Well, that was hard work. Iran seem happy enough with a point, but they'll find it difficult to beat Bosnia. They could have shown more adventure. As for Nigeria, they were flat and disappointing. We've had the first dud of this World Cup, but it had to happen eventually. Thanks for your emails. Sorry I couldn't get to all of them. Thanks. Bye.
The first draw of the World Cup was a disappointing affair, with Nigeria uninspired and Iran too defensive
Updated
Mon 16 Jun 2014 16.53 EDT
First published on Mon 16 Jun 2014 13.30 EDT
Live feed
Full-time: Iran 0-0 Nigeria
It's all over. Nigeria's fans boo. Stephen Keshi laughs. Finally, after 12 games, there's been a draw.
90 min+1: From Mikel's corner, Ameobi bullets a header goalwards, but there's Pooladi again to head it off the line!
90 min: This is outstanding defending from Pooladi. Oshaniwa hangs a teasing cross up to the far post, where Ameobi looks poised to head home, only for Pooladi to head it over for a corner.
89 min: Heydari off, Masoud Shojaei on.
87 min: Emenike crosses, Amoebi heads, Haghighi claims.
86 min: Iran are sitting back again. Hard to argue with the decision decision to settle for a draw here and then focus on the totally winnable match against Argentina. "I have to say that my host in Greece, Aspaseia, not best pleased with 69th minute observation," says Chris Morton. "Personally, as the TV commentary is all Greek to me , I'm finding it the only thing keeping me away from another bottle of Mythos!"
84 min: "The commentator in English on Sky Mexico is describing this game as ".....watchable, very watchable. All it needs is a goal. It's a good battle out there, a good contest." So, does a commentator's description of a game influence how you view it?" says Ben Grant. "I'm quite enjoying it."
It's more inept than it is boring.
83 min: Odemwingie whistles a volley wide from the edge of the area, but the whistle had long gone for handball after he tried to control Mikel's lobbed pass. It might have been his shoulder. He missed anyway.
81 min: Iran are showing more belief. They're committing more men forward. Teymourian has a sight of goal from 20 yards but his radar is askew. "I've just received an email, at my desk here in America, from an American 'Irish pub' franchise inviting me with this brilliant come-on to watch the USA-Ghana match at one of their locations: 'Don’t miss the U.S. fight for its destiny. Be part of a history you’ll never forget never remembering'," says Timothy Paul. I'm confused.
78 min: Iran replace Dejagah with Jahanbaksh. "If you’re going to watch the USA game in a bar tonight, who will do this blog?" says John Parham. "Can you WiFi it in from the bar, or do you have a sub? Coors Light in England would be considered an imported beer. Perish the thought. BTW, I’m an American temporarily living in Argentina (for nearly 20 years). Here it is La Mundial, or simply Mundial 2014."
Graham Parker will be covering USA v Ghana.
77 min: The first chance for a while. Well, sort of. Pooladi sent a cross to the far post from the right and it found Dejagah unmarked. However he was unable to rise high enough and only ended up heading the ball up into the air, allowing Enyeama to collect. "I think Eric Idle put it best when he described American beer like making love in a canoe. Decorum prevents me from revealing the punchline," says Beau Dure. "Incidentally, I wrote a book about Major League Soccer. Some complain about our domestic league along with our domestic beer, but I don't think I've seen an MLS game as dire as this one."
75 min: Teymourian is booked for bringing down Odemwingie.
73 min: Musa spots Ambrose on the overlap but decides to knock the ball behind for a goal-kick instead, just for a laugh. Ambrose gives him a look.
70 min: Oshaniwa hoicks a cross into the middle and there's Ameobi, clambering all over Hosseini and heading wide. He's penalised for a foul. "You’d have to think England could at least get a draw against either of these teams, especially if Rooney was played in his favoured position," says Mark Judd. Yes, as the Sunburnt 10.
69 min: Peter Odemwingie is on for Azeez. "Victor Moses's poor corner was "Aspasian"?" says Mac Millings. "As I'm sure you are aware, the inspirational Aspasia, life-partner of the great Athenian statesman Pericles, was the most (and perhaps only) politically influential woman during the Golden Age of Athens. Sexist."
