Monday, June 30, 2014

Live updates: France Vs Nigeria - Football World Cup 2014 - 3News NZ

Hello and welcome to coverage of Brazil taking on Chile in the World Cup round of 16 action from the Estádio Nacional de Brasilia, Brasília.

France face a side that pushed Argentina in their last game and who won't be afraid to fight if push comes to shove. Nigeria know they can score goals now with Ahmed Musa firing.

France were held to a goalless draw by Ecuador in their last game out and will be looking to return to scoring ways.

We bring you live streaming written commentary, video highlights (be sure to refresh your browser) and all the action. ALL VIDEO NOW UP.

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LIVE COMMENTARY… France 2 – 0 Nigeria

FULLTIME: It's all over! FRANCE ARE THROUGH!

94 Min: Sissoko comes on late and he'll only play for about 90 seconds...

90 Min: Another late corner for France who will most likely keep this one there...But they don't, Valbuena crosses in low and Griezmann finishes! GOAL!

90 Min: Five minutes of added time! Can Nigeria pull one back??

87 Min: Another corner for the French and Pogba's goal means we've already had more goals in this World Cup than through out the entire 2010 tournament.

82 Min: Wonderful ball down the left for Griezmann who is onside! Griezmann has a shot from the left of the box! Keeper makes another great save!

78 Min: Another corner for France, Enyeama comes out and punches it to Pogba at the back post who heads it home! GOAL! FINALLY!

77 Min: Free-kick to France whipped into the box and Benzema meets it with his head! Enyeama with another wonderful save!!

76 Min: Valbuena puts in the corner and it's fallen to Benzema at the back post and he shoots across goal! Ambrose clears which falls to Pogba who shoots! Off the crossbar! Nigeria living dangerously!

75 Min: Pogba continues to drive through the middle as he skips away from a few defenders. Gives it to Griezmann who rips in a cross which Enyeama has to five off his line to save and it's a corner to France...

73 Min: Benzema getting keen now as he has a shot from distance but drags it wide.

72 Min: We've come very close to goals and now that's all this game needs!

70 Min: Benzema nice dribble, beats two defenders and plays the one-two at the top of the box and Benzema is in! Benzema's shot is saved by the keeper but the ball bobbles towards the line and Victor Moses is there to clear it away! What a chance!

68 Min: Great ball from deep for Musa into the box and he goes to the byline and fires a low cross for Emenike! Koscielny clears it behind for a corner...Odemwingie puts into the box but it's over everyone's head and away.

66 Min: Valbuena delivers the freekick which is aimed at the back post for Benzema but Nigeria clear back to Valbuena who goes to the byline and delivers another cross and Enyeama comes out to punch it but misses! Ball falls to Pogba! No, Ambrose just gets a touch to nick it away!

65 Min: Pogba goes down and milks a free-kick on the wing...

64 Min: France looking reall lacklustre on attack. Nigeria win the ball back and Odemwingie cuts across the top of the box and finds space for the shot! Saved by Lloris!

62 Min: Nigeria have been on the front foot for awhile now. Matuidi fouls Odemwingie who will have a chance to put this in the box which they do early but there's no Nigerian attackers in the middle to aim for.

62 Min: Olivier Giroud's day is over as Antoine Griezmann comes on for the Arsenal striker.

61 Min: Ball breaks for Ambros who passes to Emenike who tries to dink a cross into the box but the ball isn't strong enough and is headed away.

60 Min: Emenike brings the ball down on the left. Cuts inside and takes a shot at goal but he can't keep it down.

58 Min: Touch to Odemwingie in plenty of space down the right! Fires in a cross which Koscielny deals with! Turns out Azeez isn't coming on but instead Gabriel is.

56 Min: Corner for Nigeria and Azeez still isn't on...Odemwingie delivers but France clear with ease.

55 Min: So, Onazi who was injrued in the first half but stayed on, is definitely coming off this time afte that Matuidi tackle. He's loaded up onto the stretcher and Azeez replaces him.

