The Nation Newspaper

Category: World Cup Russia 2018

World Cup 2018

  • Eagles, Blazers in battle of Kaliningrad

    After all the razzmatazz associated with Super Eagles jersey and the Swag that followed their camping in Austria, take off and eventual landing in Russia, it is time to get down to business on the pitch.

    And so today at the Kaliningrad Stadium the Gernot Rohr tutored side will file out against their Croatian counterpart in what many have dubbed a must win encounter if the beautifully kitted Eagles are to prove that all that glitters is indeed gold.

    Of the five African countries in quest of glory in Russia, Nigeria is considered to be in a vintage position to rise to the occasion parading a team of young players who have proved in the course of the qualifiers that they can deliver. Although their performance in the friendly matches leading to the world cup were below par, some say the team would be fired up at the competition proper.

    Coach Gernor Rohr who does not appear perturbed by the poor run of his boys in the friendly ties especially against England and Czech Republic, believes the boys will find their rhythm and will go all out against equally determined Croatia others called the Blazers.

    Already the players have been speaking about their determination to give their best all the way.

    Odion Ighalo one the players the German tactician expects to rise to the occasion said the team knows what is at stake and will not disappoint.  The Eagles have a date with Iceland and Argentina respectively in Group D but analysts believe doing well in the first match will determine to a great extent how far the team can go. Nobody expects Croatia will be a tea party which means the tie will be a hard nut to crack.

    Eagles must resist the temptation to delay coming to party as the Croatians have got pace and will not wait for any opponent that might want to boot before rising to the occasion.

    Rohr having the full complement of his team must hand hungry players the starting shirt because of the need to earn points in this first match.  The speed of Ahmed Musa will be needed to checkmate equally pacy players that will be on parade for Croatia including Luka Modric, Ivan Rakitic and Mario Mandzukic among others.

    Luckily for the Eagles Wilfred Ndidi is back and good to go.  With the midfield comfortable being marshaled by Captain John Obi Mikel and enjoying the compliments of Ndidi the strikers must resist the temptation to gloss over begging chances while the back four now popularly called “oyibo wall” must be vigilant for the entire duration of the game.

    A victory in this first match will not only serve as a ginger but will prove those who believe that the Eagles have gone to Russia to model impressive jersey.

    The fashionable Eagles have landed, now let the Eagles fly!

  • Full Time: Portugal 3-3 Spain

    • Portugal 3-3 Spain

    key points

    • Cristiano Ronaldo scores opening goal from the spot
    • Ronaldo grabs slice of World Cup history
    • Diego Costa scores equaliser after VAR review
    • Ronaldo restores Portugal’s lead with low strike
    • Costa scores second equaliser after half-time
    • Nacho then gives Spain lead with wonder goal
    • But Ronaldo scores stunning late free-kick

    Statistics

     

    Starting line-ups for the World Cup Group B game between Portugal and Spain at the Fisht Stadium in Sochi on Friday at 7pm Nigerian time:

    Portugal (4-2-3-1)

    Rui Patricio; Cedric Soares, Pepe, Jose Fonte, Raphael Guerreiro; Joao Moutinho, William Carvalho; Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes, Goncalo Guedes; Cristiano Ronaldo (capt)

    Coach: Fernando Santos (POR)

    Spain (4-2-3-1)

    David De Gea; Nacho, Gerard Pique, Sergio Ramos (capt), Jordi Alba; Sergio Busquets, Koke; David Silva, Isco, Andres Iniesta; Diego Costa

    Coach: Fernando Hierro (ESP)

    Referee: Gianluca Rocchi (ITA)

  • Russia 2018: Uruguay pip Egypt 1-0

    Uruguay snatched a late winner as they began their 2018 FIFA World Cup campaign with a dramatic victory over Egypt

    Jose Gimenez headed powerfully into the net in the 90th minute as he met Carlos Sanchez’s free-kick to give the South Americans a winning start in Russia.

