Iran v Nigeria

:01:00. > :01:12.Messi at the Maracana. Let us hope this does what it says on the tin.

:01:13. > :01:25.And he dances away. That is what they came for.

:01:26. > :01:32.Good evening. It took a while but Lionel Messi lit up the Maracana

:01:33. > :01:42.last night and got Argentina off to a winning start in Group F. C what

:01:43. > :01:43.the African champions have got. -- let others see what the African

:01:44. > :01:59.champions have got. What an introduction to a World Cup

:02:00. > :02:08.football. It certainly was a pretty unusual celebration near, John.

:02:09. > :02:15.Daniel Amokachi, still Daniel Amokachi, brilliant run. What a

:02:16. > :02:29.fantastic tool. And Nigeria take the lead against Argentina. Nigeria take

:02:30. > :02:41.the lead against Italy. Terrific goal. What a good strike! Nigeria

:02:42. > :02:54.have beaten Spain. Nigeria have failed to get out of

:02:55. > :03:01.the group stage since the heady days of the 90s. The coach Stephen

:03:02. > :03:06.Keshi, the captain in the 1990 World Cup, will hope that the Super Eagles

:03:07. > :03:13.get off to a flying chart -- flying start against Iran. Colour skiers

:03:14. > :03:17.has been frustrated by poor preparation and a lack of quality

:03:18. > :03:27.opposition in the build-up to this World Cup. Carlos Queiroz. You were

:03:28. > :03:30.in the Maracana last night, Argentina are the overwhelming

:03:31. > :03:34.favourites to win this group, it must have been special? It was

:03:35. > :03:38.unbelievable and I spoke to you yesterday about it. I can tell my

:03:39. > :03:44.grandchildren that I have seen Messi in the Maracana. He struggled early

:03:45. > :03:49.on but he gradually found his feet when they change the system in the

:03:50. > :03:52.second half. He was under immense pressure and look like that in the

:03:53. > :04:00.first half. He had to feel his way into the game. This is in the first

:04:01. > :04:08.game. He has still got those two teams today to come up against. He

:04:09. > :04:11.must be licking his lips. It has been a creature of the tournament so

:04:12. > :04:21.far that the best players have turned up. It is a pity that Rinaldo

:04:22. > :04:27.did not do it today. Bosnia were pretty impressive in that game,

:04:28. > :04:31.Newell, we sat and watched it. You would think they would be favourites

:04:32. > :04:38.along with Argentina to go through. They had good -- they had a good

:04:39. > :04:43.qualifying campaign. Speaking about toddlers, they will not picking --

:04:44. > :04:48.putting too much emphasis on the Argentina result are looking towards

:04:49. > :04:57.Nigeria and Iran. It does look like it is about who will finish second

:04:58. > :05:03.in the script. Nigeria have got quick men up front. Victor Moses, I

:05:04. > :05:10.know him well. They are backed up with a very good goalkeeper. 21

:05:11. > :05:15.clean sheets this season. With that pace up front they will be a threat.

:05:16. > :05:24.Letters find out more about Nigeria's opponents Iran.

:05:25. > :05:25.Iran might be ranked as Asia's best team but

:05:26. > :05:29.Iran might be ranked as Asia's best team expectations are low as they

:05:30. > :05:33.make the fourth appearance in the World Cup finals. Their manager has

:05:34. > :05:38.described the campaign in Brazil as a mission impossible. Their

:05:39. > :05:44.preparation hampered by a lack of quality opposition. Iran have won

:05:45. > :05:50.only once in the previous appearances, in the most politically

:05:51. > :05:56.charged fixture ever against the USA and France 1998. If Iran are to

:05:57. > :06:01.qualify from the group they will have to do so by playing defensive,

:06:02. > :06:05.counter attacking football. They kept ten clean sheets in qualifying,

:06:06. > :06:18.more than any other nation. The struggle at the other end of the

:06:19. > :06:26.field. As we have seen, Iran are coached by

:06:27. > :06:33.Carlos Queiroz, familiar to both Rio Ferdinand and Phil Neville from the

:06:34. > :06:45.attainment Manchester United. -- from the time at Manchester United.

:06:46. > :06:52.To play any second World Cup in the land of football, in the country

:06:53. > :06:57.that football is in the veins, I am glad to have that opportunity. When

:06:58. > :07:03.you're riding the World Cup, the games are difficult, it does not

:07:04. > :07:15.matter if it is against Argentina, Nigeria, anything can happen. I used

:07:16. > :07:25.to say that we crossed held during the qualifying period and now it is

:07:26. > :07:36.heaven, it is time to enjoy. -- hell. Reaching the second stage is

:07:37. > :07:56.the only way to bring joy, or not and pressed each to the fans in

:07:57. > :08:00.Iran. -- honour and prestige. He came to Manchester United and nobody

:08:01. > :08:06.knew anything about him. He shouted at Ryan Giggs to get the ball now.

:08:07. > :08:13.People were impressed. Good job he did not pick Roy Keane! He is

:08:14. > :08:18.annoyed with the fact that everybody is ignoring his side. That is his

:08:19. > :08:26.competitive edge that comes through. He was like that with us.

:08:27. > :08:32.He took care of all the details. Some managers will give you

:08:33. > :08:37.nicknames, Giggs, Ferdinand, Neville, you will do what I am

:08:38. > :08:47.saying and it is now changing. He was fantastic for us. He laid a lot

:08:48. > :08:51.of the foundations for our success. More of a number two than the number

:08:52. > :08:58.one? That is what was always levelled against him. He has not

:08:59. > :09:01.done well as a number one so far. More on the match tonight later but

:09:02. > :09:09.one game has been played already today when Germany met Portugal.

:09:10. > :09:16.Too familiar foes going head-to-head in the lunchtime heat. Germany with

:09:17. > :09:27.three wins over Portugal in three major tournaments before this one.

:09:28. > :09:42.What a mistake and what a mess! What an escape for Portugal. -- a miss.

:09:43. > :09:49.That bill came to leave for Germany. Has he been brought down? Yes, he

:09:50. > :09:59.has. He went down under pressure from the Portuguese full-back. It is

:10:00. > :10:03.Thomas Muller now for Germany, 1-0. 11 minutes played and Thomas Miller

:10:04. > :10:25.has scored. He starts where he left off four years ago in South Africa.

:10:26. > :10:37.Germany have to settle for a corner. The defender was able to stretch and

:10:38. > :10:44.get his body in the way. And that is 2-0 for Germany. What a header. Just

:10:45. > :11:00.over half an hour played and it is a commanding lead for Germany.

:11:01. > :11:07.He could be in a spot of bother as he caught Thomas Muller in the

:11:08. > :11:13.face. Judging by his reaction he clearly did not think so. Thomas

:11:14. > :11:19.Muller is squaring up to him and he is sent off. No stranger to

:11:20. > :11:24.controversy during his career. Thomas Muller went down as if he had

:11:25. > :11:29.been punched flush in the face which was far from the case. Pepe, with

:11:30. > :11:33.that overreaction, incurred the wrath of the referee. Not a great

:11:34. > :11:56.start to the World Cup for Portugal. It is 3-0. Thomas Miller is the.

:11:57. > :12:03.This game looked all over already. The half-time whistle has not even

:12:04. > :12:07.born. The top score from four years ago has got two goals in the first

:12:08. > :12:37.45 minutes. Portugal have got a massive headache.

:12:38. > :12:40.Muller has got a hat-trick. He has got a habit of being in the right

:12:41. > :12:47.place at the right time and he certainly was here. That was on a

:12:48. > :12:55.plate from the goalkeeper. The goalkeeper could only parry it

:12:56. > :13:02.straight out to the German forward. Germany 4-0 Portugal.

:13:03. > :13:07.Remarkable that this is the fourth successive time that Germany have

:13:08. > :13:14.started a World Cup campaign by scoring four goals or more. Germany

:13:15. > :13:31.played Dan on Saturday Wells Portugal meet the USA one day later.

:13:32. > :13:38.-- Ghana. The game was over at half-time. We were talking about the

:13:39. > :13:46.fact that you had to pass the ball to Rinaldo to get a shot off. The

:13:47. > :13:52.day went to bad -- the day went from bad to worse. If I was defending I

:13:53. > :13:59.felt it was harsh. In real time, I felt it was a strict -- a penalty

:14:00. > :14:07.straight away. He got his arm a little bit, there always will be

:14:08. > :14:15.contact, but not enough to go down. This is the red card incident. What

:14:16. > :14:20.team you make of this? He was sent off for his reaction. How many times

:14:21. > :14:25.have we seen this from Pepe? It did not surprise us. He is a time bomb

:14:26. > :14:30.waiting to go off. You cannot do it on a football pitch. The intent was

:14:31. > :14:35.there. It was a little bit of a touch but he did not go down

:14:36. > :14:40.injured. He was clearly annoyed by the reaction from the first incident

:14:41. > :14:45.but you cannot react like that. He let his team-mates down. They are

:14:46. > :14:49.down to ten men now. They were struggling with the situation they

:14:50. > :14:54.were in. He will not play now. It must drive you potty when one of you

:14:55. > :14:57.players does that wish to mark if it was me I would be going through them

:14:58. > :15:06.like a hot knife through butter. It is disgraceful. He has let his

:15:07. > :15:10.country down. He is a big player for Portugal and it is not the first

:15:11. > :15:14.time that we have seen this from Pepe. He is a big player for the

:15:15. > :15:20.Portugal squad and they will have to do without them. We have been

:15:21. > :15:23.discussing about how teams have been marking from corners. The zonal

:15:24. > :15:32.marking was adopted by Portugal and it did not work. It is so important,

:15:33. > :15:42.the second line. They cannot have a run on the

:15:43. > :15:45.centre-backs. They have got to affect the run of Mats Hummels, not

:15:46. > :15:49.let him jump like that. It is so easy when you get a run on the

:15:50. > :15:52.defenders, to jump on this site as a central defender, it is impossible

:15:53. > :15:57.to mark. The second line of defence has such an important job to do. How

:15:58. > :15:59.do you prefer to defend from corners? Do you prefer to get tight

:16:00. > :16:11.to the man? What we used to do at Manchester

:16:12. > :16:15.United, was marking a man. Zonal marking just kills me. All you are

:16:16. > :16:20.doing is saying, "this is my area, and if someone comes in over year,

:16:21. > :16:25.it is not my area". There are too many grey areas. You are marking a

:16:26. > :16:31.man, and that is it. We did a zonal marking a lot at Celtic. LAUGHTER

:16:32. > :16:34.For me, it is Pepe's full because he is outjumped by Mats Hummels but

:16:35. > :16:37.Phil Neville is right, there should have been somebody tried to put of

:16:38. > :16:43.Mats Hummels but once it is in the area, Pepe has to go. You are not

:16:44. > :16:46.still Celtic manager. You have no interest whatsoever to Rio! Thomas

:16:47. > :16:53.Muller won the Golden Boot four years ago. No one has won it twice

:16:54. > :16:56.in succession. He schools proper goals, this fellow. I like them. --

:16:57. > :17:06.he schools. When you seem on the team sheet, you

:17:07. > :17:10.does not strike fear into you as a defender. When the ball falls in the

:17:11. > :17:14.box, he's on to it like a flash and he is clinical, though. He put his

:17:15. > :17:18.head down and smashes the ball anywhere, as long as it is on target

:17:19. > :17:22.and invariably it goes in the back of the net. He does not get involved

:17:23. > :17:25.in the build-up. Sometimes you can let him have the ball because

:17:26. > :17:29.technically, views not that great. But when it comes in the box, as

:17:30. > :17:34.Manchester United talk he's different. He is not an out and out

:17:35. > :17:37.centre forward. But he is a team player and makes runs for other

:17:38. > :17:40.people, into areas, pulls you around, will take you into the

:17:41. > :17:44.corner, knowing that another player will be running from deep into the

:17:45. > :17:49.midfield, into the space you have left. He is very cute like that,

:17:50. > :17:53.very intelligent. Years one of the number of the star goal-scorers who

:17:54. > :17:56.have got off to a decent start. This is the Golden Boot graphic, already

:17:57. > :18:02.plenty of goals and some big names at the top of the board. Fantastic,

:18:03. > :18:06.that is what you want from the World Cup. The top players in Europe and

:18:07. > :18:12.the world and Messi just warming up nicely after last night as well. And

:18:13. > :18:19.Sturridge as well. We'll have live coverage of Ghana against the USA

:18:20. > :18:23.later tonight. Kick-off is approaching into Redeemer and the

:18:24. > :18:29.atmosphere is building. Let's hear from the Nigerian camp.

