Azarenka loves Messi ; Luck could decide if Nigeria or Iran progress; Ivory Coast’s incentive to players

Victoria Azarenka says 'I love Messi. I think he's one of the greatest players of all time' and other notes from the 2014 World Cup.

Victoria Azarenka shown at the 2014 Wimbledon Championships on Monday. Max Rossi / Reuters / June 23, 2014

Nigeria / Iran

After three games at the World Cup, it could come down to a lottery to decide which of two teams advances to the second round. Because of their previous results in Brazil, and the quirks of the Fifa tiebreaker system, there is a possibility that Iran and Nigeria will face exactly that scenario after their last group games tomorrow. If Iran beat Bosnia-Herzegovina 1-0 and Nigeria lose 1-0 to Argentina, the teams would be tied with four points and exactly the same number of goals scored and conceded. The teams drew 0-0 in their first game against each other, meaning the only remaining tiebreaker would be a drawing of lots. Fifa spokeswoman Delia Fischer said the lottery would be held at the Maracana Stadium 90 minutes after their games finish.

Ivory Coast

Ivory Coast president Alassane Ouattara has told his country’s footballers he will double their World Cup win bonuses if they beat Greece today. Ivory Coast can guarantee their place in the knockout stages with a victory over the 2004 European champions in Fortaleza. Currently, they are due 16 million CFA francs (Dh89,630) per player for a victory but that will double to 32 million CFA francs with success against Greece, an official source said. The source added that the initiative was aimed at “giving the Elephants extra motivation” to reach the knockout rounds for the first time in their history. While such a sum may not make much difference to the likes of Manchester City’s Yaya Toure or Galatasaray’s Didier Drogba it would certainly be welcomed by reserve goalkeeper Sylvain Gbohouo, the only member of Ivory Coast’s squad still plying his trade in his homeland.

Wimbledon

Tennis’s top stars should be concentrating on Wimbledon, which got under way yesterday, but the big-name players cannot help keeping an eye on the World Cup action in Brazil. With England crashing out of the World Cup early, Britain’s hopes of sporting success now rest with Andy Murray. The first news-conference question the Wimbledon champion faced this year was: “How does it feel to have the hopes of a despondent nation on your shoulders?” Murray replied: “Wow. I enjoy it when the World Cup is on. It gives me something to do in the evenings. I don’t have to listen to people talking about me playing at Wimbledon.” Rafael Nadal, the world No 1, said Spain’s shocking first-round ouster did not make him more motivated to restore national sporting pride by winning a third Wimbledon crown. Meanwhile, with Serbia not taking part, top seed Novak Djokovic said he was supporting neighbouring countries like Bosnia, Croatia and Greece. For Victoria Azarenka, the World Cup is all about peace and love – but mostly love, for Argentina star Lionel Messi. “I’ve been a supporter of Argentina for last three World Cups,” the Belarusian said. “I love Messi. I think he’s one of the greatest players of all time.”

Colombia

Colombia’s team at the World Cup could be the best in the history of the South American country, eclipsing even the 1990 side, the former midfielder Carlos Valderrama said yesterday. Colombia won their first two Group C games in Brazil to reach the knockout rounds for only the second time and first since 1990. Valderrama, also famous for his blond afro-style hair, was captain of the team 24 years ago when Colombia lost 2-1 to Cameroon in the second round. “There are no comparisons between my generation and this Colombia team. … They have a chance to achieve something we never did” by making the quarter-finals, the midfielder told a news conference.

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