..::Football III::..

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Full Time

Germany 2 Vs 2 Ghana

Germany Goal(s)

Gotze 51'
Klose 71'

&

Ghana Goal(s)

A.Ayew 54'
A.Gyan 63'​

 

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Thawath pattama gemak giya match 1kak​

 

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Argentina 1-0 Iran: Magnificent Messi strike breaks the hearts of Queiroz's men

A stunning strike from Lionel Messi snatched a 1-0 victory for Argentina against a spirited Iran side in Saturday's World Cup clash in Belo Horizonte.

Few would have expected Argentina, viewed as one of the favourites to win the tournament, to be given too much of a test by a team that has never gone beyond the first round of a World Cup in three previous appearances.

However, Carlos Queiroz's side, who had been criticised for their defensive style of play following their opening Group F goalless stalemate against Nigeria, produced another resolute display at Estadio Mineirao on Saturday to come within a few minutes of a highly creditable draw.

But, in injury time, it was Messi who stepped up when it mattered most, curling home brilliantly into the corner to give the South Americans a place in the last 16.

Meanwhile, Iran will head into their final group game with Bosnia-Herzegovina on Wednesday reflecting on an opportunity missed, and knowing that only victory will be enough to extend their tournament.

Argentina unsurprisingly dictated the opening stages without creating any clear-cut opportunities against an Iran defence that displayed the same determination as against Nigeria.

Gonzalo Higuain was the first to test the Iran backline after 13 minutes, but goalkeeper Alireza Haghigi showed quick reactions to race out and block the Napoli striker's effort after he had been played through by Fernando Gago.

Higuain was involved again as he linked up with Sergio Aguero inside the area, only to see the Manchester City man's curling effort brilliantly kept out by a fine diving save from Haghigi.

Aguero then headed wide from a corner as Argentina's dominance of play continued, yet Iran, with impressive commitment and organisation, did not have too much difficulty in keeping the South Americans at bay.

Iran's ability to maintain parity also owed much to Argentina's profligacy, which was demonstrated in the 35th minute when defender Ezequiel Garay headed a Messi free kick over the crossbar.

Queiroz's men were able to fashion some first-half opportunities of their own, the best of which came after 41 minutes as centre-back Jalal Hosseini turned Ashkan Dejagah's corner narrowly wide of the post.

Pablo Zabaleta went close from the edge of the area in the opening stages of the second half, but it was Iran who continued to look more threatening.

Indeed, they would have taken the lead in the 53rd minute had forward Reza Ghoochannejhad not directed his header straight at Argentina goalkeeper Sergio Romero following a fine break.

Iran felt they should have been awarded a penalty a minute later after Zabaleta appeared to bring down Dejagah, with replays suggesting that the South Americans had been given a let-off.

At the other end, Messi failed to find a finish after surging forward with an archetypal run from midfield and curling wide of the post.

With time running out, Romero was called into action to tip Dejagah's header over and Iran had an even better chance when Ghoochannejhad was sent clear one-on-one but saw his somewhat tired finish parried.

But just as they looked set to celebrate their famous point, Messi struck.

The Barcelona man worked space on the edge of the area before opening his body to bend a shot into the corner, as Argentina's class – and more accurately that of their captain – finally told.

 

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Rooney: Hodgson is the right man for England

Wayne Rooney has insisted Roy Hodgson is the man to lead England forward despite their early exit from the World Cup.

The Three Lions have been eliminated after losing their first two matches of the tournament against Italy and Uruguay, meaning they failed to progress to the knockout stages for the first time since 1958.

Football Association chairman Greg Dyke has backed Hodgson to continue through to the Euro 2016 finals – and Rooney is adamant that the 66-year-old is the right man for the job.

"Roy has brought in an enthusiasm to the squad, and introduced youngsters. Make no mistake - he is the man to take us forward,” Rooney said on Saturday.

"We appreciate what he's done for us. He's changed the way we play over the last couple of years. You can see the progression.

“I feel we're getting better and this will help the younger players and help us become a better team.

“We're hurting, disappointed to be out of the tournament but we have to pick ourselves up for Tuesday [against Costa Rica] and restore some pride

“We have to learn from this, we need to be more clinical and take our chances.”