:18:30. > :18:41.We are the Super Eagles of Nigeria. My dream is to build a strong team

:18:42. > :18:47.for Nigeria. He has brought a lot to the team. From the way we used to

:18:48. > :18:50.play before, now we play a bit more like the European style. We are very

:18:51. > :18:55.organised when we don't have the ball and very effective when we do.

:18:56. > :19:01.We know exactly what is coming. It is up to us if we are ready or not.

:19:02. > :19:06.I think this team right now, we are very united. We have a good team.

:19:07. > :19:10.All the players are like brothers. We have been together, off the pitch

:19:11. > :19:18.and on the pitch, we think as one, we move as one, we talk and do

:19:19. > :19:24.everything together. We have a very good coach and I'm sure they have

:19:25. > :19:27.some quality good players. It is going to be tough, they are very

:19:28. > :19:33.together, they play together as a team and teams like that are

:19:34. > :19:37.difficult to beat. We have to be focused. We have to concentrate and

:19:38. > :19:42.do our jobs. We cannot take Iran likely. They are not going to take

:19:43. > :19:47.us lightly. We have to go out with everything that we have. We have to

:19:48. > :19:51.find a way. The first game is the key. The first game is important and

:19:52. > :19:57.we want to get off to a winning start so hopefully we can do that.

:19:58. > :20:01.There will be a lot of expectation in Africa Nigeria. They are the

:20:02. > :20:07.champions of Africa as well. Have they got what it takes to progress

:20:08. > :20:10.in this competition? After seeing Bosnia yesterday, it is going to be

:20:11. > :20:13.tough but they have someone like John Obi Mikel, who is experienced,

:20:14. > :20:17.and the other players can look to him to try to lead them into the

:20:18. > :20:20.next stage. He has played a lot of football at the top level in

:20:21. > :20:26.Europe. He has got the responsibility to drive them through

:20:27. > :20:31.if he can. It means a lot to the players, of course, Phil. They have

:20:32. > :20:34.got bags of pace up front, for sure. I watched the warm up game against

:20:35. > :20:39.Greece a couple of weeks ago, and the lad on the right, he can catch

:20:40. > :20:42.pigeons. The lad up front is big and powerful, and we know about Victor

:20:43. > :20:48.Moses. They will play direct and they are young and have lots of

:20:49. > :20:54.energy. Hopefully you will get an exciting Nigeria team tonight. At

:20:55. > :21:00.Celtic, you had Efe Ambrose. What is he like? Terrific. He came in and

:21:01. > :21:05.was a revelation, particularly in Europe. We played him at centre-half

:21:06. > :21:07.but he will play right back for Nigeria predominantly. They will be

:21:08. > :21:12.expecting him to make galloping runs, overlaps, putting in great

:21:13. > :21:23.crosses. The defensive structure of Nigeria has improved a lot. -- they

:21:24. > :21:29.will not be expecting him. Emmanuel Emenike is really thing you want in

:21:30. > :21:34.a centre forward as well. -- has everything. They will be

:21:35. > :21:38.straightforward, 4-4-1-1, Iran, they will be disciplined, the two lads in

:21:39. > :21:42.midfield will sit in, and Alnwick and Nekounam and they will look to

:21:43. > :21:45.counter through the fun to after Jagger and Ghoochannejhad. They have

:21:46. > :21:48.got speed but apart from that, they will be the best organised team in

:21:49. > :21:52.the tournament because that is Carlos Queiroz's strength. We know

:21:53. > :21:57.Ashkan Dejagah, because we have seen him at Fulham. He has scored some

:21:58. > :22:02.decent goals this season. Definitely, he does not mind taking

:22:03. > :22:04.on shots from crazy angles. In a tournament like this when people

:22:05. > :22:08.don't necessarily know much about you, if you have a surprise like

:22:09. > :22:12.that in your locker, you can become a star out of nothing. As Phil said,

:22:13. > :22:18.Carlos Queiroz will have them set up very solid, but able to

:22:19. > :22:23.counterattack. We don't expect them to be whipping boys, then? Not with

:22:24. > :22:28.a man like Carlos Queiroz in charge. They will be very well conditioned

:22:29. > :22:31.as well. Iranians teams in the past, they have gone the distance in

:22:32. > :22:38.the games, and they will be well drilled. -- Iranians teams. They

:22:39. > :22:43.will all be desperate to get off to a good start. Definitely, the nerves

:22:44. > :22:47.will be jangling and they just want to get out there, get a touch of the

:22:48. > :22:51.ball, see what the World Cup is all about, what it feels like. Once they

:22:52. > :22:55.get that, they can calm down and get on with it and start playing normal

:22:56. > :22:57.football but this is a huge moment for their players. The countries

:22:58. > :23:01.back home are looking at them and expectations will be high because

:23:02. > :23:09.they wait. They will want to produce. These kind of tournaments

:23:10. > :23:12.can make and break reputations. They can and they are in a tough group.

:23:13. > :23:15.This is the most important game for these two countries. If they win it,

:23:16. > :23:18.they have a chance to get through and if not, they are struggling with

:23:19. > :23:21.Bosnia and Argentina still to come. We have not had a draw so far which

:23:22. > :23:25.is remarkable, and plenty of goals. I'm not sure this will be a goalless

:23:26. > :23:29.draw but I think Iran would take it. I think they would. It is an

:23:30. > :23:33.important game for both of them in the context of the group. But

:23:34. > :23:39.particularly if Emmanuel Emenike is on form, I fancy them to get a

:23:40. > :23:42.couple of goals. It is Irani gets Nigeria, with Argentina in this

:23:43. > :23:45.group. A win for either could prove crucial. Let's join the commentators

:23:46. > :23:54.into redeemer, Kevin Kilbane and Steve Bower. -- in Curitiba.

:23:55. > :24:00.COMMENTATOR: Neither team has won a World Cup match for 16 years. If

:24:01. > :24:04.they could break that record, it would give them a fighting chance of

:24:05. > :24:09.qualifying. There's a carnival atmosphere waiting for both of these

:24:10. > :24:16.nations here in southern Brazil. The first game of the World Cup finals

:24:17. > :24:19.in this stadium. We have seen many different nations outside the

:24:20. > :24:23.ground. It is a huge occasion for the fanatical footballing nation of

:24:24. > :24:30.Iran, who play on this stage for the first time since 2006. Still,

:24:31. > :24:37.really, arriving here as something of an unknown quantity. As we have

:24:38. > :24:44.been saying, we should await expect the unexpected of the African

:24:45. > :24:54.champions Tom and Nigeria. -- champions, Nigeria. They know the

:24:55. > :24:58.importance of it. Particularly with the two fixtures that are lying in

:24:59. > :25:02.wait, as we pause for the national anthems. Ladies and gentlemen,

:25:03. > :25:11.please stand for the national anthem of Irani. -- Iran.

:25:12. > :26:19.And now, the national anthem of Nigeria!

:26:20. > :27:16.Deafening noise inside this stadium. It was only officially completed

:27:17. > :27:19.last month. Unofficially, it might well have been yesterday. It has

:27:20. > :27:29.been a race against time for this day, ever since the World Cup was

:27:30. > :27:36.awarded to Brazil. Curitiba hosting Iran and Nigeria. They are both well

:27:37. > :27:45.aware of the importance of this result in this group. Iran have an

:27:46. > :27:50.experienced squad with 11 players aged 30 or over, six of them based

:27:51. > :27:55.in Europe. Most recognisable to us, Ashkan Dejagah awful, a previous

:27:56. > :27:58.European U21 winner with Germany, one of many persuaded by Carlos

:27:59. > :28:08.Queiroz to switch allegiance in the last couple of years. Reza

:28:09. > :28:13.Ghoochannejhad of Charlton has scored 14 since making his debut.

:28:14. > :28:16.Andranik Teymourian, once of Bolton, briefly awful, is the heartbeat of

:28:17. > :28:24.the team. And alongside him, the captain, Javad Nekounam. -- briefly

:28:25. > :28:31.of Fulham. The official tonight is from Ecuador, the 37-year-old Carlos

:28:32. > :28:37.Vera, who boasts seven years on the international stage.

:28:38. > :28:43.Vincent and Nemo, the goalkeeper, is Nigeria's captain. -- Vincent

:28:44. > :29:01.Enyeama. Nigeria themselves only have three

:29:02. > :29:04.players who play in their own country but they do have the core of

:29:05. > :29:09.the squad that won the Africa cup of Nations last year. John Obi Mikel

:29:10. > :29:13.was Man of the Match in that final and he wins his 60th cap today.

:29:14. > :29:17.Young centre-back Kenneth Omeruo will also be of interest to Chelsea

:29:18. > :29:20.fans because he has just been handed a new long-term contract after an

:29:21. > :29:24.impressive loan spell at Middlesbrough this season. He is in

:29:25. > :29:30.a back for that also includes Efe Ambrose of Celtic. Victor Moses is

:29:31. > :29:37.firmly first choice, offering a threat down the left, aiming to

:29:38. > :29:43.supply Emmanuel Emenike who was their top scorer in qualifying.

:29:44. > :29:49.Nigeria finished bottom of their group in South Africa, four years

:29:50. > :29:54.ago. Iran have only ever won one World Cup match. Carlos Queiroz

:29:55. > :30:14.certainly hoping that changes in this tournament, ideally today. The

:30:15. > :30:26.The expectation is for Nigeria in this one. It will be run on the

:30:27. > :30:45.world stage for the first time in 2006. -- Iran. We don't know what to

:30:46. > :30:51.expect from both sides. We expect Iran to be very organised and they

:30:52. > :30:56.have to win this game if they want to get out of the group. They will

:30:57. > :31:00.have been watching Bosnia and Argentina last night who are very

:31:01. > :31:10.strong sides. These two are the weakest teams in the group.

:31:11. > :31:21.That was a foul on Ambrose. Dejagah was the offender. Only Elvis will

:31:22. > :31:37.these players be? It is worse in the tunnel just before the game. That

:31:38. > :31:53.was delivered into the sky by the most experienced player on the

:31:54. > :31:54.pitch, Nekounam. Joseph Yobo is amongst the substitutes for Nigeria

:31:55. > :32:16.tonight. The former Everton player. You can see straight away that Iran

:32:17. > :32:20.are defending very deep and they are not allowing any hang them for the

:32:21. > :32:30.Nigerian forward because of the peace they have got upfront. -- not

:32:31. > :32:39.allowing any space for the Nigerian forwards.

