Bukas Blog

Surely the Super Eagles now are flying into their last match with Argentina with a real chance of progressing to the last 16. Nigerians can put a smile on their faces. When defensively-minded teams are forced to go offensive it becomes more and more difficult for them and Nigeria picked them off superbly in the […]

Heartbreaking for Costa Rica, who are exiting the World Cup after some valiant defending. Brazil take full advantage of an exposed Costa Rica defence as Douglas Costa crosses from the left and Neymar volleys home from close range. They made hard work of it, but got the job done in the end. Brazil secure their […]

It’s getting a bit Messi for Argentina now. Could it be adios from the World Cup for them? Well, one diminuitive number 10 who bosses it in La Liga has shone on the biggest stage tonight, and it isn’t Lionel Messi. Luka Modric, the conductor of Real Madrid, takes the ball 25 yards from goal […]

All over, Luis Suarez’s first-half goal wins it. Uruguay and Russia into the knockout stages, Egypt and Saudi Arabia heading home. Uruguay are very resilient in the way they play. With Edinson Cavani and Luis Suarez they can score goals. They are my dark horses for the competition. They have put in a real strong […]

Morocco are out as Cristiano Ronaldo now has his fourth goal of the World Cup and it’s some truly woeful marking. Well there is no marking! A short corner is rolled to Joao Moutinho, he curls it in and Ronaldo is free, about six yards out, to bury a diving header. Morocco were beaten by […]

Croatia, 20th in the Fifa rankings, finished third in 1998 in what was their first appearance at the World Cup. That squad featured Suker, Bilic, Prosinecki (loved a cigarette in the shower), Boban, Jarni, Simic, Stimac, Tudor… and Silvio Maric – fondly remembered by Newcastle fans. They have since failed to progress past the group […]

Paul Pogba at the heart of this crucial French goal. He links with Olivier Giroud and latches onto the return on the edge of the area but his flick deflects the ball onto Aziz Behich. It floats over Mat Ryan and crosses the line off the underside of the bar. The good old Video Assistant […]

The most remarkable element that identify a fake Nigeria kit are the collar – the stripe from the sleeves are seamlessly continued on the sleeves, the white stripes of Nigerian flag is thinner than the green ones.    

The players have emerged from the tunnel to the tune of Seven Nation Army. The captains, Sergio Ramos and Cristiano Ronaldo, are Real Madrid team-mates but haven’t even looked at each other. Portugal, the ‘home’ team, are in their traditional red currant. Spain are all in white. Spain subs: Daniel Carvajal, Saul Niguez, Rodrigo Moreno, […]