54 Min: Matuidi is shown the first yellow card of the match after flying in on Onazi.

53 Min: Varane seems to have gotten himself caught up in the goal net and the physios comes on because he has gone down injured. France playing with 10 men at the moment.

52 Min: Nigeria nice move finds Moses down the right, gives it to Ambrose who flicks it back to Moses in the box! Moses tries to juggle the ball over the defender and eventually loses it when he had the shot on.

50 Min: France win a corner...Benzema gets up and nearly gets his head on it!

48 Min: Nigeria storm forward with Moses down the right who delivers a dangerous low pass into the box! Put behind for a corner...Odemwingie takes it and it's headed away by the first defender.

47 Min: Giroud wins the ball back down in the corner and delivers a poor cross wasting a decent opportunity.

46 Min: France kick-off and we're back into it!

HALFTIME: The ref brings a close to the first half and what a half it was! One offside goal, one offside sitter, one wonderful save by Enyeama and a lot of end-to-end play! Join us for all the action from the second half in 15 minutes.

47 Min: Nigeria concede a late free-kick and France have the opportunity to whip this one into the box...Valbuena delivers and it's a decent free-kick! Ball headed straight up! Enyeama comes out to claim it but Koscielny heads it ahead of him to an offside player.

46 Min: Moses go down after running into Matuidi on the edge of the box but the ref doesn't award anything.

44 Min: Emenike in some space down the right, has Odemwingie in support but smashes a shot at goal instead! Lloris saves right into the path of Moses! Who was offside...

42 Min: Brilliant ball from Matuidi through for Debuchy who manages to keep the ball in play with a cross but it's over everyone's head in the middle.

41 Min: Evra and Giroud link up down the left and Evra pulls the ball back for Benzema but Mikel slices the clearance into the arms of his own keeper.

40 Min: Pogba dances away from his man in the midfield and again goes on one of those brilliant drives. Plays it wide to Valbuena who gves it back inside for Debuchy storming into the box! Debuchy hits it first time! Well wide.

38 Min: Oshaniwa plays a tantalising ball into the box for Emenike to chase and Varane is forced to put it behind for a corner...Musa delivers and Yobo nearly gets his head on to it but it goes behind for a goal kick.

36 Min: Valbuena loses the ball after being surrounded by defenders. Nigeria try to break and Mikel plays it to Odemwingie out on the right but the French defence deal with him.

35 Min: Pogba breaks through the middle! Terrible pass straight to the Nigerian defence who give the ball right back to him! Pogba plays it out wide right to Debuchy in space! But the pass has a little too much weight on it.

34 Min: Evra with a deep cross, only Giroud to aim for the and the ball is over him, falls to Debuchy out the back who shoots! Slices it wide.

33 Min: Valbuena to Pogba to Debuchy on the right but for once he doesn't have any room down there...

32 Min: France goes down the other end and Matuidi wins a corner which is floated to the back post and away for a throw in.

31 Min: Another inviting cross by Moses has to be headed behind for a corner. Corner again not effectively dealt with and Lloris is forced to come out and take the ball out of the air.

30 Min: Odemwingie up to Emenike who holds the ball up nicely and gives it off to Odemwingie again! Odemwingie shoots! Blocked by a defender.

29 Min: Giroud sends a little elbow at Mikel off the ball. Referee steps in to tell them to cut it out.

28 Min: Pogba launches a shot from deep in midfield but it's dragged into the box and blocked by Yobo, nearly falls for Benzema! Cleared away.

27 Min: Debuchy finds space down the right again and puts in the cross! But it's too high for Benzema in the middle.

26 Min: Moses wins another corner for Nigeria...

Headed away by Giroud to Valbuena in plenty of space and ready to counter...but he's fouled and it's a free-kick to France.

25 Min: Nigeria regather and Moses has the ball down the right, whips a cross in and it's headed into the air by Koscielny before Lloris gets up and saves.

24 Min: Corner to Nigeria now...It's flat and a poor one and France clear.

23 Min: Corner to France...Valbuena puts it in but Nigeria head to safety.

22 Min: Pogba strides forward and beats his man in the middle, gives it out wide right to Debuchy who crosses it back to Pogba with the volley!! Stunning save by Eneyeama!