:32:40. > :32:48.They have had far from ideal preparation for the scheme. They

:32:49. > :32:55.qualified 364 days ago and since then they have only played five warm

:32:56. > :33:08.up games. For 119 days they did not play a game together. They had no

:33:09. > :33:13.real quality opposition. That was Victor Moses going for gold. He did

:33:14. > :33:15.not quite catch that. He picked up the ball and looked to drive at the

:33:16. > :33:47.defence. He did not get hold of it. One of the assistance for Nigeria is

:33:48. > :34:43.Daniel Amokachi. was expecting Dejagah to play up

:34:44. > :34:57.front but he is on the left, a role he was familiar with at Fulham.

:34:58. > :35:29.He does not come into the tournament in good form.

:35:30. > :35:40.I would expect Nigeria to have most of the ball. They are not scared to

:35:41. > :35:52.hit those diagonal passes. They are looking for Emunike.

:35:53. > :36:07.That was a good challenge by Heydari. We will not sure what to

:36:08. > :36:11.expect from the city when they arrived in the stadium yesterday but

:36:12. > :36:31.we are pleasantly surprise. Fantastic atmosphere.

:36:32. > :36:35.The Chelsea player is given more licence to get forward at country

:36:36. > :36:54.level than he is at club level. That was blocked by Montazeri. The

:36:55. > :37:01.first corner of the game is Nigeria's. Nigeria are attacking the

:37:02. > :37:11.right back. That is the avenue they are trying to go through. Trying to

:37:12. > :37:17.get behind the defence. John Obi Mikel is in the thick of it. It will

:37:18. > :37:21.be taken by Victor Moses. The goalkeeper did not get the first

:37:22. > :37:26.time but the referee 's whistle has gone. It will not count. Quite a few

:37:27. > :37:32.of the supporters did not hear the whistle. The most relieved man in

:37:33. > :37:41.the stadium is Haghighi. He did not look comfortable. John Obi Mikel

:37:42. > :37:55.went in there and it was not a lot in that.

:37:56. > :38:04.He is trying to do his defence is a favour by coming out to clear up

:38:05. > :38:05.what it was pure goalkeeping. I wonder if Nigeria think they can

:38:06. > :38:45.exploit that. Again it is the Hosseini -- again it

:38:46. > :38:56.is Hosseini who got cot out. Excellent play from Emunike. It was

:38:57. > :39:10.Onazi with the shot. It was behind him and he could not get hold of it.

:39:11. > :39:16.It is Hosseini who is getting exploited at the moment. There is

:39:17. > :39:25.some concern for the Lazio midfielder. He is getting some

:39:26. > :39:48.treatment. Carlos queer is using the opportunity to have worked with some

:39:49. > :39:55.his players. -- Queiroz. That was a chance. Bodies around for Iran. He

:39:56. > :40:06.did not get hold of it. Nigeria will hope that Onazi is OK because he is

:40:07. > :40:10.a very important player for them. He played in the under 17 World Cup a

:40:11. > :40:12.few years ago and it was those performances that got him a move to

:40:13. > :40:29.Lazio in Italy. The good news for Nigeria is that

:40:30. > :40:37.Onazi is back on his feet. He will need to come back on. It is an

:40:38. > :40:38.important spell for Iran to try to contain Nigeria for the early parts

:40:39. > :41:32.of the scheme. Visitor striker is allowed back on

:41:33. > :42:22.and he is straight back on the ball. -- Onazi.

:42:23. > :42:35.Carlos Queiroz is looking very concerned. Victor Moses did not

:42:36. > :42:38.quite keep it going. Iran are struggling on this right-hand side.

:42:39. > :42:55.Really struggling to contain the pace of Moses. Moses was driving at

:42:56. > :43:01.Montazeri. Iran, who have qualified for the fourth World Cup, the first

:43:02. > :43:06.back at Argentina in 1978 when the famously drew with Scotland, have

:43:07. > :43:15.managed to take a point from each of the three campaigns. They feel if

:43:16. > :43:20.the other get something from the group this will be the match that

:43:21. > :43:24.they will do it. They have to get three points from the scheme to get

:43:25. > :43:31.that chance. Watching those two last night, two very top sides. Bosnia

:43:32. > :43:41.should expect to finish second in that group. This is an opportunity

:43:42. > :43:48.for Iran. They have been practising a lot.

:43:49. > :43:55.That could be at the chance, set plays. They will find themselves

:43:56. > :43:59.defending very deep at times and it is difficult to get out. When they

:44:00. > :44:12.do have set plays they have to capitalise on them.

:44:13. > :44:22.He signed a contract with Chelsea, visitor centre, -- Omeruo, but he

:44:23. > :44:48.has been out on loan. the Nigerian midfield. They are

:44:49. > :45:00.interchanging positions and getting forward when they can. Nigeria had

:45:01. > :45:15.never been farther than the last 16 in the World Cup finals. This is the

:45:16. > :45:16.fifth tournament. Shinnie were does have a long throw in his repertoire.

:45:17. > :45:37.-- Oshaniwa. Both managers are at the moment in

:45:38. > :45:38.their technical areas. -- are up. Nigeria have had the majority of the

:45:39. > :45:59.possession. John Obi Mikel, of course, missed

:46:00. > :46:02.the World Cup, four years ago, injured the week before. It was

:46:03. > :46:06.heartbreak in terms of that tournament. He is a key figure in

:46:07. > :46:26.this Nigerian team. Certainly, what her diary has got to

:46:27. > :46:37.do on the right for Iraqis get back and help his full-back out. --

:46:38. > :46:41.Heydari. Ghoochanneijhad, understandably, a little isolated

:46:42. > :46:45.every time Irani clear the ball. It is important when the ball comes

:46:46. > :46:47.into him, he has got to make it stick and allow his team-mates to

:46:48. > :47:19.get up in support of him. He's not doing that at the moment.

:47:20. > :47:34.That was a more confident take from Haghighi. Pour from Ashkan Dejagah,

:47:35. > :47:41.backtracking Ambrose, allowing him to skip inside. You have to try to

:47:42. > :47:51.prevent the cross, get yourself out and close him down. Don't allow him

:47:52. > :47:54.to skip inside you. They have been no tourist Lee well drilled and well

:47:55. > :47:59.organised under Carlos Queiroz come Iran, keeping ten clean sheet in 16

:48:00. > :48:02.qualifying games. Although the standard of opposition in Brazil

:48:03. > :48:07.will be a considerable step up for them. In fact, since Carlos Queiroz

:48:08. > :48:13.took over, they have not played any team in the top 48 in the world.

:48:14. > :48:17.That is half the battle, isn't it? You are not playing against quality

:48:18. > :48:21.opposition. The centre-half, Hosseini, said that recently, there

:48:22. > :48:27.is no quality of opposition in those friendlies that they can test

:48:28. > :48:31.themselves against. That is what they need, coming to the World Cup.

:48:32. > :48:38.Carlos Gross feels he has moved Iranians football on since the took

:48:39. > :48:41.charge. In 2011, he worked long and hard to persuade the country's

:48:42. > :48:50.authorities to end the domestic season early in April, to help their

:48:51. > :49:16.World Cup preparations. -- Carlos Queiroz feels.

:49:17. > :49:23.There was no advantage, and the Ecuadorian referee signals a Nigeria

:49:24. > :49:26.free kick. Iran are camped in their own half at the moment. They can't

:49:27. > :49:43.get out. Continued pressure by Nigeria.

:49:44. > :49:50.This time, it is Oboabona who requires treatment for Nigeria. A

:49:51. > :49:56.carnival atmosphere. No complaints inside this stadium. The Nigerians

:49:57. > :50:00.always add to that. We have witnessed that around the ground,

:50:01. > :50:08.today. A great atmosphere, building a few hours before the game. The

:50:09. > :50:21.Iranians contributing as well. There is some concern, here, for Oboabona.

:50:22. > :50:29.He plays his football in Turkey. This is what happened with the

:50:30. > :50:34.challenge with Ghoochannejhad. It is a strong challenge. It was on the

:50:35. > :50:38.floor, he just goes over, you may have slightly twisted his ankle when

:50:39. > :50:48.landing. It is difficult to see, really. As I mentioned, they have a

:50:49. > :50:52.ready made replacement in Joseph Yobo, if he can't continue. Stephen

:50:53. > :50:57.Keshi has made some big decisions, leaving out Joseph Yobo, with all

:50:58. > :51:01.his experience of the Premier League, with Everton and around

:51:02. > :51:09.Europe as well. It was a big decision for the manager to leave

:51:10. > :51:12.him out. Nigeria, just assessing the situation, before deciding whether

:51:13. > :51:32.or not to make a change. Moses used his hand on that

:51:33. > :51:37.occasion. Certainly, what they are looking for, again, an diagonal ball

:51:38. > :51:41.to Moses, trying to get him isolated, one-on-one, against

:51:42. > :51:45.Montazeri. That time, he strayed offside and he did not need to. He

:51:46. > :51:59.went a bit too early. It was actually handball, wasn't it?

:52:00. > :52:07.I think that is just an indication of what a huge occasion this is for

:52:08. > :52:12.Iran, and the nerves in the squad. Yes, you can see it, one or two poor

:52:13. > :52:17.touches from the players, and that time, the goalkeeper, Haghighi, a

:52:18. > :52:34.bad kick out. It just shows the nervousness of all the players.

:52:35. > :52:39.The Nigerians are still temporarily down to ten men. They are giving

:52:40. > :52:51.Oboabona every chance to rejoin the action. He is heavily strapped, now.

:52:52. > :53:01.A heavy touch from the left-back and he might live to regret it. Four

:53:02. > :53:05.forward for Nigeria. A little hurried in their attempts to find

:53:06. > :53:14.Moses. Another poor touch from Villani, the full-back. -- Pouladi.

:53:15. > :53:24.Ashkan Dejagah was looking for the free kick. A shake of the head from

:53:25. > :53:27.the Ecuadorian referee. Those two getting Ford, Ghoochannejhad and

:53:28. > :53:30.Ashkan Dejagah, off the left-hand side. They need to try to get more

:53:31. > :53:45.bodies forward, Iran, when they break.

:53:46. > :53:53.Ambrose made his debut six years ago, and has started all but one of

:53:54. > :53:54.the qualifiers, the Celtic full-back. Oboabona is certainly

:53:55. > :54:16.going to give it a go. Finally, Oboabona is back on.

:54:17. > :54:50.Nigeria restored to 11 men. Just no real threat, going forward.

:54:51. > :54:51.That was a real chance. They had two or three bodies that had gone

:54:52. > :55:21.beyond, there. So many white shirts in front of

:55:22. > :55:39.Ambrose. The Iran back for is defending very

:55:40. > :55:44.narrow, allowing Nigeria to go wide and put crosses into the box. They

:55:45. > :55:47.feel as though they can defend them. But you just feel, at the moment,

:55:48. > :55:56.the momentum is gathering with Nigeria. We were saying before the

:55:57. > :56:03.game, Ahmed Musa is a threat if he gets in behind. Phil Neville said

:56:04. > :56:07.before the game he can catch pigeons! You know he has got a bit

:56:08. > :56:14.of pace, then. It tickled you, didn't it? It did. Iran might have

:56:15. > :56:20.to scamper back again, here. Nigeria dust can't pick a pass at the

:56:21. > :56:28.moment, though. -- just can't. Emenike, showing his frustration. A

:56:29. > :56:41.poor ball, again, Ahmed Musa checked his run, looking to get its defeat.