In a sombre press conference at England’s training base in Urca, goalkeeper Joe Hart apologised to the supporters for the team’s failure to reach the second round.

Hart said: “We'd like to thank fans for making the difficult journey to Brazil. The sacrifices they made. We can only apologise.

"It's a really strange, empty feeling. This is ultimately really cruel. It's gutting for me."

 

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Van Persie: I love playing with 'fantastic' Robben

Robin van Persie has praised Arjen Robben following the Bayern Munich man's brilliant performances in the Netherlands' two World Cup matches so far.

Louis van Gaal's side have enjoyed an excellent start to the tournament and have already sealed qualification to the last 16 following a 5-1 victory against world champions Spain and a 3-2 triumph over Australia.

Van Persie and Robben have been key figures in both matches, contributing to six goals across the two games, and the Manchester United striker has taken the time to praise Robben for his scintillating form.

"Arjen is a fantastic footballer and I love playing with him," he said.

"For us, it's a little more difficult, because we both have a more central role to play, but it works because we have scored six times and hopefully we can continue in that fashion.

"He is unpredictable for the opponent, but not for me and the team.

"You can see all sides with him. He is quick, can score goals and provide assists."

The Dutch meet Chile on Monday at the Arena Corinthians in Sao Paulo. While both sides are already through to the last 16, the pair will be playing to avoid a potential meeting with Brazil in the knockout stages.

Robben will have a chance to add to his haul in the final group game, but captain Van Persie misses out having picked up bookings against both Spain and Australia.

 

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Belgium can't expect Lukaku to do it all - Kompany

Vincent Kompany insists it would be unfair for Belgium to put too much pressure on Romelu Lukaku at the World Cup.

A number of strikers have already made a mark in the tournament, most notably Karim Benzema, Neymar and Robin van Persie, and Lukaku spoke publicly in the build-up to the competition about the importance of performing well as he seeks a move away from Chelsea this summer.

But as Belgium prepare to face Russia at the Maracana on Sunday knowing a win would secure them a place in the knockout stage, Kompany remains adamant that it is the more experienced squad members who must step up.

"He’s 21, so he’s probably got at least two more [World Cups] and maybe more," the Manchester City captain said. "There’s no pressure on his shoulders.

"If he performs well we’ll be happy, but the most important thing is he puts his performance for the benefit of the group.

"He’s got tremendous talent but we can’t put too much pressure on a 21-year-old kid to do it all for us in the World Cup. There are older guys in the team who have more responsibility."

Kompany has been struggling with a groin problem in recent weeks but is optimistic that it will not affect his chances of making a full contribution to Belgium's World Cup campaign.

"I followed a special programme and it went well, and if everything goes well in the group training I will not have to worry anymore," he added.

"It’s the World Cup and every game is important, and in the worst case scenario there are other good players available for the coach. But I feel good."

Belgium's clash with Russia will see Marc Wilmots pit his wits against Fabio Capello, and the former Standard Liege midfielder spoke of his respect for the Italian's career achievements.

"It could be a very tactical match," he admitted. "Capello has worked in great clubs and has a beautiful track record. We will see what he does with the line-up but it’s important for us to close the spaces on them."

 

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I am not alone in Spain camp - Alonso

Xabi Alonso has dismissed rumours he has been alienated in the Spain camp after he claimed the players "lacked hunger" following their early elimination from the World Cup.

The Real Madrid midfielder spoke out in the aftermath of the 2-0 defeat to Chile on Wednesday, a result which - coupled with their 5-1 hammering by Netherlands - meant a swift exit for the defending champions.

There have been reports the comments did not go down well with his team-mates, and fellow midfielder Santi Cazorla dismissed them out of hand at Friday's press conference.After attempting to clarify what he meant, Alonso insisted he still had a good relationship with the other members of the dressing room.

He told Spanish radio station El Larguero: "I have not felt alone because the feeling is very similar for all my colleagues that I have spoken to.

"There are people who needed a small statement or any excuse to make a debate. The collective feeling is that we have lacked the necessary tension.

"The atmosphere is very good and I have no problem. My relationship is good with everybody."While his own international future remains in doubt, the 32-year-old conceded Spain need a re-think ahead of the European Championship qualifying.

