Author: Brila

Brazilian referee, Sandro Ricci, will alongside two compatriots and two Spaniards, handle Nigeria’s opening Group D game against Croatia at Kaliningrad on Saturday in World Cup in Russia. Ricci will have Emerson de Carvalho as his First Assistant Referee (AR1) and Marcelo van Gasse as Second Assistant Referee (AR2), both Brazilians. Antonio Mateu and Pao Cebrian, both Spaniards, will be the Fourth Official and Reserve Assistant Referee (RAR), respectively. Nigeria vs Croatia match is one of four matches slated for Saturday at the World Cup which got underway on Thursday, with Argentina facing Croatia in the other Group D match.…

Croatia Coach Zlatko Dalic is confident he has the perfect mix of youth and experience as his team gear up for their World Cup Group D opener against Nigeria on Saturday. Croatia have failed to advance past the group stage since their debut as an independent country at the 1998 World Cup in France, where they finished third. Although drawn in a tough group in Russia with Argentina, Nigeria, and Iceland, they believe they have what it takes to make the knockout rounds. Labeled as the best Croatian squad since the 1998 group, they will once again need to deal…

Cristiano Ronaldo’s late free-kick has earned Portugal a point in their opening 2018 World Cup fixture, as the European champions played out a thrilling 3-3 draw with Spain. Ronaldo had already netted two first-half goals to put his side ahead, only for Diego Costa to score either side and Nacho – at fault for the Selecao’s opener – to complete the stunning turnaround. On his 36th outing at a major international tournament, however, Ronaldo sent a free kick up and over the wall to beat David de Gea for a third time, meaning the spoiled were shared at the Fisht Olympic Stadium. Prior to that late twist, Spain through…

Super Eagles captain John Obi Mikel says he is not worried about the prospect of potentially encountering racism in Russia at the FIFA World Cup. FIFA fined the Russian Football Union £22,000 after France internationals Paul Pogba and Ousmane Dembele were subjected to racist abuse during a March friendly against the World Cup hosts in St Petersburg. Speaking to the reporters in today’s Press Conference ahead of the Croatia game, Mikel said: “No, I think everyone has been really nice,” the former Chelsea midfielder told reporters. “In the hotel, in the camp, everywhere has been amazing. “The Russian people have been really…

President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Mr. Amaju Pinnick has once again expressed his confidence in the Super Eagles team ahead of tomorrow’s showdown against Croatia. Pinnick spoke to reporters during a Lunchtime with the Super Eagles squad on Friday said the team is in good spirit, Believing the spirit will push them to victory in tomorrow’s encounter. According to Brila.net’s Babafemi Raji who reported live from Russia, the team is ready for tomorrow’s clash with their European opponents right in the Kaliningrad Stadium. See Pictures

Iran recorded their first win at a World Cup in 20 years courtesy of a 95th-minute own goal which consigned Morocco to a 1-0 defeat in this afternoon’s Group B opener. It appeared as though two teams who had relied upon their defensive records throughout qualifying had canceled each other out until Aziz Bouhaddouz miscued his headed clearance deep into stoppage time in Saint-Petersberg. It’s difficult not to imagine that with games to come against Portugal and then Spain, their World Cup is already over.

Nigeria fans have been banned from taking ‘lucky’ live chickens into the ground for their team’s opening Group D game with Croatia on Saturday.

A last minute winner from Jose Gimenez has handed Uruguay victory in their opening match of the 2018 World Cup as an Egypt side lacking Mohamed Salah fell to a heartbreaking 1-0 defeat. Uruguay were far from their best throughout at the Ekeratinburg Arena and it looked as though a series of wasted chances from record scorer Luis Suarez would prove costly for the Group A favourites. The most anticipated team news of the opening round of World Cup fixtures saw Salah only named on the Egypt bench three weeks after damaging his shoulder for Liverpool in the Champions League final, and he stayed there throughout as manager Hector Cuper chose not…

Julen Lopetegui insists his conscience is clear after being sacked by Spain on the eve of the World Cup.

Brazilian Referee Sandro Ricci, has been assigned to officiate Nigeria’s world cup opener against Croatia in Kaliningrad on Saturday.