21 Min: Giroud takes the ball down and gives it back to Valbuena who curls in a lovely ball and Benzema is in the open in front of goal! Misses the cross! His blushes are spared because it was offside anyway.

20 Min: Debuchy fails to deal with a cross and Musa puts in a great ball for Emenike! Emenike toes it into the back of the net!!! NO, The flag has been raised and that is offside by the most fractional of margins!

19 Min: Pogba delivers a high foot to the face of Moses and is penalised.

18 Min: Terrible free-kick from Emenike is blasted over.

17 Min: Great touch from Musa down the left. Crosses to Odemwingie back in the midfield and Matuidi comes flying out of nowhere and bundles Odemwingie over 24 yards out and right in front of goal.

16 Min: Valbuena slips the ball down the left for Benzema who passes to Giroud at the top of the box but the pass is behind him. Giroud tries to make space for the shot but he blazes it over the bar. Onazi is back on for Nigeria.

15 Min: Nigeria free-kick to the back post and Mikel is free! Can't do anything with the header though and Lloris claims the ball.

14 Min: Onazi has stayed down after that challenge on Pogba and he's been stretchered off. Nigeria going to play with 10 men for now.

13 Min: Pogba charges forward from midfield to the edge of the box but he's gone down under a challenge and the ref says all good. Meanwhile Nigeria head back down the other end of the pitch and Emenike is fouled by Cabaye in the corner. Free-kick in a good position for Nigeria.

12 Min: Sweeping ball to Emenike from the back but Koscielny is equal to it and heads away.

9 Min: Mikel gets possession in the middle and gives it to Emenike and Nigeria are on a 3 on 3 break but the final ball is poor and nothing comes of it.

8 Min: Mikel gets away from his man in the middle, turns on the ball and plays a nice ball down the wing for Moses! But there's a tad too much weight on that pass.

7 Min: Nigeria quick to close down Giroud through the middle...and Musa is working really hard on defence.

6 Min: Odemwingie with the ball down the right and his lofted cross is nice into the area! Musa can't control it and loses the ball in a good position.

5 Min: Pogba passes to Matuidi who goes left to Giroud who goes to the byline and plays it back inside for Matuidi! Yobo cuts the pass out and puts it out for a corner...Whipped in by Valbuena and its a goal kick.

4 Min: First corner and it's for Nigeria...Musa delivers and the ball is cleared away with ease.

3 Min: Here come the French and they pass the ball nicely from one side to the other before Debuchy passes into the box and the ball almost falls to Benzema before it's nicked away by Yobo.

2 Min: Debuchy makes the first attacking run and and looks like he is fouled by Musa but nothing given.

1 Min: Nigeria kick-off and we are underway!

Evra and Pogba on yellows ahead of the match while Mikel, Omeruo and Oshaniwa are all on yellows for Nigeria.

Odemwingie with a cheeky wink to the camera during Nigeria's national anthem...Rousing stuff from both teams!

Please stand for the national anthems.

These two sides have only ever met once in a friendly. The players walk out on to the pitch!

It was decided before the game that there won't be any cooling breaks despite the temperature on the pitch reaching 30 degrees.

The teams take their places in the tunnel!

Whenever France have survived the group stage in their last four World Cups, they've gone on to make a final. That's a great stat to have on your side.

Can Nigeria join the likes of Senegal and Cameroon today to reach the World Cup quarterfinals? It's a tough ask against France.

It is a sunny day today with temperatures getting up there. Not as much humidity in Fortaleza but we may see more cooling breaks in today's game.

Seems like France have gone for experience with their line-up today. Griezmann and Schneiderlin are gone for Giroud and Cabaye. They'll be hoping experience can get them the goals they lacked against Ecuador.

Kick-off isn't far away but in the meantime you can watch the latest episode of 4-4-2 with all of the hottest topics from the World Cup and more.