"We had a brilliant cycle that has made history, but now, after this defeat, we will change things," he added."We have been very successful but maintaining this is very complicated. We need to take as much as possible from this painful defeat."

In elimination, Spain became the fifth world champions to fall at the first hurdle. Their final group game comes against Australia in Curitiba on Monday June 23.

 

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Ballack: England must rebuild around world-class Rooney

Michael Ballack believes England should rebuild around Wayne Rooney following their World Cup elimination, as he is the only "world-class" player in the squad.

Rooney was widely criticised for his performance in England's 2-1 loss to Italy, but scored his first ever World Cup goal against Uruguay on Thursday, though he could not prevent the Three Lions from losing by the same scoreline again.

Costa Rica's win over the Azzurri, meanwhile, saw England eliminated from the finals on Friday, and Ballack believes Rooney should now become the focal point of Roy Hodgson's plans to avoid future disappointments.

Writing for The Times, the ex-Germany international said: "For me the only player who looked like making a difference for England was Rooney. He is the only one who can hurt teams, and the only one who is really world class.

"Some people are saying he should be dropped, which is crazy. He should always play through the middle, as asking him to move out wide is a waste of time. He's the best player and should have the freedom to play.

"Despite all these problems, England look better than they did two years ago and Roy Hodgson should build the team around Rooney and tell his team to do everything they can to play for him."

Ballack also criticised Steven Gerrard, who was at fault for Luis Suarez's winner in Sao Paulo, claiming the Liverpool midfielder simply "passes from side to side" when he plays for his country.

"I'm always impressed when I watch Steven Gerrard for Liverpool — as I was when I played against him for Chelsea — but he's not the same player for England," Ballack added.

"He just doesn't have the same influence on matches. He should have the same standing as he is the captain in both teams, but with England he is not the same.

"It may be because he has — and feels — too much responsibility. At Liverpool he has other players to do the running for him so he can concentrate on organising his team-mates and there is a shared responsibility. He is playing within a clear structure and to a set philosophy, which brings the best out of him.

"When Gerrard plays for England he just passes the ball from side to side. He doesn't get forward. Maybe he's tired now after a difficult season, but it has been a problem for a while."

 

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Mourinho: I love Lahm... as a full-back

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has declared his "love" for Germany international Philipp Lahm, but insists the player should be deployed at full-back.

The Bayern Munich ace is a defender by trade but last season he was converted into a defensive midfielder by coach Pep Guardiola.

Lahm was also deployed in front of the back four by Germany boss Joachim Low for the country's World Cup opener against Portugal but Mourinho feels the 30-year-old is better at the back than in the middle of the park.

"I love Philipp Lahm as a full-back," the Blues boss told Yahoo. "Either on the right or on the left, where he has played so many times.

"I like him so much playing on either side because he's so aggressive going forward and has high quality passing and crossing ... Even at left-back coming inside to shoot. I like him so, so much.

"But Joachim Low decided to play him in midfield. He has his own ideas and we have to respect them."

Germany kicked off their World Cup campaign by routing the Seleccao 4-0 and will be looking to make it two wins from two when they face Ghana on Saturday at 21:00CET.

 

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Valencia signs new Manchester United contract

Antonio Valencia has signed a new three-year deal at Manchester United, with the option of a further year.

The winger, who is representing Ecuador at the World Cup and had a year left to run on his contract, is now tied to the club until 2018 and is the first player to extend following Louis van Gaal's appointment as manager.

Assistant manager Ryan Giggs hailed Valencia's continued efforts at Old Trafford upon confirmation of the extension, while the player himself voiced his anticipation at playing under the new boss.

"I'm really pleased Antonio has signed a new contract. His contribution to the team since he joined the club in 2009 has been fantastic," Giggs told the club's official website.

"Antonio is a very powerful player with great speed and versatility. He is very professional in his approach to training and I am delighted he has committed his future to the club."

Valencia added: "My time at Manchester United has been like a dream come true. To be the first Ecuadorian player to win the English Premier League was a very proud moment for me and for my country.

"I am so happy to have signed a new deal and am looking forward to working with Louis van Gaal. There is great team spirit within the club and we are all determined to get back to winning ways."

 

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Congratulations Valencia!