    Uruguay had been the better side as Luis Suarez had missed four chances and Edinson Cavani had hit the inside of a post with a 25-yard free-kick.

    Salah, who scored 44 times for Liverpool this season was an unused substitute as he continues to recover from a shoulder injury sustained in last month’s UEFA Champions League final.

    Read Also: Russia 2018: Is this Africa’s time?

    Without Salah, Egypt, though gave an excellent fight to Uruguay, lacked a cutting edge and had looked on course to earn a point in their first match at a World Cup finals since 1990 before Gimenez’s late goal.

    They are now under pressure heading into their second with Russia, while Uruguay can breathe a sigh of relief.

    The result means Russia are top of Group A after their 5-0 victory over Saudi Arabia in the tournament’s opening game on Thursday.

  • Russia 2018: Calabar fans express confidence in Super Eagles against Croatia

    Football Fans in Calabar have urged Nigerians to pray for the success of Super Eagles of Nigeria as they face Croatia on Saturday in their opening Match in ongoing 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia

    A cross section of the fans told our reporters on Friday in Calabar that with the support of millions of Nigerians, the team would get the three maximum points against Croatia.

    Albert Adinam, the Cross River Chairman of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) said he believed the Super Eagles were good enough to win their opening match.

    According to him, notwithstanding the not too impressive performance of the team in their friendly matches, they will defeat Croatia and go beyond the group stage.

    He said “I share the sentiment of many fans that the team did not do well in their warm-up matches but those were just tune games designed to know the lapses in the team and I believe those lapses have been corrected by the team’s handlers.

    Read Also: My dreams for Super Eagles, by Pinnick

    “I expect them to go beyond the first round because this is their fourth appearance in the World Cup and many Nigerians expect that they should even go upto quarter final this time.

    “I am confident that the team will go far in the tournament.”

    Oqua Etim, a member of the Cross River Football Federation said that the match against Croatia was very vital, as a win would boost the morale of players ahead of other group games.

    “As a Nigerian, I am confident and I am praying for the team. I also want Nigerians to pray for the team because the first match could make or mar our chances.

    “What is at stake is the three points, if we get the three points, it will boost the morale of the players in subsequent matches.

    “So the team needs the prayer and support of millions of Nigerians back home.”

    Another football enthusiast, Henry Michael, expressed confidence in the ability of the Super Eagles to defeat Croatia on Saturday.

    “I hinge my optimism on the fact that football is a game of chance. If Eagles take their chances, I see them coming out victorious and claiming all the three points and this will be good for us.

    “No team is a pushover in that group so if we take our chances as they come, I believe we will go far.”

    A Physiotherapist, Ndoma Egoro, said “the team’s physiologist needs to work extra hard because the Croatians appeared to be very physical in their game plan.”  

     

    NAN

  • Russia stuns Saudi Arabia 5-0 in World Cup opener

    Russia made a fine start to their 2018 FIFA World Cup campaign as they thrashed Saudi Arabia in the tournament’s opening game.

    Yuri Gazinskiy scored the first goal of the tournament after only 12 minutes when he headed in from Aleksandr Golovin’s cross.

    Substitute Denis Cheryshev added a second just before half-time as he collected Roman Zobnin’s pass, cut inside two Saudi Arabia defenders and finished well.

    Read Also: Video review system makes World Cup debut

    Saudi Arabia, who returned to the World Cup for the first time since 2006, played some nice, tight football at times, but were never able to match the Russian hosts for energy or intent.

    Another substitute, Artem Dzyuba, grabbed Russia’s third within two minutes of coming on by heading in from Golovin’s delivery.

    Cheryshev scored a spectacular fourth with the outside of his boot, before Golovin curled in a stunning 25-yard free-kick for Russia’s fifth.

    Egypt and Uruguay are due to play the second Group A match in Yekaterinburg on Friday.

