Sweden 1 – 0 South Korea (Group F)

Belgium 3 – 0 Panama (Group G)

Tunisia 1 – 2 England (Group G)

Croatia forward Nikola Kalinic has been sent home from the World Cup after he refused to come on as a substitute during the 2-0 defeat of Nigeria. The 30-year-old cannot be replaced, meaning Croatia will have to make do with only 22 players for the rest of the tournament. AC Milan’s Kalinic said he had a back injury, having complained of the same problem in the friendly loss to Brazil. Coach Zlatko Dalic said: “I need my players fit and ready to play.”

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Iceland palyers has sent a message of support to ailing Nigeria’s first choice goalkeeper, Carl Ikeme.  The Wolverhampton Wanderers goalkeeper who would have been one of the first names on Rohr’s 23-man roster. Ikeme was left out of the Super Eagles squad as he is still recovering from leukemia. Ikeme has a cordial relationship with Iceland’s Jón Daði Böðvarsson, who played on the same team with him during the 2016-2017 season. The 26-year-old Böðvarsson played 48 games for Wolves two seasons ago, scoring three goals, while Ikeme was active in 33 games in all competitions. Sharing a photo of Iceland national team shirt with “Ikeme” printed on the back, on Twitter, Böðvarsson wrote, ”All of us in @footballiceland are with you @Carl_Ikeme 👊🏻❤.”

Costa Rica 0 – 1 Serbia (Group E)

Germany 0 – 1 Mexico (Group F)

Brazil 1 – 1  Switzerland (Group E)

France 2 – 1 Australia (Group C)

Argentina 1 – 1 Iceland (Group D)

Peru 0 – 1 Denmark (Group C)

Croatia 2 – 0 Nigeria (Group D)

Friday 15 June

Egypt 0 – 1 Uruguay (Group A)

Morocco 0 – 1 Iran (Group B)

Portugal 3 – 3 Spain (Group B)

Thursday 14 June

Russia 5 – 0 Saudi Arabia (Group A)

It wouldn’t be the World Cup if we didn’t dispense with experts, odds, analysis, form etc and put the fates of teams into the hands, tentacles or trunks of animals. At the 2010 World Cup it was Paul the Octopus. This time Marcus the Pig has picked the four semi finalists for Russia 2018 world cup – Nigeria, Argentina, Belgium and Uruguay.  Achilles the Psychic Cat has called the opener in favour of Russia (against Saudi Arabia), and Nelly the Elephant looks to pick up where she left off four years ago. Nelly has predicted a win for Germany in their opening group game of the 2018 World Cup against Mexico. We are watching.

No football in Kaliningrad, Russia until Saturday when the Super Eagles of Nigeria face Croatia. Preparations are continuing at pace as everyone is trying to get their work done in time to watch the big kick off 1,200km always in Moscow.

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Manchester:

10 November: Manchester City vs Manchester United, Etihad.

16 March: Manchester United vs Manchester City, Old Trafford.

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Arsenal will play Manchester City and Chelsea in their opening two matches of the 2018/19 Premier League season. New Gunners boss Unai Emery will host defending champions City first up. The season kicks off on Saturday 11 August.

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A general view of the Luzhniki Stadium ahead of today’s opening game.

Hope we are ready. 64 matches, 32 teams. 11 cities, four different time zones. Russia 2018 – it all begins today.

Good luck to the Super Eagles of Nigeria!

Click here for the world cup fixtures.

Marcus, the famous psychic pig that predicted President Donald Trump’s victory, has picked Nigeria, Argentina as semi-finalists for the 2018 World Cup. The black micro pig had previously guessed correctly the winner of the 2014 World Cup and the Wimbledon tennis finals by picking apples. It even predicted that Donald Trump would win the US presidential election against Hilary Clinton. Now, Mystic Marcus has predicted the semi-finalists for this summer’s World Cup in Russia. The owner, Juliette Stevens told UK Daily Mail that Mystic Marcus has a 100% winning record.

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Spain have appointed Real Madrid and Spain defender Fernando Hierro as Julen Lopetegui’s replacement for the World Cup in Russia. Hierro’s last job in management was with Spanish Segunda side Real Oviedo back in 2017, where he guided them to an eighth-place finish.

The United bid of USA, Canada and Mexico have won the right to host the 2026 World Cup. The bid won with 134 of the 200 eligible votes. This amounts to 67% of the vote. Morocco received 65 votes or 33%. One nation (Togo) voted for neither. US Soccer president Carlos Cordeiro reacts to news his country will stage the 2026 World Cup alongside Canada and Mexico: “Thank you so, so much for this incredible honour. Thank you for entrusting us with this privilege. “We are all united in football, the beautiful game transcends borders and cultures. Football today is the only victor.”

The Spanish Football Federation has just confirmed it has sacked Julen Lopetegui as manager, little more than 24 hours before the World Cup begins. Spanish Football Federation (SFF) president Luis Rubiales explains that the SFF only knew he was joining Real Madrid after the World Cup, five minutes before it was announced he would join the Champions League winners. “We have been forced to dispense with the national coach. We wish you the greatest of luck,” said Rubiales. “The negotiation has occurred without any information to the RFEF. Just five minutes before the press release. There’s a way to act that needs to be fulfilled.”

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The Super Eagles have arrived in Russia ahead of the 2018 FIFA World Cup. The players and coaches landed in their Essentuki base late on Monday night at about 11pm Nigerian time. Their arrival time was affected by slight delays in their flight from Austria, where they had been training following their friendly matches. The players and coaches landed in their Essentuki base late on Monday night at about 11pm Nigerian time.
Their arrival time was affected by slight delays in their flight from Austria, where they had been training following their friendly matches.

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Super Eagles of Nigeria today lost by a lone goal to Czech Republic in their final warm up game played in Austria. The match started at 2pm Nigerian time. Czech’s goal was scored by Tomas Kalas in the 25th minute. Nigeria started the game with Francis Uzoho in goal and with Shehu Abdullahi, William Troost-Ekong, Leon Balogun and Brian Idowu all in the defensive positions. The midfield had John Ogu, Wilfred Ndidi and Mikel Obi. Victor Moses, Alex Iwobi and Odion Ighalo all started in the attacking positions.

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Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola “often has problems with Africans”, says ex-Blues midfielder Yaya Toure. The Ivorian, who left City in May after eight years at the club, says he wants to “break the myth” about Guardiola, whom he describes as “jealous”. “Maybe we Africans are not always treated by some in the same way as others,” said Toure in an interview with France Football.

You can’t wait for the world cup to start right? Get all the fixtures in Nigerian time.

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Nigeria

Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho (Deportivo La Coruna), Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Enyimba), Daniel Akpeyi (Chippa United).

Defenders: William Troost-Ekong, Abdullahi Shehu (both Bursaspor), Tyronne Ebuehi (Benfica), Elderson Echiejile (Cercle Brugge), Bryan Idowu (Amkar Perm), Chidozie Awaziem (Porto), Leon Balogun (Brighton), Kenneth Omeruo (Chelsea).

Midfielders: Mikel John Obi (Tianjin Teda), Ogenyi Onazi (Trabzonspor), Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester), Oghenekaro Etebo (CD Feirense), John Ogu (Hapoel Be’er Sheva), Joel Obi (Torino, Italy).

Forwards: Ahmed Musa, Kelechi Iheanacho (both Leicester), Victor Moses (Chelsea), Odion Ighalo (Changchun Yatai), Alex Iwobi (Arsenal), Simeon Nwankwo (Crotone).

Continue to check out all the players going to Russia. It’s gonna be fun….

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