67 min: Iran win a free-kick on the left. Hajsafi's cross is half-cleared and Iran attack again. The ball is cut back from the left byline, but Ghoochanejhad pulls his shot high, wide and not very handsome. He was leaning back and it bobbled in front of him before he hit it. "As an Australian recent moved to the US of A I don't know why all these Americans are so upset at being associated with Coors Light," says Matthew McCormack. "It's 10 times more drinkable than that utter cat urine Fosters that we get associated with."
And what about me and my association with kosher wine?
65 min: "You're just trolling the Americans now with the Coors Light, aren't you," says Jill Krupnik. Only now?
64 min: John Obi Mikel has just had a shot. It's come to this. "I would love it if Shola scored at the world cup," says Joseph Dixon. "As a lifelong Newcastle fan I always said he would come good, maybe now would be a good time. And he is quite brave."
63 min: Ghoochannejhad blooters one wide from 30 yards. He's very isolated. Iran don't give a solitary one about piling forward. Someone should tell them you can't play for penalties in the group stage.
62 min: Ambroses's cross hits a player standing five yards away from him. The crowd whistles.
61 min: I'm quite enjoying how bad this game is. It's utter nonsense. Nothing is happening. But it makes you appreciate how good every other match has been.
60 min: Shola Ameobi at the World Cup, though.
59 min: "Seeing as this isn't the most thrilling game, next time there's a lull I was wondering if you could comment on the appointment of Alan Irvine as the new WBA boss?" says Richard Hooker. "There had been some chatter that Tim Sherwood might get the job, but it seems he couldn't be bothered. Among Baggies fans there's a feeling like Dad promising the new Nintendo for Christmas and winding up with a couple of satsumas."
You do realise you've just compared Tim Sherwood to a new Nintendo?
58 min: Ameobi pokes it to Emenike on the right side of the area. Emenike slashes wildly wide. Calm down!
57 min: This might be a boring game, but I'm keeping my spirits high by reminding myself that it won't be long before I'm wearing a nacho hat and I have a foaming pint of Coors Light in one hand and a hotdog in the other.
54 min: Azeez's low cross towards Ameobi at the near post is put behind by a sliding Sadeghi. Azeez wanders over to take the corner. Once again, it's a total waste of time and effort. "To my fellow Americans- Don't be to so thinned skinned," says ... I don't know who, actually. "Coor's is crap and it is still popular. If you want to strike back, ask Jacob who will get a World Cup final sooner, the U.S or the U.K."
Is this the end of the special relationship?
53 min: "Aspasian?" says Anomitra Saha. "That is plain crazy. We all know Spain would have won the Netherlands game if Aspas started instead of Costa."
In fairness, it wasn't the worst corner we've seen at this World Cup. Ahem. Wayne.
52 min: Remember where you were. This is a momentous occasion. Victor Moses is coming off and Shola Ameobi is coming on. Mark it down: 9.10pm, 16 June 2014, the moment Shola Ameobi made his World Cup debut.
50 min: Space for Ghoochannejhad on the edge of the Nigeria area. The Charlton striker's shot is harmless.
49 min: Moses has another try. Haghighi punches away but doesn't look remotely convincing as he does so, which is impressive given that there wasn't a Nigeria player near him. "Noble effort making the Iran/Nigeria game sound interesting," says Andrew Thurston. "It's shame you're stuck in London this evening; if you were in the USA, you could join "fans to cheer on the USMNT" courtesy of Budweiser."
48 min: Azeez's tame cross is deflected behind for a corner to Nigeria on the right. Victor Moses's corner is Aspasian.
47 min: Oshaniwa is down after a clash of heads. Which is a bad time to receive the following email. "This has been a very sportsmanlike match so far from both sides," says James Ferguson. "I hope the Hondurans are watching and taking notes. Re: the next game, I'm particularly happy that USA is not so 'good at FIFA' since I really want the Ghanaians to step out of the hand-of-Suarez-shaped shadow still lingering from South Africa."
46 min: Oh, Iran are doing one as well. Look, I think we've already seen that both teams doing a huddle at the same time is a bad idea if that first half is anything to go by. This is guaranteed to finish 0-0 now. Good going, guys.
Nigeria are doing another huddle. Worked so well for them last time.
"You say you're going to watch the USA match in a bar in London and Barry Glendenning says John Ashdown is sitting at the desk next to him listening to Clive Tyldesley," says Austin Baird. "So is anyone from the Guardian actually in Brazil? I feel so taken in by the podcast et al (I assume the bit where they're waiting for the flight was total rubbish in hindsight now) it seems as if I'm in the middle of an episode of the Prisoner where I don't know what's real and what's not."