    Earlier, the opening ceremony had been led by British pop star Robbie Williams and Russian soprano Aida Garifullina in a 15-minute period wowed the Opening Ceremony/Match crowd.

    Part of the ceremony was the entrance of former Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas and Russian supermodel Natalia Vodianova with the World Cup trophy in a Louis Vuitton travel case.

    Williams later performed two hits — “Let Me Entertain You” and “Rock DJ” — alongside some dancers and freestylers.

    He was thereafter joined in a duet by Garifullina, a soloist from the Vienna State Opera, to sing one of his (Williams) hit songs “Angels”.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 2018 World Cup continues on Friday with three matches, one of them the other Group A match pitching Egypt against Uruguay in Yekaterinburg.

  • Russia wallop Saudi Arabia 5-0 as 2018 World Cup begins

    Host Russia is currently 2-0 up against Saudi Arabia in the opening match of the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

    Yuri Gazinskiy  scored the first goal of the 2018 FIFA World Cup after 12’minutes, with Denis Cheryshev getting  the second in 43’minutes

    Earlier, Russian president Vladimir Putin  gave a speech at the Luzhniki Stadium, welcoming the World to Russia.

    “We are sincerely happy to host the World Cup in our country,” he said.

    “Football is truly loved here. Russia is an open, hospitable and friendly country.”

  • Russia 2018: Enjoy yourselves without me – Zlatan

    Sweden’s former striker, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, said on Thursday that the country’s team to the World Cup in Russia would enjoy less pressure without him in the squad.

    He told reporters in Moscow that his absence in the team would reduce expectation from the players at the tournament.

    “I think Sweden; they have less pressure when I’m not there, because when I’m there we’re supposed to win everything.

    “Just enjoy. No pressure, because I’m not there,” the 36-year-old said.

    The LA Galaxy forward, who played 116 times for Sweden over 15 years, was in Moscow to promote Visa card-less payment systems.

    Sweden are in Group F with world champions, Germany, Mexico and South Korea and will open their account against the Koreans on Monday in Nizhny Novgorod.

    Read Also: Zlatan departure a big loss for European soccer – Mourinho

    Germany, though, will be the mountain to climb.

    “Germany is the Deutsche-machine. You know they will do well, and they always do well,” Ibrahimovic said.

    “I always say a good team doesn’t have 11 players, they have 22 fantastic players.

    “With Germany, it’s not like you have a star; I think the team is the star, and that’s why they’re so strong.”

    He also said Brazil “will do something out of the limits” as they looked to rebound from their 7-1 nightmarish thrashing by Germany in the 2014 World Cup semi-finals in their own country.

    NAN

     

  • 2018 World Cup: Parliamentarian rates Eagles high

    The Deputy Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Sports, Rep. Anayo Nnebe, says Super Eagles team at the World Cup in Russia is technically strong and will surprise the world.
    In an interview with News men in Abuja, Nnebe rated the Eagles’ preparation for the competition “very high’’ and expressed confidence in the team’s handlers.
    “We look forward to the team coming back with good news; even if they do not come back with the trophy, they will come back with good and cheering news.
    “I am optimistic; the team is capable of representing the country effectively and bringing glory to the country.
    “I encourage them to dedicate themselves to the progress of the country through superlative performance.
    “I am confident because the level of preparedness is high; we have the technical team, we have the coach and I am optimistic that the end will justify the means,” he said.
    On legislative support for the team, the lawmaker said that the committee ensured that enough budgetary allocation was made for the Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports Development.
    He disclosed that the committee met with the Accountant-General of Federation and relevant stakeholders to address issues of non-release of funds for the ministry and the team.