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Maradona: Gerrard should have done better

Diego Maradona believes Steven Gerrard needed to give England much more against Uruguay when the two teams met in Sao Paulo on Thursday.

The Liverpool midfielder has been criticised for his display in the 2-1 defeat in the Group D encounter, playing a negative role in both of Luis Suarez's strikes, with England only managing to reply through a solitary Wayne Rooney goal.

Maradona believes that Gerrard, along with the entire Three Lions defence, should be held responsible for the defeat and singled out Roy Hodgson's captain for particular criticism.

"For England, who dominated the second half but were let down by the final pass or the final touch, it was the same old story of what could have been," the 53-year-old wrote in his column for Times of India."Gerrard and the English defence must take the blame for both Uruguay goals. When [Nicolas] Lodeiro started his run before the first, Gerrard could have done better.

"But Lodeiro passed it perfectly for [Edinson] Cavani, whose sublime cross eluded the central defenders and found an unmarked Suarez waiting joyously inside the box.

"It was Gerrard again who made a mess of a long shot from the Uruguayan goalkeeper after England had equalised. The ball went to Suarez, who once again found a lot of room in the penalty area before unleashing a ferocious shot."You can't afford [to do] that with a striker of his class and England paid the price."

Maradona also hailed the performance of la Celeste front man Suarez, believing his ability to find the net whilst England's Wayne Rooney missed chances was a key difference between the two sides."Apart from scoring the only English goal, Rooney headed one onto the crossbar and on another occasion, failed to beat the goalkeeper from close-range," the 1986 World Cup winner added.

"It summed up the tale of the two strikers. "While Suarez became a hero by converting two of the chances he got, Rooney capitalised on just one of the several he had, and that made the difference in the fate of the teams.

"Uruguay won because they were better in handling their scoring opportunities."

 

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Forlan: Suarez could play for Real Madrid

Diego Forlan believes Uruguay team-mate Luis Suarez has the quality to prosper at Real Madrid and seal a reputation as one of the world's top players.

The Liverpool striker made an impressive return from knee surgery against England on Thursday evening, scoring either side of a Wayne Rooney tap-in to give his side a crucial 2-1 win.

Suarez has now scored 41 times in 77 games for la Celeste and Forlan believes he should be looked on in the same light as Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Zlatan Ibrahimovic."He is one of the best in the world," the 35-year-old said in an interview with AS.

"He is very good. There are some big attacking players and you can name Luis as one of them. He is alongside Messi, Cristiano, Ibrahimovic. All are huge and to choose between one or the other is a matter of taste.

"Without a doubt," he added when asked if Suarez, who has repeatedly been the subject of rumoured interest from los Blancos, had the class to shine at the club.
"I tell you - he is one of the best."He is a player who is in great physical and footballing condition and could very well play for Real Madrid."

Uruguay face Italy on Tuesday in a game that will decide which of the two sides will join Costa Rica in the last-16 and Forlan, whilst delighting in their win over the Three Lions, acknowledged that they were under pressure to perform against the Azzurri."It was all amazing," the Cerezo Osaka forward said of beating Roy Hodgson's men.

"You can not stop thinking about what we have already achieved by winning against England, because it is a party. This victory helped us to continue to have options in the next game. There are still three points to play for."We needed the three points [and to get them] against a great opponent like England was spectacular. We will live and see what happens from now.

"We have to go game by game. It is difficult to anticipate events. The important thing is to qualify and then see what happens."

 

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Benzema: I feel 100% but I can get better

Karim Benzema says he is "convinced" that both he and France will only get stronger as the World Cup progresses after they thrashed Switzerland 5-2.

The Real Madrid striker scored his third goal of the tournament in the tie, with Olivier Giroud, Blaise Matuidi, Mathieu Valbuena and Moussa Sissoko also finding the net, as the Swiss only managed two late goals from Blerim Dzemaili and Granit Xhaka in response.

Benzema has recently endured some barren spells for France, once going 15 matches and 1,222 minutes without scoring for les Bleus from June 2012 to October 2013, but is now delighting in his form, though claiming he can still give more."I am in my head 100%, but I can do better," the 26-year-old was quoted as saying by France Football.

"I also [reap the benefits of] the work of my teammates. It's not [just] me, it's everyone. Even those who did not start the first game and who returned to this one.

