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HALF TIME: France 0-0 Nigeria
That's an excellent half of football. All it needed was a goal or
two. And so nearly got them. Never mind. Both teams have sparkled in
attack; both have done what needs to be done at the back, just about.
But you wouldn't risk the mortgage on either of them. Unpredictable and
entertaining, just how the World Cup should be. Another 45 minutes of
this, please! Plus 30 of extra time if needs be!
45 min +2: Just before the end of added time, France hoick a
simple up-and-under free kick into the box. Hoof! A bit of head tennis,
and Koscielny might be ready to send the ball whistling goalwards, but
Enyeama fingertips away, and the referee blows for excessive pushing on
France's part anyway.
44 min: Now it's Lloris's turn to make a stunning save! Mikel
shuttles the ball down the right for Emenike, who drifts inside before
whacking a purposeful shot towards the top left. Lloris is behind it to
parry strongly, all he could reasonably do, such was the pace of the
effort. The ball rebounds to Moses, who miscontrols and handles while
he's at it.
42 min: Evra is busy down the left, and his incessant
pressure forces Mikel to slice wildly into the air. Fortunately, despite
being under pressure, Enyeama leaps to collect without fuss. "Amazing
goalkeeping in this tournament," writes Ore Popoola, who is very correct
and can preach on. "Who do you think is the goalkeeper of the
tournament so far? Keylor Navas, Guillermo Ochoa or Vincent Enyeama?"
Heroes all. But I can't clear my head to make a decision. All I can
suddenly think about is Joe Hart, repeatedly nearly beaten at his near
post from corner kicks.
40 min: Valbuena and Debuchy combine down the inside-right, a
good old-fashioned one-two. The latter slams a shot from 12 yards just
right of goal. The nearest anyone's come to a goal, because unlike
Pogba's magnificent volley, Eneyeama was never getting to that.
38 min: Oshaniwa curls a long pass down the left wing and
nearly releases Musa into the area. Varane is forced to batter the ball
behind for a corner. The set piece flies over everyone's head and out
for a goal kick on the right. But Evra receives a little lecture from
the referee, having been a bit hands on with Odemwingie. Strange, the
way referees do this. He was either fouling him, or he wasn't. Anyway,
Evra's doing some of his top-drawer scowling, I'm not convinced he
totally agrees with the ref's analysis.
35 min: Pogba looks highly dangerous every time he receives
possession. First he twists and turns on the edge of the D before
attempting to release Valbuena down the right with a diagonal scoop. Not
quite, as Nigeria swarm around the Frenchman. Then Pogba tries to open
up Nigeria with a sliderule pass into the box from deep down the right
channel, but Matuidi has gone too early, and there's a bit too much pace
on the ball as well.
33 min: Perhaps the quietest minute since kick off, as France
ping it around the middle in a very patient manner. Eventually the ball
bounds through the Nigerian area from left to right, and finds Debuchy
in space, 12 yards out, just to the right of goal. The full back lashes a
wild effort deep into the stand. Skelp! I think after those 60 seconds
of mellow, we're safely back in Manic mode now.
32 min: This is a game of such end-to-end fervour that corners are not even news any more. Both teams earn one, both teams waste them.
29 min: Giroud is flinging his arms around in the extravagant
style. He is French, I suppose. But those elbows are flying very close
to Mikel's face! The referee has a word, Giroud might have scraped one
in Mikel's boat, but there doesn't seem to be any vicious intent. Still,
careful with those, will you! Meanwhile, unlike kick-off's Simon
McMahon, Phil Sawyer is not off to France on Thursday. "I do, however,
have France in the sweepstake at work," he writes, "so I got myself into
the spirit of things today by having some brie and grapes at lunch
time. Has your other reader ever made a more desultory attempt to
demonstrate their support for a team? Incidentally, my support should
ensure les Bleus go crashing out tonight. Perhaps best that I'm not off to France on Thursday."
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Henry Winter
Alan Hansen
Michael Owen
Jim White
Jason Burt
