The 2014 FIFA World Cup draw took place in Brazil yesteday and Nigeria will play against Argentina, Iran and Bosnia-something. Nigeria's opening game will be against Iran and even though Bosnia looks like it will be an easy game for us, the country is ranked higher than Nigeria in the world. They are ranked 21st, while Nigeria is ranked 36th, it's so sure we'll qualify alongside Messi's Argentina.SEE MORE AFTER CUT>>>>
As it happened
In Summary
GROUP A: Brazil, Croatia, Mexico, Cameroon
GROUP B: Spain, Netherlands, Chile, Australia
GROUP C: Colombia, Greece, Ivory Coast, Japan
GROUP D: Uruguay, Costa Rica, England, Italy
GROUP E: Switzerland, Ecuador, France, Honduras
GROUP F: Argentina, Bosnia, Iran, Nigeria
GROUP G: Germany, Portugal, Ghana, USA
GROUP H: Belgium, Algeria, Russia, South Korea
Reported by
Tom Rostance
1852:
And that is that boys and girls.
Those 188 days before the opener of Brazil v Croatia will fly by now, and it's World Cup fever all round.
Thanks a lot for your company and of course stay tuned for all the reaction. The Premier League's back today as well...
1850:
PSYCHIC SPAIN
Spain manager Vicente del Bosque said he predicted his side would be drawn against Netherlands. La Roja begin the defence of their title against the Dutch in Salvador on June 13 before facing Chile and Australia. Del Bosque's side beat the Dutch to win the World Cup for the first time in 2010 thanks to Andres Iniesta's extra-time winner.
"I said this morning we were going to get Holland and we did, in the first game no less," he told Spanish TV station Cuatro.
"Holland have changed a little bit, especially in the middle of the park, but they still have (Arjen) Robben, (Robin) Van Persie, (Rafael) Van der Vaart and (Wesley) Sneijder."
That will be a cracker...
1844:
Former England manager Graham Taylor on BBC Radio 5 live
"We do not play our football in the heat of the summer, and after having had a really long season, it is never easy for our players to come into these tournaments with the weather.
"You must also make sure the players do not get bored. You must get your organisation right, and Roy Hodgson is very good at that.
"I have a lot of time for Roy. He has had experience at a previous World Cup with Switzerland in 1994, and he will prepare them in the best possible fashion."
1839:
As Dan hints at there, there is the possibility that England's opener in Manaus against Italy could be switched by Fifa and swapped with Uruguay v Costa Rica. A possibility, That's all. But it would suit the European audience and sponsors and broadcasters to move it. Watch this space as the man Walker says...
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