A warm welcome to you all our loyal readers. It is a pleasure to welcome you to the formal launch of “Live Commentary”, the latest of the features we are introducing in our bid to stay ahead of the pack in online newspapering in Nigeria.

We had test-run live commentary in the past few weeks, including with the Confederations Cup semi-final game between world champions Spain and Italy three days ago. The result of that experiment clearly showed that a bulk of our readers would enjoy regular live commentary of important events, especially football.

We shall be providing highlights in the course of the game but not necessarily minute-by-minute. One unique feature of this column would be the lacing of the commentaries with local slangs and languages, including Pidgin English, the unofficiallingua franca in Nigeria.

Just a quick one before the kick-off: Coaches of the two teams have been talking tough ahead of this expected thriller.

Spain’s head coach Vincente Del Bosque said: “We are going to face up to them. We have to put on a show and make it a good advertisement for football. Brazil have won five World Cups and three Confederations Cups and they will be playing at the Maracana in front of their own fans.

“For us it is a dream game. A new chapter will begin, we will start all-square and see who seizes the initiative.”

On his part, Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has dismissed suggestions that Spain are favourites to win the cup, saying that having home advantage will help his side triumph at the Maracana.

Hear him: “I don’t consider Spain the favourites. In the last six years they have imposed themselves and won so many titles fielding virtually the same team and so that can maybe be an advantage.

“But we have something important in Brazil – which is that we have established credibility with our fans. We have been dreaming since the start of getting to the final and winning it.”

The last time that both sides faced each other – incidentally at the same Marcana Stadium – was 63 years ago, with Brazil winning 6-1. Who triumps this time? We shall soon know!

•Photo shows Brazil celebrating one of their numerous victories.

Update news