All the important people from Big Paper are there. We have 12 people in Brazil. Check us out.
"Putting aside this game, how do you think tonight's matchup will go?" says Rachel. "USA or Ghana? Especially since now there's a real chance of the winner possibly advancing, instead of just pathetically scrabbling after Germany and Portugal."
I have no idea who'll win. That's probably not the answer you were looking for. But it's a tight game to call. Both teams seem evenly matched. I wonder if Ghana are being slightly under-estimated, though.
Half-time emails
"It's not possible to get smashed on Coors Light," roars Robin Rimmer. "You could have it pumped directly into your stomach at ten pints a second and you would still metabolise the teeny tiny amounts of alcohol faster than it enters your body. This would be the best way to drink it though, because the quick and painful death would be preferable to the taste of Coors Light."
"Back in college some 25 years ago, my roommates and I decided to have a "case day" where we each had to finish 24 beers in one day," says Agen Schmitz. "I chose Coors Light and I was the only one standing with the task completed at the end of the day."
"Drinking 10 pints of Coors-anything is dangerous -- it will result in water intoxication," says David Farrelly. "Now, 10 pints of Sierra Nevada and we're talking!"
"I knew I should have watched Corrie!" says Sean Moore. "Have Carla and Peter made up yet, can anyone confirm?"
"Not saying this game is boring but my friend Chappers has counted the flags in the pub on the Tottenham Court Road and discovered there are 6 extra flags - he now has half the pub trying to work which countries who aren't at the World Cup are being falsely represented," says Matt Jeary. "Most people are now arguing and googling like crazy."
"In answer to your question about how much Coors it takes to get smashed, the answer is that you would die from your gut exploding from water intake before you'd even feel a buzz coming on," says Mike Mason. "I have to agree with the previous comments though, most of us Americans, especially those who know anything about soccer or beer, don't call it FIFA or drink Coors Light. But I can see how our obnoxious media could lead a person to believe that."
"This has been a champagne tournament so far—but these teams are serving up flat Coors Light football," says Justin Kavanagh.
"Land of hope and glory???" says Alistair Reece, on whom there are no flies. "Isn't that the UK? You know, Mother of the Free and all that kind of thing....Do they not let you watch Last Night of the Proms at Guardian Towers?"
Half-time: Iran 0-0 Nigeria
A Coors Light of a first half is brought to an end. The crowd greets the referee's whistle with boos. "It's been awful," says Neil Lennon in the BBC studio.
45 min+1: Iran's Two Banks Of Four have completely stifled Nigeria. I knew we'd see TBOF at some point.
45 min: I'll drink ten pints of Coors Light if someone from either side does something interesting in the next minute.
42 min: These two teams are in danger of ruining my World Cup Spirit.
40 min: Emenike drags a poor shot wide from the left. Nothing is happening for Nigeria up front. Iran are comfortable now. "I suspect the term is coming from some hapless and hopelessly addicted fans of FIFA on Xbox," says Charles Bloomfield. "Their grasp of reality being so poor they are probably trying to control the Nigerians and Iranians now through their game controllers."
If that really is happening, then it seems they're completely smashed on Coors Light. Speaking of which, how much Coors Light do you need to drink to get completely smashed?
39 min: Now Onazi skews a dismal effort miles wide from 30 yards. It's not been a great couple of minutes for the midfielder. "Right beers, wrong sport," says David Schaefer. "Think NASCAR."
38 min: Onazi pings a pass straight out of play. Hmmm. Nigeria look increasingly anxious.
36 min: Emenike's aimless cross is headed away. There was no one in the middle. Nigeria need more focus.
34 min: Iran have their first corner. Teymourian's persistence forcing an error out of Musa. Dejagah swings it into the six-yard box where Ghoochannejhad's header is brilliantly kept out by Enyeama. What a save! Not only did he push it away, but he pushed it away from goal, ensuring that no Iran player could follow up on the rebound.
