The Tahitian team is currently ranked 138th by FIFA and has just one professional player in the form of Marama Vahirua. They qualified for the tournament by winning the Oceania Nations Cup, since then, however, they have scored just two goals as a team, losing five out of six games. Nigeria remain unbeaten in their last 17 games with their last defeat being over a year ago – in May 2012.

Nigeria and Tahiti have never played on a senior level before, but the two did meet at for the Under-20 World Cup in 2009 where Tahiti was defeated 5-0. With all this in mind, what do you think of Tahiti’s chances today?

Footballers Direct writers do love an underdog story but some are going as far as to suggest that the appearance of Tahiti is damaging the credibility of the tournament.

It may seem that the result of this match is a foregone conclusion but you only need to think back to 1950 and the United States’ shock 1- 0 victory over England at Belo Horizonte to know that nothing is certain in football.

Vahirua told the press yesterday: “They don’t want to be ridiculed, they want to show …we are up to the task. The players are all aware there is a chasm between the professional and amateur world.

“I think tomorrow we will not be on a par with Nigeria … they have been professional for years, but mentally we are ready. We will fight like lions and we will do anything to represent our country.”

We would love to hear your opinions ahead of the game! Who is your money on?

Footballers Direct has heard today that Sunday’s England versus Brazil game is back on despite a previous suspension due to concerns the stadium was unsafe.

The football game is rumoured to have been suspended on the grounds that loose flooring and debris left by builders could pose a safety threat to those present at the match. According to a report in The Telegraph Judge Adriana Costa dos Santos had concluded on Thursday that: “Despite numerous requests made by prosecutors, the [safety] reports were not fully delivered, [leaving us without] evidence that the stadium meets the minimum necessary to carry out games or events.”

She went on to say that there was “no way to allow the stadium to be reopened without proof that it has satisfactory safety and hygiene conditions.” However, this morning the suspension has been lifted and a “bureaucratic lapse” blamed for yesterday’s decision.

Staff at Footballers Direct have been left unsure as to what to make of all the contradictions but we had to chuckle at Gary Neville’s response when he first heard news of the confusion at a press conference: “We can play on the beach,” he responded jokingly. But, after being briefed on the matter he refused to discuss it further, simply saying: “We have no authority to talk about this. We are here to play.”

Well, whatever conclusions you come to it seems that the England team will get to play in the stadium after all, since today it is all change again and the game is back on. In a statement released by the Rio state government reassurances that the stadium is in fact now safe and fit for purpose have been made: “All safety requirements for the friendly between Brazil and England have been complied with,” it said.

What do you think?

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