:56:42. > :56:46.-- get it to feet. Nigeria have not won any of their last eight games in

:56:47. > :56:49.the World Cup finals. In the last two tournaments, they have been

:56:50. > :56:52.beaten in the opening two games. It would be something of a shock if

:56:53. > :57:00.they would be something of a shock if they were beaten in this one. But

:57:01. > :57:05.Carlos Queiroz and Iran's plan is no secret, to stay organised and try to

:57:06. > :57:10.mix something. That is the game plan, and they will be happy at the

:57:11. > :57:14.moment, continuing in this vein, trying to see the game through, and

:57:15. > :57:40.after an hour or so, they might get a set play or a breakaway goal.

:57:41. > :57:50.That is better from Montazeri. I think with Ahmed Musa's pace,

:57:51. > :57:55.perhaps try to knock it early on the outside. He is going to beat him for

:57:56. > :57:56.pace. A good challenge, though, and a good decision from the referee to

:57:57. > :58:30.give a goal kick. Is not a lots of space for Iran to

:58:31. > :58:38.operate, there. It is a congested, isn't it? Certainly, the central

:58:39. > :58:44.midfielders for Iran, just sitting right on top of the back four. It is

:58:45. > :58:56.difficult for Nigeria to play through them.

:58:57. > :59:01.We can tell you that Joseph Yobo is about to come on. They have given

:59:02. > :59:10.Oboabona every chance, but that ankle injury is going to end his

:59:11. > :59:15.day. So, the man who has played more often than any other player for

:59:16. > :59:22.Nigeria, 33-year-old Joseph Yobo, comes on for his 98th cap, at his

:59:23. > :59:27.third World Cup finals. Your former team-mate. I played with him at

:59:28. > :59:31.Everton. He was extremely quick. Again, very experienced in this

:59:32. > :59:38.squad. Nigeria will be heavily reliant on him. He played for

:59:39. > :59:42.Everton, for eight years. He has had his disagreements with his coach,

:59:43. > :59:50.Stephen Keshi. He was only recalled in March this year, after a year in

:59:51. > :59:56.the wilderness. But he has so much experience in the heart of the

:59:57. > :00:23.Nigeria defence. It has not been tested at all, as yet.

:00:24. > :00:37.can threaten from a set play. -- turn. It coming together as both of

:00:38. > :01:01.them had high boots. It is packed penalty area. Joseph is forward. It

:01:02. > :02:02.was a brilliant effort from Musa. That is a free kick to Iran. That

:02:03. > :02:16.buys them some time and allows them to get somebody's forward.

:02:17. > :02:23.After that initial good start from Nigeria it has just died in the last

:02:24. > :02:27.ten minutes. Stephen Keshi will want to get them in at half-time and

:02:28. > :02:33.regroup. Start the second half as they had started the first. When

:02:34. > :02:42.something is expected of Nigeria that is when they often feel to

:02:43. > :02:47.deliver. When the hopes a law then they will act as a surprise. No much

:02:48. > :02:54.-- no more so than last year when they won the applicant tournament.

:02:55. > :03:27.They went all the way to defeat Burkina Faso in the final.

:03:28. > :03:40.After 33 minutes of the game Iran have got the first corner. This is

:03:41. > :03:45.the chance that Carlos Queiroz we'll want. Can they make something from

:03:46. > :03:46.this corner. It was a good job to win the ball back and then get the

:03:47. > :04:10.corner. That was a great save from Enyeama.

:04:11. > :04:15.Something out of nothing for Iran. Good save from Enyeama. Quality

:04:16. > :04:23.goalkeeper. He did well diving to his right. For the first 34 minutes

:04:24. > :05:00.of this match he has had absolutely nothing to do.

:05:01. > :05:08.That was a great run from Victor Moses, outpacing the full again. --

:05:09. > :05:21.outpacing the defender again. Suddenly you can feel inside the

:05:22. > :05:29.stadium that Iran supporters have got a bit of belief. They need to

:05:30. > :05:30.get onto the front foot and snap into the challenges. Get bodies

:05:31. > :06:14.forward. That was a big chance for Emunike.

:06:15. > :06:26.He could drive at them one on one. That was John will McKelvey was

:06:27. > :06:34.penalised. -- it was Mikel who was penalised. Here is a chance. He had

:06:35. > :06:45.to dive to his right hand side, Enyeama. Strong hands to pull it

:06:46. > :06:50.away from danger. That is a free kick to Nigeria. Good concentration

:06:51. > :06:56.levels from the goalkeeper because he has hardly touched the ball. That

:06:57. > :07:06.is true. He is just getting his defence organised. Nigeria have to

:07:07. > :07:14.be better defending set plays. This is what Carlos Queiroz wants. He

:07:15. > :07:26.wants them to sit in and then try to score.

:07:27. > :07:40.It just seems that that chance has taken Nigeria out of their stride.

:07:41. > :07:43.Carlos Queiroz We'll be happy. Nigeria looked like they were a

:07:44. > :07:45.threat in the early stages of the half but they have waned in the last

:07:46. > :08:10.few minutes. Stephen Keshi is out in the

:08:11. > :08:17.technical area. He barks his orders out. He is known to the Nigeria fans

:08:18. > :08:24.as the big boss. He offered to resign after they had won the

:08:25. > :08:29.African cup of Nations. He has the respect of his employers and he was

:08:30. > :08:39.in persuaded to stay on to try to get them to Brazil. That was very

:08:40. > :08:46.ambitious. It was a poor strike and he would never really score from

:08:47. > :08:51.that distance. There is the chance, good header, they got good contact

:08:52. > :09:12.on it. Decent save. He only managed one goal last season

:09:13. > :09:25.after joining Charlton Athletic from the generated. -- from Leeds United.

:09:26. > :09:31.That is just drifted out of play. That is a poor ball from Victor

:09:32. > :09:51.Moses. It was a good run from the left-back Oshaniwa. It was a good

:09:52. > :09:55.decision from the assistant. The team were very difficult to break

:09:56. > :09:56.down in qualifying and they have proved so in the first half of this

:09:57. > :10:24.match in Group F. There was only one thing on the mind

:10:25. > :10:38.of Emunike. It was Emunike who went inside but he did have options. The

:10:39. > :10:46.execution again. -- it was poor execution again. Stephen Keshi

:10:47. > :10:50.preparing his words for half-time. He captained his side in USA 94 and

:10:51. > :11:19.now he has the honour of coaching his side.

:11:20. > :12:18.It is Montazeri with the throwing. The referee was not happy. --

:12:19. > :12:39.He could've given it to Victor Moses on his outside.

:12:40. > :12:50.I think the longer this half is going on it is becoming easier for

:12:51. > :12:55.Iran. They want to have easy balls coming straight at them. It was a

:12:56. > :13:01.heavy challenge with the slight suspicion of handball. I just think

:13:02. > :13:05.it is very easy for Iran to get themselves organised and the vendor.

:13:06. > :13:29.They are narrow and not leaving species. -- spaces That is a free

:13:30. > :14:18.kick for Nigeria. It is Azeez who is winning his fault.

:14:19. > :14:21.We are approaching the final minute of normal time at the end of this

:14:22. > :15:18.first half. Great movement from Musa. Coming in

:15:19. > :15:25.off the right-hand side and trying to claim for handball. He was trying

:15:26. > :15:43.to look for his partner Emunike. There are two minutes to add-on.

:15:44. > :16:09.Iran have had the best chance to change the score so far.

:16:10. > :16:32.Ashkan Dejagah took on three, but could not beat the fourth.

:16:33. > :16:39.Do you feel that Iran have grown in stature and belief as the half has

:16:40. > :16:43.gone on? Yes, the threat early on was from Victor Moses down the

:16:44. > :16:49.left. That is not a penalty. A good little step back. Oh, I don't know,

:16:50. > :16:56.maybe it pops out towards Islam but it would be difficult for the

:16:57. > :17:00.referee to give. You are right, though, they have grown in stature.

:17:01. > :17:04.I think they have settled very well. A few moments early in the

:17:05. > :17:08.game and they were under pressure. But they have weathered it. They

:17:09. > :17:24.have been comfortable, certainly in the last 15-20 minutes.

:17:25. > :17:31.We are yet to have a drawer in the tournament, but this one, at the

:17:32. > :17:34.break, is all square and goalless. Ironically, Iran, through

:17:35. > :17:40.Ghoochannejhad, had the best chance to break the deadlock, but they were

:17:41. > :17:47.denied by an Yuma. At the break, it is Iran 0-0 Nigeria.

:17:48. > :17:55.A lots of hustle and bustle but not much of a castle so far. I have

:17:56. > :18:01.heard more blasts from you than a couple of sets at Wimbledon. You are

:18:02. > :18:04.frustrated? It has been awful! Iran are good team but they are well in

:18:05. > :18:08.the game which is due to Nigeria being poor in the final third, the

:18:09. > :18:11.decision-making on the ball has an awful. The final execution of the

:18:12. > :18:16.passing and crossing has been very poor. They have had all the session.

:18:17. > :18:20.Iran have not laid a glove on them apart from one set piece. They have

:18:21. > :18:25.to be careful, because if they don't back up their ideas, they are going

:18:26. > :18:30.to lose. It was a decent save in the set piece. Yes, he has a great

:18:31. > :18:32.record at club level and he has proved his worth, after not having

:18:33. > :18:39.anything to do in the Concentration levels have to be

:18:40. > :18:44.high, and when called upon, he made the save. At this level, you have to

:18:45. > :18:49.have your wits about you. He parried it but I liked the fact he got up.

:18:50. > :18:53.What you don't see much is goalkeepers coming out and catching

:18:54. > :18:57.the ball, not punching. That was the only chance Iran had, the

:18:58. > :19:02.Ghoochannejhad header. Not a single shot from any crazy angle

:19:03. > :19:06.whatsoever. Nigeria had a disallowed goal early on which we are not so

:19:07. > :19:10.sure was a foul on the goalkeeper. No, we saw one of these in the first

:19:11. > :19:14.game, Brazil against Croatia. So many times you see it now, the

:19:15. > :19:18.goalkeeper always gets the benefit of the doubt. I don't think there is

:19:19. > :19:22.much contact. The forward has every right to go for the ball. But the

:19:23. > :19:28.goalkeeper always gets a foul in this situation. It is too many

:19:29. > :19:33.times. They are an overprotected species. The goalkeeper has jumped

:19:34. > :19:37.into John Obi Mikel, rather than the other way around. He has got to be

:19:38. > :19:40.stronger, simple as that. You want your goalkeeper taking everybody and

:19:41. > :19:45.the ball, there. He looked a bit like he did not fancy it. He was

:19:46. > :19:50.taken out too easily. He also nearly got caught out by the free kick when

:19:51. > :19:54.he was wandering a bit too far out. Yes, he was gambling, his starting

:19:55. > :19:58.position was too far to his left. I look at the man at the near post as

:19:59. > :20:02.well who did not get back into shape quickly enough. He gambled a bit,

:20:03. > :20:09.went to his left. A bit more power... Ahmed Musa had seen he was

:20:10. > :20:14.too far over, covering. The man at the near posted not get into quick

:20:15. > :20:17.enough. That puts him in line, and put him off and doing something like

:20:18. > :20:24.that could have embarrassed the goalkeeper. Decent effort. You spoke

:20:25. > :20:30.before the game about a player to watch, Emenike. It looked like you

:20:31. > :20:37.would be proved right, early on. But now you are a bit -- I am a bit

:20:38. > :20:40.hesitant. I bet you are but the service has been terrible. He chases

:20:41. > :20:45.down the channel, with great pace and strength, gets his man turned,

:20:46. > :20:50.lovely ball in, and Ahmed Musa should have scored. He's very good

:20:51. > :20:54.at that. Too many times in the first half, they have been chipping

:20:55. > :20:57.straight balls into him. It has been meat and drink for the Iranians

:20:58. > :21:04.offenders. They have obviously said, " let's get into the striker early".