31 min: A free-kick to Nigeria on the left, around 40 yards from goal. Musa trots along to take it and everyone's waiting for a cross to the far post. Yet he spots that Haghighi has left a massive gap at his near post and tries to catch out the Iran goalkeeper with an audacious effort. The execution is impressive but Haghighi reacts well to fly across his goal and push it behind. The corner comes to nothing. "Way to go, Jacob – you found the one way to offend an American soccer fan," says Jim Prouix. "I would wager that a percentage down in the single digits of our little community ever drink Coors Light. Unlike the “two pints of lager and a packet of crisps” English fan, American soccer fans drink real, American craft (micro-brew) beer of every imaginable color, flavor and stripe. Insult me. Insult my football team. Insult MLS. But don’t you dare insult my American IPA."
We're talking your Buds, your Bud lights, your Millers, right?
30 min: There's not much going on. Which means that the only way is up! Stay positive.
29 min: Oboabona's race is run. He can't continue because of that ankle injury. On comes Joseph Yobo, who's making his 98th appearance for Nigeria.
28 min: I suppose I should point out that I am an expert on all things American. Well, all things west coast. I don't want you to think I know nothing about the land of hope and glory.
26 min: Iran are defending quite deeply now. Nigeria are struggling to pick their way through. They need to be patient, not force the issue. Their decision-making in the final third has been found wanting on too many occasions. "I note that while Oliver Pattenden insists that at least one person has referred to it as "FIFA" per day (and I assume, as a good Guardian reader, he is an honest person), he has not said it's a different philistine each time," says James Hupp. "Perhaps he has one coworker who knows it annoys him. (Come to think of it, this could be true whatever the number.) In any event, I've never heard someone use that term for anything other than the EA video game or international governing body, and I'm, well.... :)"
24 min: Oboabona returns. He's going to give it a go. "As an Iranian-American, I don't know what I've found more disappointing - the insinuation that I'm a buffoon who apparently must refer to the World Cup as "the FIFA" while guzzling Coors Light or David Boyle's comment implying that Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is still the president of Iran," says Mehrun Etebari. "Update your knowledge of other countries, people! Perhaps I'm pedantic, but imagine a world in which everyone associates you with Margaret Thatcher, Jacob."
My middle name is Margaret for a reason.
23 min: Oboabona hasn't come back on yet.
22 min: If I walk into the bar and shout "SPRING BREAK" and pull my shirt over my head, everyone will think I'm a laugh riot, won't they?
21 min: Nigeria are momentarily down to 10 men. Oboabona has gone off on a stretcher. "Firstly, you misspelled favorite," honks Gary Blunk. "No Coors Light is not that. Try some Arrogant Bastard Ale."
20 min: Another stoppage in play. Nigeria's centre-back, Oboabona, is down after an awkward landing. He might have twisted his ankle. It could be Joseph Yobo time. Unless Stephen Keshi decides to go for broke and brings on Shola Ameobi.
18 min: A lull. Iran are making it a bit more difficult for Nigeria now. They've sorted out their shape. The game has grown quite scrappy in the last few minutes. "Give the lad a season at Liverpool to put himself in the shop window and he barely lifts a finger," says Alistair Reece. "Put him in a Nigeria shirt and he plays like a man possessed. What gives Victor?" Maybe he was overawed by playing alongside Iago Aspas. Speaking of whom, why isn't he in the Spain squad?
17 min: Actually I'm quite excited about the USA game later, as I'm going to watch it in an American bar in London. As such, can someone advise me about suitable behaviour? You all drink Coors Light, right? That's your favourite?
15 min: I'm enjoying Nigeria. That is all.
14 min: A lot of Americans are emailing me. Is something happening later on? They seem giddy about something.
13 min: Iran are struggling to contain Moses. He drives to the left byline but just runs the ball out of play before crossing. Moses could do with a good World Cup after a fitful season on loan at Liverpool. He's an interesting talent, but his future is almost certainly not at Chelsea.
12 min: Onazi is back on. "I've never heard the tournament (or the sport) called 'FIFA' in the States before this World Cup, and I do think it's purely people who are tuning in for the first time, or who maybe pay attention to football once every four years," says Oliver Pattenden. "But I've still had at least one person a day so far do it. This morning, for example, a coworker emailed me: 'Any online links where FIFA will be streamed? :)'. The smiley face in the email lets you know it's from an authentic American."
9 min: Nigeria go so close again! Iran weren't able to clear properly after that first attack and Onazi's low slitherer from the edge of the area went inches wide! He seemed to injure himself as he was shooting, but he should be okay to continue after some treatment. "Spare a thought for the broadcast commentators on this one, those team sheets are going to require some top-level stuff from the play-by-play guys," says Daniel Stauss. Spare a thought for me.