"Oliver [Giroud] and I have confidence that whenever we play together, we will have an understanding. After that, it's not Karim or Olivier, it's everyone who pulls the team up.

Benzema, who has now struck eight times in his last nine games for Didier Deschamps' side, was named man of the match for a second game in succession and insists he is brimming with confidence for what les Bleus can achieve."Since the beginning, I have had dreams,""I have goals in mind. Gradually, you get there. I've been convinced that we will get better for a while.

"I am happy and proud. It was a big game, we scored goals, we played as a team. We gave our answers on the pitch. We had heart to win that game."We're very pleased with the performance and we'll try to repeat it against Ecuador."

France now face Ecuador on June 25 in their final Group E game.

 

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Klose equals Ronaldo's World Cup goalscoring record

Germany attacker Miroslav Klose has equalled Brazil legend Ronaldo's World Cup goalscoring record following his tap-in in the 2-2 Group G draw against Ghana.

Since his last World Cup in 2006, Ronaldo's record tally of 15 goals in the competition had remained untouched, but Klose has now levelled at last in his fourth World Cup participation.

The experienced forward started the encounter on the bench, but was brought on minutes after Germany went 2-1 down against the Africans and immediately made an impact.

The Lazio striker netted five goals at the 2002 World Cup, five times four years later, four in 2010 and now once during this summer's showpiece.

Ronaldo amassed his strikes across three tournaments, in 1998, 2002 and 2006 - and lifted the famous trophy once along the way, 12 years ago this summer.

Klose, 36, was level on goals with compatriot, Gerd Muller, who starred in the 1970 and 1974 tournaments and boasts an incredible ratio of 1.08 goals per World Cup games.

Just two strikes adrift of the two all-time leading goalscorers is former France star Just Fontaine - who found the back of the net 13 times during the 1958 tournament. That remains a record haul for goals in a single edition.

With 12 goals in four World Cups between 1958 and 1970, Brazil legend Pele is a prominent figure in the top 10, and was the star as his country lifted the trophy three times in that period.

A goal further back, two players are on 11, in the shape of Hungary great Sandor Kocsis and Germany hero Jurgen Klinsmann, who will of course take charge of the USA in Brazil.

The final three places in our list are occupied by another German, Helmut Rahn, in 1954 and 1958, former England striker Gary Lineker and one of Argentina's most lethal hitmen of all-time, Gabriel Batistuta.

All three players scored 10 World Cup goals, but their places could be under threat if David Villa (eight goals) or Diego Forlan (six goals) enjoy a particularly fruitful summer in Brazil.

 

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Congratulations Klose!​

 

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Germany 2-2 Ghana: Klose moves level with Ronaldo to salvage late draw

Miroslav Klose scored his 15th World Cup goal to salvage a late 2-2 draw with Ghana in Fortaleza.

The veteran striker came off the bench in the 70th minute in Fortaleza on Saturday and had an almost immediate impact, prodding home at the back post in trademark fashion to take his finals tally to 15, level with legendary Brazilian Ronaldo.After a turgid first half, the game burst into life six minutes after the break when Mario Gotze finished Thomas Muller's wonderful right-wing cross.

Knowing that defeat would leave them on the brink of elimination, Ghana were sparked into action and turned the match around through Andre Ayew's header and then Asamoah Gyan's clinical finish.

Gyan's goal sparked action from Germany head coach Joachim Low, who introduced Klose in place of Gotze, and - as he has done so often in the past - the 36-year-old showed his predatory instincts with 19 minutes left to earn his side a point.

The draw means that Germany remain top of Group G on four points, although they could be overtaken by the United States should Jurgen Klinsmann's side beat Portugal on Sunday.

Ghana fielded three changes from their 2-1 defeat to the United States and made a bright start, Gyan firing an effort over the crossbar under pressure from Per Mertesacker in the seventh minute.Christian Atsu brought the first save out of either goalkeeper six minutes later, stinging the palms of Manuel Neuer with a 25-yard drive.

One of Ghana's alterations saw Fatawu Dauda come in for Adam Kwarasey, but the replacement keeper was not tested until the 18th minute, comfortably holding a low curling effort from Sami Khedira.