:21:05. > :21:07.But far too many times, it has been too straight and easy for the

:21:08. > :21:11.defenders to get round the front and break up the play. It is frustrating

:21:12. > :21:15.because at times, they have a chance to break and they have not quite

:21:16. > :21:19.managed it. You have looked at the tactics. What is missing from

:21:20. > :21:24.Nigeria's game in the first half? Why are they struggling to break

:21:25. > :21:31.Iran down? They take too many touches. Iran have 11 men behind the

:21:32. > :21:34.ball. We knew that before the game. Nigeria have not moved it quick

:21:35. > :21:38.enough, too many touches. We have not seen Moses or Ahmed Musa on the

:21:39. > :21:43.ball enough. They have the speed to beat players won against one and we

:21:44. > :21:47.have not seen any service into them. -- one against one. The passing in

:21:48. > :21:51.the midfield free has been dreadful, John Obi Mikel has been slow and

:21:52. > :21:54.square and the other two have been trying to hit long diagonals, and I

:21:55. > :21:59.don't think they have made one in the first. Wood they got outpaced.

:22:00. > :22:02.The first thought is to pass the ball sideways. But Nigeria's main

:22:03. > :22:07.strengths are the pace of the forwards. Run beyond, play the ball

:22:08. > :22:11.forward. You have got people in front of you but it is sideways and

:22:12. > :22:17.sideways again and Iran are suddenly back in shape, not giving Nigeria

:22:18. > :22:21.the chance to go forward. He is running through, and the spaces are

:22:22. > :22:27.in the wide areas, Moses is on the ball, comes out but nothing. Emenike

:22:28. > :22:33.needs the ball into the space, to run into and uses pace and it is not

:22:34. > :22:38.happening. -- use his pace. Again, execution. It is neither here not

:22:39. > :22:43.there. It'd go into Ahmed Musa's feet behind for Emenike. This is my

:22:44. > :22:48.favourite. What's he going to do? He has got a man from behind and in

:22:49. > :22:53.front and two either side. He is crowded out, instead of going wide

:22:54. > :22:58.and opening up play. You have played against these guys. I have seen John

:22:59. > :23:01.Obi Mikel quite a lot for Chelsea. Does he always slow things down and

:23:02. > :23:05.play a bit square? He is one of those kind of players, isn't he? It

:23:06. > :23:09.frustrates me when I watch him because he is a big, powerful lad

:23:10. > :23:13.who can drive forward, cause problems, draw out a defender and

:23:14. > :23:17.then take the ball behind him but he seems to be content to pass it

:23:18. > :23:23.sideways and keep it ticking over. For me, as a defender, it is easy.

:23:24. > :23:24.He is not causing you problems. Lets hope for more excitement in the

:23:25. > :23:34.second half. England trained earlier today in

:23:35. > :23:38.Rio. Let's get the latest news from the camp with Gabby Logan.

:23:39. > :23:41.It is the morning after the day after the day after the night before

:23:42. > :23:45.but there is no walk of shame for England's players. Back to work and

:23:46. > :23:49.training at their base, they were keen to avoid any negative chatter

:23:50. > :23:53.and accentuate the positives. The two Daniels personified everything

:23:54. > :24:00.that was right about England on Saturday night. It was not a case of

:24:01. > :24:02.us feeling, OK, we can't one World Cup because we should have won the

:24:03. > :24:05.first game. We were disappointed because we knew how well we played

:24:06. > :24:09.and we realised it was an opportunity to get a result and we

:24:10. > :24:12.did not get it in the end. But now we have two games to go out therein

:24:13. > :24:17.get the job done. When you dwell on things, it can lead into the next

:24:18. > :24:20.game. But we played so well. We understand if we continue playing as

:24:21. > :24:26.we did, we will get results it is not a question of if we will win

:24:27. > :24:30.games. It is when we will win. We are looking to make it happen in the

:24:31. > :24:34.next one. We can take positives from the last game but ultimately, we did

:24:35. > :24:39.not win. That is the most important thing. We needed three points to

:24:40. > :24:45.succeed in the next round. All the forward players for England have the

:24:46. > :24:49.flexibility to move in and around, interchange positions. Obviously,

:24:50. > :24:53.Wayne was on the left in the first game and in the second game, he

:24:54. > :24:56.could be in a different position. He has got 93 caps and is Harry

:24:57. > :25:02.experienced. When he is on the pitch, he can make a difference. --

:25:03. > :25:05.very experienced. It's a big game and I'm looking forward to it, as

:25:06. > :25:10.are all the players. We realise the task ahead. We are not worried about

:25:11. > :25:17.individuals or Uruguay. I am not an texting terms with Luis Suarez at

:25:18. > :25:20.the moment. I don't think Steven Gerrard, Jordan Henderson, Raheem

:25:21. > :25:23.Sterling Glen Johnson are, either. I don't think he will want to tell

:25:24. > :25:29.anyone how he is feeling. I hope he is OK, fighting fit, because I never

:25:30. > :25:33.wish any body injury. But regardless of whether he is playing, we can't

:25:34. > :25:36.worry about Luis Suarez. There is playing, we can't worry about Luis

:25:37. > :25:45.Suarez. Their resonant session with him for Uruguay. It is a team game.

:25:46. > :25:49.-- varies an obsession. Daniel Sturridge also revealed he got a pep

:25:50. > :25:54.talk from his mum on the phone. She told him to mash it up! This time

:25:55. > :25:56.tomorrow, Brazil will play Mexico in Fortaleza. Juninho has been looking

:25:57. > :26:10.ahead to the game with Mark Chapman. How difficult a test will Mexico be?

:26:11. > :26:19.In the last six or seven games between them, it was a very tough

:26:20. > :26:23.game, a tight game. Mexico did very well as a defensive team against

:26:24. > :26:31.Brazil. Brazil found it a bit difficult to unblock the defence.

:26:32. > :26:35.Mexico is not in the same form as before, even though they played well

:26:36. > :26:42.in the first game. But Brazil have to prove now that they can unblock

:26:43. > :26:49.the Mexico defence in the quickest way. Do you think the players were

:26:50. > :26:56.too emotional at the start of the first game? Players were in tears

:26:57. > :27:00.during the national anthem. Yes, definitely, they were. In the first

:27:01. > :27:06.10-15 minutes, you could see it on the field. I think their minds came

:27:07. > :27:14.to the right place and then they started

:27:15. > :27:21.Are there any changes you would make for the Mexico game? I think it will

:27:22. > :27:25.be the same team. Scolari wants to give them confidence. It is only the

:27:26. > :27:30.first game. I think the players need to play better than they did in the

:27:31. > :27:35.first game. But it is all about confidence. I think Scolari will

:27:36. > :27:39.give them a lot of confidence in the second game. They have to be

:27:40. > :27:46.flexible. Mexico will come to defend than they did in the first game --

:27:47. > :27:51.more than they did. Neymar and Oscar need to have movement. Who would you

:27:52. > :27:55.prefer at number ten, Neymar, or Oscar? It is difficult to see a

:27:56. > :27:59.number ten at all. They want to play on the sides. It is strange for me

:28:00. > :28:06.because I like a playmaker in the hole. Probably, Neymar would do a

:28:07. > :28:11.better job. Everybody knows they have to mark the playmaker but he

:28:12. > :28:16.has to move and get the ball in good places to get some gaps. Paulinho, I

:28:17. > :28:24.think he needs to come more into the game than he did in the first game.

:28:25. > :28:26.He is like our surprise guy. Dani Alves and Marcello Trotta me to help

:28:27. > :29:03.the front line. -- Marcello Trotta. Here they come, so much pressure, so

:29:04. > :29:08.much expectation. This is the title that all the players want to win. To

:29:09. > :29:12.right, a lot of these guys are friends of the court but the moment

:29:13. > :29:17.they step out there, forget it. A hugely exciting moment, this. It

:29:18. > :29:24.still gives you goose bumps, centre court. Two it is the greatest court

:29:25. > :29:30.in the world. -- it is the greatest court in the world. Wimbledon,

:29:31. > :29:56.2014. It is anyone's game. the world of social media. The Globe

:29:57. > :30:06.went excited for Messi at the American last night. -- at the

:30:07. > :30:09.Maracana. That was the highest peak of the weekend. One thing that

:30:10. > :30:14.happened on Friday is causing ripples, which is trying to

:30:15. > :30:17.replicate the position adopted by Robin van piercing when he scored

:30:18. > :30:38.that wonderful equaliser against Spain. -- Persie.

:30:39. > :30:43.You continues in your thousands to send anywhere you are watching the

:30:44. > :31:00.World Cup this summer. Let us look at some of those. The perfect

:31:01. > :31:10.English pop. -- public house. This is some impressive second screen.

:31:11. > :31:13.Tactical camera all the way. If you hit the red button you can find

:31:14. > :31:19.plenty to do whilst you are watching the World Cup in the background. If

:31:20. > :31:29.there's anything you want to send anything to then send it to BBC

:31:30. > :31:32.World Cup on twitter. If any of you go onto Twitter then

:31:33. > :31:41.you will know that Southhampton have appointed a new manager, Ronald

:31:42. > :31:45.Truman, he was a decent player. If he is half a good manager as he was

:31:46. > :31:57.a player than that is a good appointment. -- Koeman. His biggest

:31:58. > :32:03.test before he kicks a ball is keeping hold of the players. It will

:32:04. > :32:12.be a tough job. Second half. What will change? Nigeria have to play

:32:13. > :32:16.quicker. John Aubrey Meeker has been the star but he is taking too many

:32:17. > :32:22.touches. Iran will be playing for set pieces. The main focus for them

:32:23. > :32:28.will be to try to get, and to steal gold. You said that Iran will not

:32:29. > :32:38.good side, Neil Lennon, they will be happy. It will be delighted. -- they

:32:39. > :32:45.will be delighted. Nigeria, there's a lot more to come from them. They

:32:46. > :32:55.will be disappointed. Let others be join our commentary team.

:32:56. > :33:15.So far, so good for Carlos credos. -- Carlos Queiroz. Nigeria will need

:33:16. > :33:24.to move the ball quicker. Dislodge the Iranian backline. The crosses

:33:25. > :33:30.into the box is easy for Iran to deal with. When John Obi Mikel gets

:33:31. > :33:44.on the ball, quick passes, use Victor Moses to hurt them. Iran had

:33:45. > :33:51.one glorious day in France 98 when they defeated the USA 2-1. The only

:33:52. > :34:03.World Cup win. It is Nigeria who get the second half under way. They are

:34:04. > :34:08.trying to dampen Iranians dreams and give themselves a platform in Group

:34:09. > :34:16.F. There have been no changes from either side at half-time. They both

:34:17. > :34:29.seek an alteration in the scoreline, particularly Nigeria.