8 min: Nigeria are utterly dominant. Iran can't cope with their cut and thrust up front. Emenike bursts past Moses on the left, effortlessly beating the hapless Hosseini, before sliding a low ball into the six-yard box. Somehow Musa can't convert under pressure at the far post. Iran are living dangerously. They should be behind. And...
7 min, the sequel: The ball is in the Iran net but the whistle had long gone for a foul on Haghighi by Mikel, challenging the goalkeeper as they went up for a corner. The ball dropped to Musa, who stabbed it into the roof of the net, but I think Iran's players had already stopped. That said, Haghighi was lucky. Mikel didn't do a lot.
7 min: What an atmosphere, by the way. Everyone's determined to have a fabulous time. I've never seen a Mexican Wave so early.
6 min: John Obi Mikel is quarter-backing with extreme efficiency, trying to hit long diagonal balls over the top for the dangerous Emenike. He's the player David Beckham wanted to be. "I’m American," announces Becky Kraft. "I’ve even left work to watch World Cup games with other Americans. I have never, ever heard someone call it “FIFA”. That being said, one of my co-workers wasn’t sure if (a) the World Cup is a “regular thing”, (b) “if we, like, dominate that business”, and (c) if that magic spray is really magic."
5 min: But here come Iran, Dejagah in space on the left. Not for long, though. He loses possession to Musa, who speeds off up the right. Nigeria won't want to tire themselves out too early.
3 min: Nigeria have started well. They're buzzing around in the Iran half with a ferocious intensity. Moses makes a nuisance of himself on the edge of the area, wheeling away from a marker and driving a low shot straight at Haghighi.
2 min: There's plenty of action in my inbox concerning Oliver Pattenden's Fifa comment. "No," says Kenneth Grabach. "I live in the States, have done my whole life. I've been following the World Cup since 1994. I've never heard any of them in that time referred to as "the FIFA" or to a match in a tournament as "a FIFA". But then, although I'm a bit older than the North American demographic for football (or soccer, there's a bit of weirdness going on over whether it's properly football or soccer. I thought the answer to that question was, "Yes") I am in touch with many younger men who avidly follow a Premier League club, an MLS club, and the USA Men's Team."
The huddles are done and we are off! Iran, kicking from right to left in the first half, get the game underway. We wait 45 seconds for the first foul, committed by Dejagah on Ambrose. Less of that, please.
Both sides are doing huddles. Does that mean they'll cancel each other out? Is that how this works? We're in serious danger of seeing the first draw of this World Cup now. "Thankfully, I haven't heard anyone talk about a "FIFA match" but if they are, blame us Americans and our irrational love of acronyms over any fondness for the organization itself," says Carl Swanson. "We're just ready to welcome everyone back in 2022 when, unsavory organizations and all."
Iran once sent a monkey into space. What's not to love about them? (Warning: clip contains grown-up language.)
Here come the teams. Oh, here they come! Nigeria are in green, Iran are in white and there's plenty of excitement in the stands as they emerge. "The Tehran Tigers v The Lagos Lions," says David Boyle. "Mahmoud Ahmadinejad v Goodluck Jonathan. The Ayatollah of Rock n Rolla v The Nigerian Prince's. What's not to like?"
"Living in the States during a World Cup is always fascinating, but this year is even more curious," says Oliver Pattenden. "For whatever reason (presumably the same predilection for sporting acronyms that leads them to instead on calling it the Premier League the 'EPL'), almost every American I know who has shown any remote interest in the World Cup has referenced the tournament as 'FIFA'. E.G. 'Do you know a good place to watch FIFA?' or 'Is there a FIFA game today?'. Is anyone else experiencing this? Is it a coincidence that as the rest of the world rejects FIFA as a bloated, corrupt, outdated, neocolonialist fraud, the Yanks have become somewhat fond of it?"
Does anyone refer to it as Pro Evo or Sensible Soccer?
"I like the idea of an MBM taking on the personality of the MBMer based on the quality of the match," says Daniel Stauss. "Personally, I prefer a high intensity match so that fewer emails have the chance to be Glendenninged, because he can be a bit mean-spirited at times. Since I don't use Twitter, I'll never be Parker'd during a US or MLS match.And I know it's cliché, but I'm pretending to work in my soul-eating cube today."
