Past and Present In Brazil

Pix by:worldcupzones.com

Nigeria Sports Arena welcomes you to another edition of Past and Present in Brazil. We usually take a cursory look at the previous games and the upcoming ones in the Samba land.

The 2014 World Cup have produced avalanche of goals of about 113 only in the group stages with few games to round off the pool stages and breeze into the Round of 16.

World Cup host, Brazil and other seven countries are in the next round already.

Unarguably, the 2014 World Cup is full of upset, two great teams, Italy and England were knocked out of the tournament to join the likes of Spain, Croatia and Cameroon,  although the English team were mathematically out before the last game in Group D. Ivory Coast were dispatched last night 2-1 by Greece in a fierce encounter, thus making  the second African team to leave the big event.

Greece made it to the last 16 of the World Cup for the first time with a controversial win over Ivory Coast via a questionable spot kick converted by Georgios Samaras who was adjudged to have been fouled by Sio Giovanni in the injury-time. Game ended 2-1.

Colombia finished strong and top the Group C with nine points as they dealt with Japan in five goals thriller courtesy of goals from Cuadrado who got the opener through penalty kick in the 17th minute of play, the Japanese responded well to the goal in added period of first-half as Okazaki drew level and brought the Asian team back into the contest, before Jackson Martinez hit target twice in the 55 and 85 minutes to deepen their opponent chance of progressing, we all thought it will end in a 3-1 win but we were stunned when Rodriguez got on the score sheet when he chipped in the ball to wrap up the game.

England played out barren draw against Costa Rica at the Estadio Mineirão in Belo Horizonte on Tuesday, the English team were unable to win a match from three games in Group D and the implication of that is so audible to the deaf and visible to the blind.

Four-time World Cup winners were sent packing by a late winner as Diego Godin broke the deadlock in the 81st minute of the game. The game witnessed another abnormality in the World of  Football as Luis Suarez was reportedly involved in a carnivorous act.

Today's Fixtures

Four games will go down today at four match venues in Brazil.

Group E
Ecuador vs France
Les Bleus have nothing spectacular to play for in this game, they have made the cut to the Knockout round with six points from two games. Ecuador have everything to play in this one they need the avaliable three points to cement their place in the last 16 anything short of victory will be a bad result for them.

Honduras vs Switzerland
It is a must win affair for The Schweizer Nati if they really want to make progress in Brazil, they needed the maximum points in this game, they already had three points from two games. Honduras on the other hand are yet to record a point, win or loose for the them will make no difference.

Group F
Bos-Herce vs Iran
The Dragons are finding it difficult to show like a million star, they have tasted defeat twice, they are the only team in this pool without a point. Iran are optimistic of qualifying to the next round they were beaten 1-0 in their last game by Argentina.  They will be looking forward to a win and pray for an emphatic victory for Argentina over Nigeria.

Nigeria vs Argentina

Stephen Keshi and his Boys are confident of a triumphant outing this evening when they meet with Argentina. The Super Eagles have garnered four points from two games, a win will be healthy enough to see them through to the Knockout stages. La Albicelestes on the other hand have also amassed six points from two games with one man pulling the trigger for them, they are good to go to the next as far as Group F is concerned.

The following are the countries in the round of 16.

Group A
Brazil
Mexico

Group B
Netherlands
Chile

Group C
Colombia
Greece

Group D
Costa Rica
Uruguay.

Which team do you think would join them to complete the mark?