:34:30. > :35:26.Just too many bodies. Good defending. It was a decent run.

:35:27. > :35:37.Trying to go on the outside. Mehrdad got across and it was good defending

:35:38. > :35:49.from him. That was a pole and it is a free kick to Nigeria. There have

:35:50. > :35:56.been a few Nigerians in the walls. -- wars. Do you think Nigeria need

:35:57. > :36:06.to show more urgency. I completely agree with that. They have got some

:36:07. > :36:12.good quality footballers. They need to make some quick passes but they

:36:13. > :36:23.are not doing that. It is very easy for Iran to get set up and organise.

:36:24. > :36:32.It would've been even better for Iran if that header had gone in the

:36:33. > :36:35.first half. That was blocked by Nekounam, the captain, and Nigeria

:36:36. > :36:51.have got a corner. Is this the moment when it changes

:36:52. > :36:56.for Nigeria? Victor Moses with the extremely disappointing delivery. If

:36:57. > :36:59.you beat the first man then you give the attacker is a chance. It was put

:37:00. > :37:15.execution from Victor Moses. He did not in the end Haghighi. --

:37:16. > :37:46.he did enough. They have not got Musa and Moses --

:37:47. > :37:50.Moses into the game. He could be key for Nigeria. He started on the

:37:51. > :37:55.left-hand side and he has now came out onto the right but he has had

:37:56. > :38:00.very little impact on to the game. He should be fresh, Victor Moses. He

:38:01. > :38:09.started only six Premiership games with his spell with Liverpool. It

:38:10. > :38:13.did not work out for him at Anfield. The previous season he started twice

:38:14. > :38:19.as many at Chelsea. I want to see him running behind the Rams defence.

:38:20. > :38:20.He is not doing it at the moment and he is trying to get the ball at his

:38:21. > :39:16.feet all of the time. That was an untidy foal from Joseph

:39:17. > :39:23.Yobo. It was good touch from him initially, he got his body in front

:39:24. > :39:46.of Joseph Yobo. You can see his hands are all over him. There was an

:39:47. > :40:08.appeal from Nekounam for handball. Nigeria are making a change. It is a

:40:09. > :40:25.familiar name. It is sure Ameobi who is coming on for Nigeria. -- Shola.

:40:26. > :40:33.He made a good start to the game but he was not involved in the latter

:40:34. > :40:35.stages. His association for 14 years with Newcastle has come to an end

:40:36. > :40:45.and they are still trying to sort out his future. In the first half,

:40:46. > :40:54.Nigeria were going direct. It'll give them more licensed to get the

:40:55. > :41:00.ball into Shola Ameobi. That is the angle that they can get at the Rand

:41:01. > :41:08.'s defence. Nigeria have got a free kick. We'll Haghighi be tested

:41:09. > :42:17.today? He was on loan at Portugal last season.

:42:18. > :42:37.It is the fourth corner of the game -- fourth corner of the game.

:42:38. > :42:49.That was a really poor set play. That is comfortable for Haghighi. He

:42:50. > :43:01.did not play in any of the qualifying matches for Iran. The

:43:02. > :43:15.number one was in possession of the shot and then he announced his

:43:16. > :43:24.retirement. It was Haghighi who got the nod from Carlos query was today.

:43:25. > :43:35.-- Carlos Queiroz. Nigeria have not done enough, especially from set

:43:36. > :43:41.plays. They have been very poor. They have been unbeaten in their

:43:42. > :43:42.last 28 World Cup qualifiers. They defeated Ethiopia in a play-off to

:43:43. > :43:57.get here. It will be disappointment in the

:43:58. > :44:08.country if they do not go on to win the scheme. We have Phil Neville and

:44:09. > :44:13.Rio Ferdinand talking about the manager when he was at Manchester

:44:14. > :44:17.United. The one thing that he is renowned for his organisation. You

:44:18. > :44:27.can see that again in his team today. They are trying to defend the

:44:28. > :44:48.width of the box. They are a loving Nigeria to go wide and then deal

:44:49. > :44:58.with it when it comes into the box. It was Oshaniwa with the final. --

:44:59. > :45:18.foul. He did not have to cross at so

:45:19. > :45:23.early. He had runners beside him. He was looking for the glory pass,

:45:24. > :45:44.Emunike. It was easy for Iran to deal with.

:45:45. > :45:51.Brilliant goalkeeping from Vincent Enyeama. He did really well, coming

:45:52. > :45:58.over the top of Joseph Yobo, defending it. Excellent goalkeeping.

:45:59. > :46:10.His third World Cup finals, the 31-year-old. His 92nd cap in the

:46:11. > :46:13.Nigerian goal to night. -- tonight. Again, just lethargic with the

:46:14. > :46:23.passing, moving it slowly across the pitch. No real pace.

:46:24. > :46:30.They just have not been able to get in behind Iran at all. Apart from

:46:31. > :46:43.the first ten minutes, that has been it, really.

:46:44. > :46:53.You can see Ameobi, looking for the 1-2. It was good play from Ameobi to

:46:54. > :46:57.win the challenge. Again, you sense that Nigeria are just looking for

:46:58. > :47:01.the glory shot, the glory cross. Just keep it simple, keep moving it

:47:02. > :47:06.quickly and the opportunity will come. Carlos Queiroz will be

:47:07. > :47:12.delighted, on the bench. He was a bit spiky in the press Conference we

:47:13. > :47:15.were out yesterday. There was a suggestion of negative tactics. He

:47:16. > :47:22.certainly spoke with an error of defiance. Yes, you was asked about

:47:23. > :47:26.the defensive shape of his side -- he was asked. They provided little

:47:27. > :47:31.threat going forward. His response was basically, "there is more than

:47:32. > :47:32.one way to win a game of football". A nice little bit of skill from

:47:33. > :47:48.Emenike. There is a lot of talent in this

:47:49. > :47:51.Nigerian side as well. I think we spoke about it before the game,

:47:52. > :47:55.nerves can get the better of you. They have looked nervous in

:47:56. > :48:00.possession. They are always looking for the safe option. They have

:48:01. > :48:04.looked nervous with the expectancy. Everybody expects them to win this

:48:05. > :48:10.game. Traditionally, Nigeria have struggled in that kind of

:48:11. > :48:20.environment. That is wasteful again from Ambrose. You can't say much

:48:21. > :48:23.about that, can you? He has got players onside. Ameobi had made

:48:24. > :48:25.himself available, a good little angle to give and go. Try something

:48:26. > :48:59.different. A reminder that we have another live

:49:00. > :49:05.game tonight on BBC One from 10:40pm. It is Ghana against the

:49:06. > :49:14.USA. And then tomorrow, a real treat, from 7:30pm, Brazil against

:49:15. > :49:28.Mexico. It is still goalless come here in Curitiba. -- goalless, here.

:49:29. > :49:39.That will be far too close to the goalkeeper. A dreadful throw out

:49:40. > :49:48.from him, though. The shot came in from Hajsafi. I thought that was the

:49:49. > :49:52.goalkeeper's way of trying to inject some urgency. I think it was John

:49:53. > :49:56.Obi Mikel who was not ready for it, allow the ball to run across him.

:49:57. > :50:14.Again, and Vincent Enyeama is looking to get them going.

:50:15. > :50:29.Ambrose is making his World Cup debut.

:50:30. > :50:39.Ameobi, dropping a little deeper. There is a bit of disgruntlement

:50:40. > :50:46.coming from the Nigerian supporters inside the stadium. Definitely, you

:50:47. > :50:56.can see they are defending deeper and deeper, Iran, but it is working

:50:57. > :51:00.for them. We mentioned they have kept ten clean sheets in 16

:51:01. > :51:06.qualifying games. In their history, Iran have never kept a clean sheet

:51:07. > :51:11.at a World Cup finals. We mentioned the confidence levels of

:51:12. > :51:17.Ghoochannejhad. That might have been taking it a fraction too far. Yes,

:51:18. > :51:22.it has shown today, with that clean sheet record they have got, you can

:51:23. > :51:27.see how difficult it is for teams to play against them. Victor Moses, was

:51:28. > :51:30.very disappointing today. He was not involved in the game apart from the

:51:31. > :51:42.initial ten minutes. He had very little influence.

:51:43. > :51:50.Not a decision that he particularly agreed with, there. Again, I think,

:51:51. > :51:56.sometimes come here trying to show how strong he is, Onazi. Move the

:51:57. > :52:02.ball quickly, release it and go elsewhere. Nigeria are just not

:52:03. > :52:08.doing that. Oh, dear, it is going from bad to worse in terms of

:52:09. > :52:17.Nigeria's attacking threat. Again, you can see, Iran are looking to sit

:52:18. > :52:26.in. A good opportunity, there Hajsafi, getting forward. Can they

:52:27. > :52:28.threaten come here? Ameobi is waiting in the penalty area but it

:52:29. > :52:54.is nowhere near him. Can Iran get bodies forward?

:52:55. > :53:02.Ghoochannejhad just showed too much of it to Joseph Yobo. Montazeri has

:53:03. > :53:09.not been closed down. Three in the penalty area. A very important

:53:10. > :53:17.interception from Oshaniwa. Much better, good break, getting the ball

:53:18. > :53:20.wide as well. Heydari with a good, pacey cross, dealt with by the

:53:21. > :53:28.Nigerian defence but another set play, what they are looking for. Can

:53:29. > :53:34.they score? Just their second corner of the match. We have played almost

:53:35. > :54:00.65 minutes. Will it be a telling one?

:54:01. > :54:07.Emenike did well to get back but it went Iran's way. Emenike had the

:54:08. > :54:16.pace, there. A decent challenge from him. I think the referees give the

:54:17. > :54:22.foul for the scissors motion, both feet off the ground. A big

:54:23. > :54:32.opportunity for Iran. Can they capitalise?

:54:33. > :54:45.Hajsafi, the 24-year-old, with his left foot, to take a free kick.

:54:46. > :54:57.Five Iranians bodies in there. It's needed watching -- it's needed

:54:58. > :55:03.watching by John Obi Mikel. Nigeria still have not got this clear.

:55:04. > :55:08.Hajsafi's pull-back was not quite there and then a difficult one for

:55:09. > :55:20.Ghoochannejhad to keep down. The reaction of Emenike as well.

:55:21. > :55:25.You just sense, as do the Iranians are borders, beginning to believe

:55:26. > :55:32.they might see a bit of history, here. They still talk about the day

:55:33. > :55:35.in France, 98, when they beat the USA 2-1, the only time in nine

:55:36. > :55:40.attempts that they have ever won a World Cup match. You can see they

:55:41. > :55:43.are growing in confidence. Carlos Queiroz, just below us, in the

:55:44. > :56:10.technical area, getting very animated.

:56:11. > :56:17.Another Nigeria corner. At from Joseph Yobo, taking a quick free

:56:18. > :56:18.kick. It was a poor ball from Ambrose, actually, but they have got

:56:19. > :56:47.something from it. Haghighi still has his clean sheet

:56:48. > :56:54.in tact. -- intact. Nigeria might need to make a change because Ramon

:56:55. > :56:59.Azeez has a touch of cramp. Peter Odemwingie is going to come on for

:57:00. > :57:10.him. But he will have to wait until after the corner.