The MBMs that I do tend be witty, handsome, engaging, etc.
"Can we do an obo of what people are pretending to do while people are actually following your mbm," says Jeremy Dresner. "I'm pretending to watch game of thrones with mates while keeping my eye on your steinbergian utterances. I secretly want it to be a bad game so I don't feel like I missed out. It will be more steinbergian if there is less going on anyway."
I'm pretending to be a journalist. Don't tell anyone, I don't think they've clocked on, I think I'm getting away with this.
Shola Ameobi has scored against Barcelona. You haven't.
"The good thing about Nigeria's World Cup exits is that we always have someone to blame, we never have to deal with a general inadequacy," says Ore Popoola. "Last World Cup was Sani Kaita, who decided to be stupid and earned himself a red card in the penultimate match against Greece while we were up 1-0. We ended up losing 2-1, he's not played for us since then. And also Yakubu Aiyegbeni for THAT miss against South-Korea in the final match. I thought I was going crazy. He's not played for us also since then. 2006 World Cup, we didn't qualify, 2002, I only remember Ronaldo's hair style (can we even call it that??). I've been traumatized. 1998, I was probably still in diapers."
But they'll always have that win over Spain in 1998.
Sammy Ameobi is pleased.
Hahaha yes Shols...go Nigeria!!! http://t.co/fKFStXioxt
— Samuel Ameobi (@Sammy_Ameobi) June 16, 2014
Team news
Iran: Haghighi; Montazeri, Hosseini, Sadeghi, Pooladi; Hajsafi, Nekounam, Teymourian, Dejagah; Ghoochannejhad, Heydari. Subs: Ahmadi, Shojaei, Haghighi, Reza Jahanbakhsh, Ansarifard, Haddadifa, Mahini, Alenemeh, Rahmani, Beikzadeh, Beitashour, Davari/
Nigeria: Enyeama; Ambrose, Oboabona, Omerou, Oshaniwa; Mikel, Onazi, Azeez, Moses; Musa, Emenike. Subs: Yobo, Uzoenyi, Gabriel, Egwuekwe, Odemwingie, Odunlami, Ejide, Babatunde, Nwofor, Uchebo, Agbim, Ameobi
Referee: Carlos Vera (Ecuador)
Preamble
Iran v Nigeria. Nigeria v Iran. Iran v Nigeria. Nigeria v Iran. Iran versus Nigeria. Nigeria versus Iran. Iran against Nigeria. Nigeria against Iran. Iran take on Nigeria. Nigeria take on Iran. Nigeria v Iran. NIGERIA V IRAN. STEPHEN KESHI VERSUS CARLOS QUEIROZ. No, whatever way you try to spin this one, it's a hard sell.
Or at least it would be in normal circumstances. That's been the beauty of this World Cup. It's not been a normal World Cup and while this looks like one of the more unappealing fixtures on paper, a chance for you to reintroduce yourself to polite society, maybe have a shower, get dressed, shave, have something to eat that doesn't require a complementary dip, let's not be hasty and judge a book by its cover. We haven't had a bad game yet – even Switzerland and Ecuador provided us with a last-minute winner – so there's no reason to dismiss Iran and Nigeria, just because. I trust them. And if all else fails, we could be about to witness Carl Cort's Kieran Gibbs' Shola Ameobi's World Cup debut. At last.
Anyway Nigeria are one of the more intriguing sides in the competition. A disappointment in South Africa four years ago, exiting in the group stage with only one point, the impressive Keshi has done a fine job since taking over in 2011. The Super Eagles won the Africa Cup of Nations last year, they weren't too shabby at the Confederations Cup and then there's the endless fascination of seeing John Obi Mikel passing forward. Will wonders never cease?
As for Iran, they won't be holding out too much hope of qualifying from this group. Their build-up has been fairly shambolic. Their kit shrinks in the wash, they've had 11 players turn up for training camps and matches cancelled due to a lack of funds. Queiroz looks like he could explode any day now, although he's doing well to put on a brave face and keep his emotions under control and he has created a team that will seek to be hard to break down based on their record in qualifying. He'll be gone soon anyway, so he might as well enjoy it. No point getting too worked up. It is what it is. The World Cup. In Brazil. Life could be worse.
Kick-off: 8pm BST.
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