The Republic of Ireland are out but they have competed so well, exactly the way I was hoping they would.
Nigeria, meanwhile, have surpassed all expectations – including my own – but fully deserve to be top of Group B. From what we’ve seen so far, no-one will want to play them in the last 16.
They are not too bothered about dominating possession or indeed any other set of stats. They are only concerned about being really hard to break down. Chiamaka Nnadozie has been excellent in goal too, and then up the other end they can rely on stardust to get their goals.
A draw would be enough to send Nigeria through no matter what happens elsewhere, and the Republic would be happy with that outcome too, because it would give them their first World Cup point.
Brown-Finnis’ prediction: 0-0