:57:11. > :57:23.There was a clash of heads inside the penalty area. Emenike is OK.

:57:24. > :57:39.Pouladi was the uranium player who challenged him. -- Iranians.

:57:40. > :57:47.Ramon Azeez, justice that cap, having made his debut in March,

:57:48. > :57:51.departs. -- just his third cap. Peter Odemwingie had not played for

:57:52. > :57:54.Nigeria for two years, after his fall out with the country's

:57:55. > :58:03.authorities. But he is back in the fold and back on the pitch, the

:58:04. > :58:16.Stoke City man, for his 62nd cap. Yes, that clash of heads, there, a

:58:17. > :58:19.strong challenge from Pouladi. A big chance for Odemwingie. He actually

:58:20. > :58:31.had a decent end to the season. We know he is a threat and can score

:58:32. > :58:35.goals. Yes, you got five -- he got five the Stoke after his January

:58:36. > :58:36.move from Cardiff. He has a little over 20 minutes to influence

:58:37. > :58:54.matters, here. A better delivery and Ameobi! A big

:58:55. > :59:00.chance. Much better, ball played into Odemwingie, good control,

:59:01. > :59:09.played wide to Oshaniwa, and a great ball into the box. Ameobi, expect

:59:10. > :59:12.him to hit the target, there. -- you expect him. It was actually a foul,

:59:13. > :59:18.the referee blowing the whistle just before. It was a chance, though,

:59:19. > :59:24.wasn't it? He has got across his man, looking to hit the target. But

:59:25. > :59:36.from Nigeria. -- better from Nigeria. 20 minutes to go, into it

:59:37. > :59:37.either. -- in Curitiba. Nigeria, desperately trying to break the

:59:38. > :59:49.deadlock. This was the Iran game plan after 70

:59:50. > :59:54.minutes, to be in the game with a clean sheet in tact. Exactly, we

:59:55. > :59:59.spoke about it before the game as well, they have to keep themselves

:00:00. > :00:02.in the match. They are defensively well organised. Certainly, Carlos

:00:03. > :00:08.Queiroz has got the best out of his side were doing that. And they have

:00:09. > :00:11.done the job. -- for doing that. Can they get a set play or a breakaway

:00:12. > :01:11.to get the goal and win themselves the game? That was put again, it

:01:12. > :01:19.really is. It was a simple pass for a Musa. It was a good run by Ambrose

:01:20. > :01:27.on the right-hand side. It is really shocking. You can see the chance

:01:28. > :01:40.again, it was good movement by Shola Ameobi. He does have a couple of

:01:41. > :01:47.international goals to his name. He has scored only five league goals in

:01:48. > :01:51.the last three seasons. Nigeria will not be concerned with it comes from

:01:52. > :01:57.as long as they can find a goal in the remaining 17 minutes. They play

:01:58. > :02:57.Bosnia next before facing Argentina.

:02:58. > :03:21.It is a bit scrappy. Who touches from both sides. -- poor. This is

:03:22. > :03:28.the first yellow card of the game. It goes to the former Morton

:03:29. > :03:30.midfielder. Peter Odemwingie has given them more energy when he's

:03:31. > :03:57.came on. That is the first name in the

:03:58. > :04:03.notebook for the referee from Ecuador. John Obi Mikel with the

:04:04. > :04:25.Nigeria free kick. That was a team effort in the end.

:04:26. > :04:26.It was. It was a quick free kick by Mikel. This time he took a quick

:04:27. > :04:54.one. That was comfortably taken by

:04:55. > :05:29.Enyeama. We are going to have a change soon.

:05:30. > :05:41.That was exciting but Dejagah could not get over it. He just got ahead

:05:42. > :05:46.of the ball, Dejagah. Nigeria with a timely reminder. That is the threat

:05:47. > :05:52.that they carry. You need to get forward and be quick, and PC. You

:05:53. > :06:01.need to get the ball into the box and take it when you get the chance.

:06:02. > :06:13.He has been disappointing, Emunike. He has got pace. Very disappointing.

:06:14. > :06:18.That headed opportunity from Dejagah who plays for Fulham. It is as last

:06:19. > :06:49.opportunity. He will make way. I wonder if Dejagah is sitting down

:06:50. > :07:36.and they are wondering what might have been. It was a big chance for

:07:37. > :07:40.him. There were stories of only 11 players attending training camps.

:07:41. > :07:55.There was a lack of funding from 40s. Even the players kept were

:07:56. > :07:58.shrinking in the wash. -- kit. The players have been told not to swap

:07:59. > :08:09.shirts because replacements are in short supply. We have seen some

:08:10. > :08:14.people changing shirts at half-time. I am sure it will not be the same.

:08:15. > :08:22.They defied the odds to get here and they are doing the same in the

:08:23. > :08:26.opening game. They had clean sheets in qualification. Difficult to break

:08:27. > :08:32.down and difficult to beat. Nigeria have not done enough for me. They

:08:33. > :08:33.have been very poor going forward. They have been very difficult to

:08:34. > :08:54.play against. Very well organised. Is this to be the first goal the

:08:55. > :09:13.scheme of the World Cup finals? -- goalless game.

:09:14. > :09:48.Space is beginning to appear for Iran. Hajsafi getting more influence

:09:49. > :09:52.on this team now. I am running out of things to say about instances

:09:53. > :09:59.like that. That just sums up Nigeria. It was pure touch. There

:10:00. > :10:05.was nobody within ten or 15 yards from home. At this level it is

:10:06. > :10:17.unacceptable. You can see what Stephen Keshi thinks of it. His

:10:18. > :10:20.contract is up at the end of the tournament and any more displays

:10:21. > :10:21.like this then they will not be any debate about whether it should be

:10:22. > :11:00.renewed. That was handball. The referee 's

:11:01. > :11:08.whistle had gone. He says shoulder. Relevant because he did not hit the

:11:09. > :11:10.target. He just took over the, Peter Odemwingie. He just took over the,

:11:11. > :11:25.Peter Odemwingie. They recognise the school temple. -- he recognised the

:11:26. > :11:30.slow tempo. He has looked a bright spark since he has came on.

:11:31. > :11:53.Everybody else in Nigerian side has been very pure around him. -- poor.

:11:54. > :11:59.Again it is Mikel. He is trying to beat a man when he can move the ball

:12:00. > :12:20.from the centre. Give somebody else a chance in space.

:12:21. > :12:27.I just wonder whether the Nigerian players have studied their grip.

:12:28. > :12:36.Bosnia and Argentina still to play. -- studied their group. Getting out

:12:37. > :12:38.of the group is not something the group is not something they did four

:12:39. > :12:45.years ago, they finished bottom of it. The way that Bosnia played

:12:46. > :12:47.against Argentina last night they have got so much going for them on

:12:48. > :13:39.the evidence that we have seen. Very quick Omeruo. I have seen him

:13:40. > :13:40.play at Middlesbrough this season. He has got the ability to play it

:13:41. > :14:10.out. The African champions have fallen

:14:11. > :14:14.below the standards. Iran looked likely to maintain a record of

:14:15. > :14:15.maintaining at least one point from every tournament they have

:14:16. > :14:36.participated in. Iran are quite settled and happy,

:14:37. > :14:50.dropping deeper and deeper. The owners, as it has been from the

:14:51. > :14:59.beginning, on Nigeria. -- onus He was not fouled and he is looking so

:15:00. > :15:46.quickly to the referee. I think he has been poor, I really do.

:15:47. > :15:53.Those supporters have made it a great atmosphere. Events on the

:15:54. > :15:57.pitch have not quite matched it. Yes, a lot of locals, Brazilians

:15:58. > :16:01.coming out to support both sides this evening but you have to say,

:16:02. > :16:05.they have disappointed on the pitch, overall. It is what we

:16:06. > :16:07.expected from Iran, I have to say but I expected a lot more from

:16:08. > :16:20.Nigeria. Two and a half minutes of the 90

:16:21. > :16:50.remaining. Iran, just keeping possession. They

:16:51. > :16:58.just want to get over the line and get a point on the board.

:16:59. > :17:05.John Obi Mikel, running into traffic and gets the free kick. I think he

:17:06. > :17:09.gets lucky again. Again, dwelling on the ball, looking to beat two and

:17:10. > :17:13.three men in the middle of the park. Just move the ball on and give your

:17:14. > :17:21.team-mates a chance. Another change for Iran, sure Jerry, the

:17:22. > :17:28.30-year-old, who places the ball in the Canary Islands with Las Palmas.

:17:29. > :17:38.He is going to replace Heydari on the right-hand side. -- Masoud

:17:39. > :17:42.Shojaei. It is his 51st cap. He is lastly experienced, the substitute.

:17:43. > :17:46.He spent five years in Spain with Osasuna as well. Just a fresh pair

:17:47. > :17:50.of legs that the last couple of minutes. Heydari has done a decent

:17:51. > :17:54.job, certainly defensively. He has not been able to get forward at

:17:55. > :17:55.times but after the initial problems on the right, he did well,

:17:56. > :18:07.supporting his full-back. When we saw there were two

:18:08. > :18:11.full-backs playing in the wide areas of midfield for Iran, there was not

:18:12. > :18:16.any secret to their approach this game. Odemwingie, in the last minute

:18:17. > :18:27.of the 90. That is a bit more inviting towards

:18:28. > :18:34.Ameobi and Pouladi, very importantly, getting ahead of him.

:18:35. > :18:37.Good defending at the far post. He did not have a good body shape,

:18:38. > :18:42.Pouladi, but managed to get something on it. He could not see

:18:43. > :18:49.the attacker coming in behind him. But he got something on it and did

:18:50. > :18:56.well. Yet another Nigerian corner, John Obi Mikel taking it this time.

:18:57. > :19:03.Ameobi's had! Pouladi again in the way. -- header. It has taken 90

:19:04. > :19:09.minutes to put a decent ball in the box for Nigeria. That time, John Obi

:19:10. > :19:12.Mikel taking the corner. The Nigerians want is the late drama.

:19:13. > :19:15.They only have two minutes of stoppage time left to witness it.

:19:16. > :19:22.Back into the penalty area, headed clear by Nekounam. That is

:19:23. > :19:26.comfortable in the end for Haghighi. Yes, comfortable ball

:19:27. > :19:31.played in. Odemwingie, going out, looking for the short corner, just

:19:32. > :19:34.to try to dislodge the uranium defence but they have been

:19:35. > :19:45.comfortable defensively anyway. -- Iranians defence.

:19:46. > :19:53.The uranium substitutes are poised in the technical area to jump onto

:19:54. > :19:57.the pitch. -- Iranians substitutes. From where they have come from,

:19:58. > :20:01.under Carlos Queiroz this would be a significant stride forward. Of

:20:02. > :20:04.course, but this is a late chance for them to put the ball into the

:20:05. > :20:08.Nigerian penalty area. Can they cause problems? The last minute of

:20:09. > :20:18.stoppage time. The whistle had already gone by the

:20:19. > :20:41.time Ameobi defended it. A decent chance, Ameobi coming in at

:20:42. > :20:44.the far post. Again, the first real decent set play Nigeria have taken.

