and stats with our excellent Match Zone

Well, what happened to the player who was just about everywhere against the USA before the tournament?

Despite Nigeria's overall dominance, key attacker Victor Moses has hardly been involved and has drifted across the pitch looking to make an impact. Here is his first half heat map.

Click here for more maps and stats with our excellent Match Zone

It's not been great has it? Nigeria started well but took 10 minutes to run out of ideas and threat. The loss of Oboabona hasn't helped but they have looked poor against an Iran side playing ultra defensive and showing no intent of counter attacking.

Credit where it's due I suppose, as Iran's tactics are working perfectly - but it's just SO South Africa 2010 in terms of ambition.

45min: There will be two added minutes as Iran's defensive wall continues to show no sign of tumbling.

43min: Nigeria have resorted to trying to chip through balls into the box, but still Iran hold firm as we approach the end of the first half.

40min: Five minutes before the break and it looks unlikely at this stage we will see the deadlock broken.

The key for Nigeria will be testing the inexperienced Haghighi in the Iran goal. The 26-year-old has just six caps and has looked very uneasy commanding his penalty box so far. 

34min: Right here we go Iran, set-piece No. 2, what have you got?

Nearly the opening goal as it happens! Ashkan Dejagah's near post corner is diverted towards goal by Reza Ghoochannejhad, but Vincent Enyeama reacts to make a super stop as Nigeria scramble clear.

31min: Nearly the craftiest goal of the tournament! Musa lines up to cross a free-kick from the left, but he instead shoots at goal, forcing Haghighi to scramble back to his near post and push the ball behind.

30min: Big shame. Oboabona cannot continue and he is replaced by veteran and former Everton defender Joseph Yobo, who is winning his 98th cap.

27min: I'm starting to fear Nigeria's highlight of this competition will be the first 10 minutes.

The passes that were slick at the start of the game, are now going nowhere. Dare I say it, the hopeful long ball is even starting to make an appearance too. Iran's organised defence will be delighted with how this is working out so far.

24min: Well credit to Oboabona. I thought he was out for the count after leaving the field on a stretcher. But he is incredibly back up and returns to the field having strapped up his foot. Will he last the full 90 minutes?

21min: Huge blow for Nigeria as Godfrey Obabona has landed awkwardly challenging for a header and has had to leave the field on a stretcher. Nigeria down to 10 men for the moment as they ready a substitution.

18min: Nigeria came out flying in this clash, but Iran have dug in deep and managed to frustrate the African side in the last 10 minutes. The game has slowed slightly as Iran begin to find confidence in possession.

15min: Iran's best chances of scoring? Set-pieces of course. They don't look like they have been working on them that much though as Ehsan Haji Safi's lofted cross into the box is flicked on and out for a goal kick.

12min: It's attack vs defence and Nigeria are getting closer to an opening goal. Victor Moses looks like Messi for a moment as he dances between two defenders on the byline before zipping a low cross across goal, which no team-mate can reach.

9min: So do goalkeepers have too much protection these days? I think so on this evidence. Haghighi comes and misses to punch clear a corner, and from the resulting loose ball Ahmed Musa turns home from close range. The goal is ruled out though as the Iran keeper complained he was impeded by a Nigerian forward.

A VERY soft free-kick for Iran, as Ogenyi Onazi just now drills narrowly wide across goal.

6min: It's been a good start to this game. Nigeria continue to probe in front of an electric crowd, but Efe Ambrose's charge down the right comes to a halt following a solid sliding tackle from Mehrdad Pooladi.

3min: Nigeria are stepping up to their plate as favourites in this clash, taking the game to Iran in the early stages.

The crowd's vocals rise in expectation as Victor Moses gets the ball on the edge of the box, but he can only fire straight at Alireza Haghighi in the Iran goal.

Remember to follow our live coverage with our excellent Match Zone service.

It features the latest line-ups, formations, match stats and a player comparison tool.

In addition there are heat maps for EVERY player as well as detailed maps of all the goals as they go in. Click on the above link for more.

Iran: Alireza Haghighi, Montazeri, Hosseini, Sadeghi, Pouladi, Teymourian, Nekounam, Heydari, Dejagah, Hajsafi, Ghoochannejhad.
Subs: Ahmadi, Shojaei, Reza Haghighi, Jahanbakhsh, Ansarifard, Hadadifar, Mahini, Alnameh, Rahmani, Beikzadeh, Beitashour, Davari.

Nigeria: Enyeama, Ambrose, Oboabona, Omeruo, Oshaniwa, Onazi, Mikel, Moses, Musa, Azeez, Emenike.
Subs: Ejide, Yobo, Uzoenyi, Gabriel, Egwuekwe, Odemwingie, Odunlami, Babatunde, Nwofor, Uchebo, Ameobi, Agbim.

Referee: Carlos Vera (Ecuador)

A huge roar for both teams as they take to the field. A draw will not be a good result for either team so let's hope for an attacking approach.

It's worth notinmg both teams are looking for their first World Cup win in 16 years.

We've already had one World Cup match today - and what a cracker it was!

A Thomas Muller hat-trick helped Germany totally destroy Portugal, who had Pepe sent off in the first half.

Cristiano Ronaldo struggled to make an impact for the Portuguese, whose hopes of progressing into the last 16 have taken a heavy blow following such a big defeat. 

Click on the above link for the full match report.

One of the best aspects of the World Cup is seeing how far fans go to support their team. Full on-body paint and posing like Usain Bolt is pretty high up on the list for me...

It's been too long since Nigeria took centre stage at the World Cup, in fact Sunday Oliseh's stunning strike to help defeat Spain in 1998 was the last time I really remember them doing anything.

So can they make a winning start this evening? Coral are offering 9/4 on the Super Eagles winning to nil. There's a good selection of talent in the African side so click here to find out more on that offer and other potential bets.

Nigeria are not in the best form going into this tournament, but at least Victor Moses is preparing to run himself into the ground.

The Chelsea midfielder, who spent last season on loan at Liverpool, scored a penalty in Nigeria's 2-1 defeat by USA in their final warm-up game.

And his heat map from the encounter shows that along with a fondness of corner flags, the former Crystal Palace starlet was a constant presence on the left wing and the penalty box.

Click here for more maps and stats with our excellent Match Zone

Enyeama, Ambrose, Oshaniwa, Oboabona, Omeruo, Mikel, Onazi, Azeez, Musa, Moses, Emenike.

Haghighi, Heydari, Haji Safi, Hosseini, Sadeghi, Nekounam, Timotian, Montazeri, Ghoochannejad, Dejagah, Pooladi.

We saw Argentina (nervously) overcome Bosnia last night, and the South Americans already look on their way to topping Group F?

But who will take the likely spot as runners-up? For Iran and Nigeria, this match is HUGE in terms of their chances of a rare last 16 appearance. Team news up next.