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Teams:

France: Lloris, Debuchy, Varane, Koscielny, Evra, Pogba, Cabaye, Matuidi, Valbuena, Giroud, Benzema

Subs: Landreau, Mavuba, Sagna, Remy, Ruffier, Sakho, Schneiderlin, Sissoko, Mangala, Cabella, Griezmann, Digne

Nigeria: Enyeama, Ambrose, Yobo, Oshaniw, Omeruo, Musa, Onazi, Obi-Mikel, Moses, Odemwingie, Emenike

Subs: Ameobi, Ejide, Uchebo, Nwofor, Azeez, Agbim, Oboabona, Egwuek, Gabriel, Uzoenyi, Odunlami

Pregame Banter:

By Tom Williams

After flashes of magnificent football in the group phase, France will look to confirm their World Cup credentials in their last-16 tie against Nigeria.

In previous World Cups, France have always reached at least the semi-finals after qualifying from the group phase, but circumspection has become the order of the day in the French camp this week.

While Didier Deschamps's side garnered plaudits by sweeping past Honduras 3-0 and crushing Switzerland 5-2, a much-changed team could only draw 0-0 in their final Group E fixture against Ecuador on Wednesday (Thursday AEST).

Both Bacary Sagna and Morgan Schneiderlin suggested that France were potential champions after the stalemate at the Maracana, but centre-back Laurent Koscielny has since introduced a note of caution as Les Bleus prepare for Monday's game in Brasilia.

It is only seven months since France had to overcome a 2-0 deficit to beat Ukraine in their qualifying play-off and the Arsenal defender says that it would be unwise to look too far ahead.

"The first objective was to get through the group phase. Now it's to go as far as possible," he said.

"We are competitors and we are ambitious, but we know that we have opponents against us and that we might lose.

"We're aware of our qualities. Something changed after the Ukraine game, but anything is possible in a knockout match and for the moment we're only focusing on the last 16."

Koscielny could line up in central defence alongside Raphael Varane at the Mane Garrincha National Stadium as Mamadou Sakho is doubtful due to a thigh injury.

The Liverpool centre-back, who avoided punishment from FIFA despite appearing to elbow Ecuador's Oswaldo Minda, had to go off in the 61st minute of Wednesday's game and trained on his own on Saturday.

Yohan Cabaye will come into the team in place of Schneiderlin after missing the Ecuador game due to suspension, but Paul Pogba's place is under threat from Moussa Sissoko.

Having been rested against Ecuador, Mathieu Valbuena is also in line to return, while Deschamps must choose between Antoine Griezmann and Olivier Giroud to complete France's front line alongside Karim Benzema.

Nigeria's preparations for the game were disrupted by a dispute over bonuses, an issue which delayed the squad's arrival at last year's Confederations Cup, but the matter was resolved following the reported intervention of Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan.

After a laborious 0-0 draw with Iran in their opening game, Stephen Keshi's side booked their place in the last 16 by edging Bosnia-Herzegovina 1-0 and then impressed in a 3-2 loss against Argentina.

CSKA Moscow winger Ahmed Musa twice produced immediate replies to goals from Lionel Messi, only for Argentina left-back Marcos Rojo to net a 50th-minute winner.

"We need to defend well, take our chances up front and learn from the Argentina game," Musa told BBC Sport.

"In the second round, it's winner takes all. I know with hard work and God's support we shall make history.

"But prayers without hard work is nothing, so we need to be at our best against France to make it happen."

Chelsea forward Victor Moses missed the Argentina game due to a muscular complaint, but he trained with the squad in Brasilia on Saturday.

Winger Michael Babatunde is out after his wrist was fractured by a shot from teammate Ogenyi Onazi during the match against Argentina, but Keshi has an otherwise fully fit squad to choose from.

France will hope to get the better of a familiar foe in the shape of Nigeria goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama, who went 1,062 minutes without conceding a goal for Lille in Ligue 1 last season.

It will be Nigeria's first World Cup knockout match since the 1998 tournament in France and victory would see the West African nation reach the quarter-finals for the first time in their history.

3 News/AFP

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