:20:45. > :20:54.Well dealt with, in the end. Well, the African champions cannot

:20:55. > :21:02.get off to a winning start. It is a very big point for Iran. In their

:21:03. > :21:08.World Cup history. The Nigerian supporters are booing. Already, in

:21:09. > :21:15.Group F, Stephen Keshi's team have an uphill task to try to get out of

:21:16. > :21:19.this section. Carlos Queiroz's plan, in the end, sufficient for Iran. We

:21:20. > :21:25.had to have a drawer sooner or later and we had to have a 0-0 soon

:21:26. > :21:26.enough, and it has arrived in Curitiba. But it is a positive

:21:27. > :21:36.result for Iran. STUDIO: This World Cup had seen the

:21:37. > :21:43.longest wait for a draw, 12 games, since the 1930 World Cup. Unlucky

:21:44. > :21:46.13, eight? Iran had more clean sheets than any other nation in

:21:47. > :21:51.qualifying, and Nigeria were the lowest scorers so we should not be

:21:52. > :21:55.surprised. Iran can take satisfaction from their first clean

:21:56. > :21:59.sheet at a World Cup. But Nigeria have no victories in nine games at

:22:00. > :22:03.the tournament, the longest streak of any side in Brazil. Today's

:22:04. > :22:11.result keeps Argentina top of the group with Bosnia bottom. I suppose

:22:12. > :22:16.we were due a bit of a dud? We were. It is knows a bright but before the

:22:17. > :22:19.game, both teams tight defensively. I was disappointed with Nigeria. I

:22:20. > :22:22.thought they liked so much quality. I know they are a young team and

:22:23. > :22:25.Stephen Keshi is trying to rebuild from the golden generation they had

:22:26. > :22:31.in the 90s but I was disappointed with the final product tonight.

:22:32. > :22:34.There were so few genuine goal-scoring opportunities. The

:22:35. > :22:38.decision-making in the final third, when Nigeria got there, was poor.

:22:39. > :22:41.They made the wrong choices and the quality of the ball into the box and

:22:42. > :22:46.the front men was very bad. They did not play to their strengths. It was

:22:47. > :22:51.disappointing to see. It is the first booing we have had as well, as

:22:52. > :22:54.we finished. It is disappointing but we have had a good start to the

:22:55. > :22:58.tournament. You need one sometimes. There was a real lack of quality in

:22:59. > :23:02.the game generally. I thought both teams were poor. You can understand

:23:03. > :23:05.it with Iran but I've got to congratulate them on their point.

:23:06. > :23:10.I'm sure Carlos Queiroz will be very proud. The one saving grace for

:23:11. > :23:13.Nigeria is maybe they are better at counterattacking. They had to try to

:23:14. > :23:16.break a team down today and it looked like they did not have the

:23:17. > :23:19.quality. Against Bosnia and Argentina, you will imagine they

:23:20. > :23:23.will have more of the ball and it might suit Nigeria are bit better.

:23:24. > :23:28.But they will have to pass the ball a lot quicker and better than they

:23:29. > :23:34.did today. Really, they had two half chances, Ameobi headers. It was the

:23:35. > :23:39.first time they got someone in the box, properly, to attack the ball.

:23:40. > :23:44.And it was put in there. It was not whipped in and hit the front man.

:23:45. > :23:48.The first decent move of the game. Yes, quick play, one and two touch,

:23:49. > :23:52.into the danger areas out wide, into the danger area of the box and

:23:53. > :23:56.Ameobi will attack the ball in the right areas. It was not a great

:23:57. > :24:05.header but he made himself available and tried to get across defender.

:24:06. > :24:07.When they brought on Ameobi, this is John Obi Mikel, we spoke at

:24:08. > :24:10.half-time about the slowness in the Nigerian play. John Obi Mikel is the

:24:11. > :24:14.most experienced player and he summed it up, how slow he played.

:24:15. > :24:17.They brought Ameobi on for Victor Moses and I thought they would be

:24:18. > :24:23.direct straight away. When they did, twice, Ameobi nearly got on the end

:24:24. > :24:26.of it. The substitutes, Ameobi and Odemwingie, added a spark but that

:24:27. > :24:33.would not have been hard, given the previous 70 minutes. And Emenike,

:24:34. > :24:38.who I tipped to be a star, Kiss of death again, had an absolute

:24:39. > :24:43.stinker. John Obi Mikel, we showed a clip in the middle, although we did

:24:44. > :24:49.not expect it. You have got a more details look at him. It was

:24:50. > :24:52.laborious at times. Yes, slow and laboured. For such an experienced

:24:53. > :24:59.player, in a game like this, when you get so many people behind the

:25:00. > :25:02.ball, you need to be passing quickly. Six seconds on the ball,

:25:03. > :25:07.but Iran get back into shape. Did not even look to get forward, passes

:25:08. > :25:11.back again. This sums it up, when he gets the ball back and he should be

:25:12. > :25:14.looking to play forward -- he is looking to play forward but it is

:25:15. > :25:19.the wrong time because Iran are back in shape. He did this, not on one

:25:20. > :25:22.occasion but maybe ten occasions in the game. You have to remember, this

:25:23. > :25:26.is the game they should have wanted to go out and win. The next two

:25:27. > :25:30.games will be difficult with better opposition. You would have thought

:25:31. > :25:34.there would be more urgency in their play. That is just speculative, no

:25:35. > :25:39.real opportunity to score. You have got bodies in front of you. It is

:25:40. > :25:40.disappointing. He is an experienced player, played in huge

:25:41. > :25:43.disappointing. He is an experienced player, played in games for Chelsea

:25:44. > :25:49.titles and you would expect him to have a bit more drive and verve. The

:25:50. > :25:53.real winners are Bosnia, really. Exactly. They will look at this game

:25:54. > :25:57.and fancy their chances against both of these teams. They have played the

:25:58. > :26:02.best team in the group, and now they can lick their lips in anticipation

:26:03. > :26:07.for the next two games. I'm not sure Ambrose has benefited too much from

:26:08. > :26:14.your coaching. You can see why I play him at centre-half! I think he

:26:15. > :26:18.plays right back because they want a well structured defence. But he does

:26:19. > :26:21.not have the crossing technique. He's very good at this, looking for

:26:22. > :26:27.the short pass but he cannot cross. He does not have the technique. He

:26:28. > :26:30.has what we call a curly toe. You want it straight but it tends to

:26:31. > :26:36.deviate and die at the end. He has got one of them. That is a

:26:37. > :26:41.magnificent ball to nobody. He has not even looked up. He's just trying

:26:42. > :26:44.to hit an area. This is the thing, they are getting in the final third

:26:45. > :26:49.and this is when the decision-making needs to be on point. Passes the

:26:50. > :26:53.ball and it's bad, out of play. It summed them up, no quality and no

:26:54. > :27:01.quality in the final third. Is in some way, Iran had the game. Yes,

:27:02. > :27:08.you we go. Ghoochannejhad with a good header. Nice header, the keeper

:27:09. > :27:12.was on his toes, high levels of concentration. Even though he did

:27:13. > :27:17.not have much of the ball, you could argue that Iran had probably the

:27:18. > :27:21.better of the chances in this game. -- they did not have. In games like

:27:22. > :27:24.this, you think you are in control and you are going to the goal and

:27:25. > :27:28.you can come unstuck with a chance like this. Maybe his timing was off.

:27:29. > :27:33.He could have got up at the right time, got a header on goal and who

:27:34. > :27:40.knows what can happen? The ball came off at a crazy angle as well. We can

:27:41. > :27:44.hear from Carlos Queiroz now. The first time Iran have a point in the

:27:45. > :27:47.opening game of the World Cup. I'm very happy but it was very

:27:48. > :27:53.difficult. We played against a great team. It was necessary to lay a

:27:54. > :28:00.realistic game. But I think we did well. We fought for everything, for

:28:01. > :28:03.every ball, every space. We played for 90 minutes with one thing in our

:28:04. > :28:10.mind, the first opportunity to try to score. It was a game that I need

:28:11. > :28:24.to praise my players. They deserve to be congratulated. Mission

:28:25. > :28:29.accomplished? The most important thing is that everything is open for

:28:30. > :28:37.us. More than happy with that result. Jan versus USA kicks off at

:28:38. > :28:55.11 p.m.. The African team are in good voice. -- Ghana.

:28:56. > :29:04.Safe to say they did not watch Nigeria versus Iran. We can hear

:29:05. > :29:10.from the former German World Cup winner. Stronger and stronger every

:29:11. > :29:16.year. The domestic league which is so important is just improving. On

:29:17. > :29:20.top of that we have got players in Europe who play in very good leaks.

:29:21. > :29:29.They have got tremendous quality and experience. It is a good mix of men.

:29:30. > :29:34.It is versatile. You have got players from different backgrounds

:29:35. > :29:40.but we have got very good chemistry. It is a huge game. It is six a

:29:41. > :29:44.pointer. You have to start on the right foot. Especially if you've got

:29:45. > :29:52.a group like we have. We want to make sure we are spot on. We need to

:29:53. > :29:56.beat them to continue on the path to Germany. We have got a lot of

:29:57. > :30:02.respect for them because they are a good team and they have beat in the

:30:03. > :30:08.USA in previous World Cups. We want to play against the top teams in the

:30:09. > :30:18.world. He generally plays positive, attacking football. We can expect an

:30:19. > :30:23.exciting game? He will be licking his lips to finished second in the

:30:24. > :30:29.group after Portugal this afternoon. He loves to attack. That is how he

:30:30. > :30:37.plays his game. It is a tough group with the other two sides. If they

:30:38. > :30:43.had been sitting at home watching that game they will be thinking to

:30:44. > :30:48.themselves, we can get at Portugal. They have lost their best

:30:49. > :30:57.centre-half, Pepe. They are capable of beating big teams and they could

:30:58. > :31:07.spring a surprise. They came so close last Ghana time,. They were

:31:08. > :31:12.almost there before and they could believe that they can do it. Do the

:31:13. > :31:18.USA have got strength and depth to challenge? It is a very difficult

:31:19. > :31:22.group to come out of. I am looking forward to seeing him come up

:31:23. > :31:27.against Germany. He changed the face of German football in the middle

:31:28. > :31:34.part of the decade. USA depth, I am not sure. Dan Blocker tool does at

:31:35. > :31:40.half-time about different ways that people can behave on social media,

:31:41. > :31:42.having different opinions. Some players have got involved and we

:31:43. > :32:00.have got some examples. This is the Arsenal striker with a

:32:01. > :32:04.picture with the German Chancellor. And Mario Balotelli has filled a

:32:05. > :32:11.World Cup sticker album all of pictures with himself.

:32:12. > :32:21.He got a good self of humour. He is not self indulgent at all, is he? I

:32:22. > :32:29.loved social media until about 24 hours ago. People want to be closer

:32:30. > :32:38.to the players and that is what Twitter does to you. It is really

:32:39. > :32:42.the first social media World Cup. It does bring players closer to the

:32:43. > :32:50.public. That is why I got involved with it. I wanted to be able to

:32:51. > :32:56.touch the players when I was a kid. What do you do when you finish a

:32:57. > :33:00.game? He was probably having our side in that picture. You get to see

:33:01. > :33:05.personalities and the humour that she did not get to see in the

:33:06. > :33:11.context of a press Conference or a serious interview. You need to be

:33:12. > :33:16.careful as Celtic manager? I was on Twitter for a while but I decided to

:33:17. > :33:23.give it up. I needed to concentrate on my job plus it was a bit abusive.

:33:24. > :33:28.We will be back shortly with an all-star cast. The Black stars

:33:29. > :33:31.against the Stars Stripes.