As the first half wore on, Ghana became more assured, Sulley Muntari thumping in a piledriver from 30 yards which Neuer had to repel with a flying save high to his right 12 minutes before the break.

The Germans went ahead six minutes after the interval, Gotze nodding Muller's pin-point cross home in unusual fashion - via his knee - from 12 yards with Dauda motionless.

Ghana were behind for just three minutes though, Ayew glancing in Harrison Afful's right-wing delivery to bring his side level for the second game in succession. And nine minutes later the African side had turned the match on its head.

Philipp Lahm, usually so reliable on the ball, squandered possession for the Germans and after a perfectly weighted pass from Muntari, Gyan whipped a finish across Neuer and into the net for his fifth World Cup goal, the joint highest tally for any man representing an African nation, along with Cameroon's Roger Milla.

As Germany pressed for an equaliser, they left themselves susceptible on the counter-attack. Substitute Jordan Ayew raced away down the left before firing a weak shot at Neuer with his team-mates better placed.

However, with an upset looking to be on the cards, Klose stepped up to the mark.
The Lazio man brought Germany level with 19 minutes to play, reacting first to prod the ball home at the far post after Benedikt Howedes had glanced on Toni Kroos' left-wing corner.Klose even spurned a late chance to win it, wasting a golden opportunity to claim the landmark outright when he fired wide from the edge of the box in the 90th minute.

But it was still enough to earn him a place in the record books, and his side a point, although there were worrying scenes for Low at the end with Muller bleeding profusely at the final whistle after banging his head against the shoulder of John Boye late on.

 

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Nigeria Vs Bosnia

Starting Line-ups

 

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What a striker Messi

 

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Nigeria 1-0 Bosnia: Odemwingie fires Super Eagles to brink of last-16

Peter Odemwingie fired Nigeria to the brink of qualification for the last-16 as they beat Bosnia 1-0 and knocked them out of the World Cup.

The striker slotted past Stoke City team-mate Asmir Begovic at the Arena Pantanal, although Bosnia were unfortunate not to have led eight minutes earlier when an Edin Dzeko goal was incorrectly ruled out for offside.

The European nation needed a goal in the second half to keep their qualification hopes alive, however they were unable to break down a solid Nigerian defence.
The win leaves Nigeria second in Group F and requiring either a point from their group finale with Argentina or Iran to draw or lose against Bosnia.

Safet Susic omitted own-goal scorer Sead Kolasinac from their brave 2-1 loss to Argentina, however, Bosnia were exposed on their left side with Senad Lulic and Emir Spahic caught out of position early on.A poor clearance by captain Spahic in the sixth minute forced his fellow defender Haris Medunjanin to bring down Ahmed Musa and take a yellow card.

Nigeria produced plenty of chances on goal and deserved to open the scoring, with Odemwingie's free-kick in the seventh minute deflecting narrowly wide of the upright, while Ogenyi Onazi - who tried his luck from range on a few occasions - forced a low save out of Begovic on 14 minutes.

For all their instability at the back, Bosnia settled into the game and should have been credited with the game's opening goal when Dzeko ran in behind and found the back of the net in the 21st minute - only for the assistant's flag to be incorrectly raised.

Dzeko was clearly Bosnia's best chance of scoring the opener, and minutes later he unleashed a shot from inside the area that Nigeria goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama was forced to produce a strong save to deny the Manchester City man.

The Bosnians would be further aggrieved with the officials when they felt they were denied a foul in the lead up to Nigeria's opener - with Spahic left on the ground, as Emmanuel Emenike squared a ball for goalscorer Odemwingie.Bosnia were struggling to create much danger as they hunted the equaliser they required, and Susic rung the changes prior to the hour-mark.

Vedad Ibisevic, the goalscorer against Argentina, was brought on for Izet Hajrovic, and Sejad Salihovic replaced Lulic.It was almost déjà-vu for Spahic in the 60th minute, as Emenike brushed aside the Bosnian skipper, but he had cover this time around.

Moments later, Begovic was forced off his line to deny the forward down the left, as the Fenerbahce man continued to cause problems.Ibisevic had a free header from a corner in the 74th minute, but he failed to connect as the ball flew over the crossbar.

But in the third minute of additional time, Dzeko came within a whisker of an equaliser, as his close-range effort was saved onto the post by Enyeama.