{"version":"1.0","provider_name":"Mathematical 7","provider_url":"https:\/\/mathematical7.com\/m7","title":"Russia 2018 \u2013 the first week through my eyes! - Mathematical 7","type":"rich","width":600,"height":338,"html":"<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"CW4uhQUgs4\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mathematical7.com\/m7\/russia-2018-the-first-week-through-my-eyes\/\">Russia 2018 \u2013 the first week through my eyes!<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" src=\"https:\/\/mathematical7.com\/m7\/russia-2018-the-first-week-through-my-eyes\/embed\/#?secret=CW4uhQUgs4\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" title=\"&#8220;Russia 2018 \u2013 the first week through my eyes!&#8221; &#8212; Mathematical 7\" data-secret=\"CW4uhQUgs4\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\"><\/iframe><script>\n\/*! This file is auto-generated *\/\n!function(d,l){\"use strict\";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&\"undefined\"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!\/[^a-zA-Z0-9]\/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),c=new RegExp(\"^https?:$\",\"i\"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display=\"none\";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute(\"style\"),\"height\"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):\"link\"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute(\"src\")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener(\"message\",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll(\"iframe.wp-embedded-content\"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute(\"data-secret\"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+=\"#?secret=\"+t,e.setAttribute(\"data-secret\",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:\"ready\",secret:t},\"*\")},!1)))}(window,document);\n\/\/# sourceURL=https:\/\/mathematical7.com\/m7\/wp-includes\/js\/wp-embed.min.js\n<\/script>\n","thumbnail_url":"https:\/\/mathematical7.com\/m7\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/Russia_2018.png","thumbnail_width":168,"thumbnail_height":186,"description":"Some 3 hours ago, I arrived Volgograd with the President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Pinnick, who had specially invited me to come and meet with members of the Super Eagles as part of his strategy to motivate the players, lift their spirit and prepare them for the crucial win-at-all-cost match against Iceland that must have been played by the time you are reading this on Saturday or Sunday.So, the best I can do at this point, and on this page, is to peer into my crystal ball, into the future, and predict what was likely to have happened against the Vikings of Iceland!A few minutes ago, the curtains may have been drawn on Argentina\u2019s and Lionel Messi\u2019s dream to win the World Cup trophy in this generation. Croatia just walloped Argentina by three un-replied goals in a match they thoroughly deserved to win, and that exposed the underbelly of the Argentine team. Now those doubting Nigeria\u2019s chances in the championship must be having a rethink and recalculating the odds.Following my visit to the Super Eagles hotel camp, seeing their determination to get back on course their World Cup train, plus my humble speech after their dinner to encourage them, lift their spirits and challenge them to give their very best, I believe that Iceland must have tasted their new venom.Earlier in the week, Amaju Pinnick had also come to pay a courtesy visit to the powerful delegation of former Presidents\/Chairmen, Secretary-Generals and a few past and present board members of the Nigerian Football Federation in their hotel in St. Petersburg.It was a cordial meeting during which we learnt that he will soon be sworn in as First Vice-President of the Confederation of African Football, CAF, to replace the disgraced and sacked former President of the Ghana Football Federation, Kwesi Nyantakyi.The World Cup \u2013 more than a football eventThe World Cup has been on for the past one week and there have been incredible and shocking results from the group matches \u2013 the defeat of Germany by Mexico, the defeat of all but one of the African teams, Ronaldo versus every team Portugal plays against, Brazil\u2019s pedestrian performance, and so on.Most pundits like us have had to eat humble pie with the unexpected results being recorded.Many of us are taking a second look at our earlier predictions and re-consulting the oracle of football for review after watching all the teams through the first round."}