    Read Also: Russia 2018: Fans urge S/Eagles to be wary of best fashion rating

    Nnebe said that the intervention facilitated the release of funds and enabled the team’s early preparation for the tournament.
    He called on critics of the team’s list to be patriotic and support them to succeed at the event.
    “The problem in the country is that in football everybody is a professional. We have a competent management team handling team selection and player assessment.
    “Let us not stay outside as laymen and be challenging decisions made by competent professionals,” he said.
    Nigeria will play in group D with two-time World champions, Argentina, Iceland and Croatia in the opening round of the competition.
    Nnebe commended ongoing negotiations to handover the National Stadium in Lagos to the Lagos State Government.
    He explained that the idea behind the proposed handover was to ensure regular maintenance and to bring the stadium to international standards.
    The legislator blamed the poor state of the stadium on limited funds and poor releases of budgetary allocation for its maintenance.
    “If you go round this country, you will see that most of Federal Government-owned facilities are out of use.
    “The then Presidential Hotel in Enugu and Ikenga Hotel in Awka and so on are some of them; so, if taking over the stadium by the Lagos Government would revitalise and resurrect it, so be it.
    “The Lagos State Government is a part of Nigeria, let them take over instead of leaving it abandoned and dilapidated.
    “The state government has shown performance and credibility, so let them take it over and bring it to a level of excellence,” he said.

     

  • Russia 2018: Fans urge S/Eagles to be wary of best fashion rating

    Ebonyi Football fans on Thursday urged the Super Eagles to be wary of the best fashion rating it has received from nations as the World Cup begins in Russia.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the Eagles’ World Cup kits and travel outfit were rated the best by soccer fans, pundits and media across the globe with many saying they had won the World Cup in its fashion sense.

    Major sports dailies, including the Daily Mail wrote: “First, it was the announcement of their tournament kits that sent football supporters crazy.

    “Now it is their travel attire that has got everybody talking again.’’

    Eagles-England-squad-at Wembley

    The British news outfit, The Sun, also wrote: “Nigeria once again won the fashion stakes at this year’s World Cup with their incredible travel outfit.

    “A fan posted that Nigeria is winning the 2018 World Cup fashion parade.’’

    The fans who spoke with NAN on Thursday in Abakaliki on the fashion rating, noted that with the commencement of the global fiesta could be counter-productive if not adequately managed.

    Chijioke Amah, former Manager of Pa Ngele Oruta Stadium, Abakaliki, said the players should instead concentrate on correcting the flaws noticed during their friendly matches.

    “It is not a problem for the team to savour the euphoria of its global fashion rating but it should realise that the main rating will be their performances on the pitch.

    “The same attention which their attires attracted will also be applied to their performances on the pitch and if they fail, the same people who praised them would vilify them,’’ he said.

    Chika Nwagele, Captain of Ebonyi United FC of Abakaliki, urged the players to effectively utilise their underdog status to spring surprises at the World Cup.

    “The team should emulate the 1996 Atlanta Olympics winning team which lost its friendly matches but improved tremendously to win Africa’s first Olympic football-gold medal.

    “The players should realise that they have attracted global attention to themselves and faltering at the competition will make people feel their prowess lies in fashion,’’ he said.

    Emeka Nwonuma, a businessman urged Coach Gernot Rohr to correct all lapses noticed during the team’s friendly matches.

    Read Also: World Cup: Police assures football viewers 24-hrs protection

    “The team always improved during the second half of the matches and Rohr should consider using the players who turn things around for him as starters.

    “He should also work on his defence which flopped during the friendly matches to give effective cover to his first choice goalkeeper, Francis Uzoho, who did not inspire much confidence.

    “The coach should also work on set-pieces because the team conceded two of the four goals against it during the friendly matches from such situations,’’ he said.

    A teacher, Mrs Clara Anyanwu, urged Nigerians to pray for the team because of the huge burden of expectations on the players.

    “The team apart from being the best dressed for the World Cup also drew global attention for having the youngest squad and the youngest first choice goalkeeper.

    “Soccer fans should not expect much from the team but be contended with whatever performance it showcases in Russia, adding that they should support the NFF to build on it for the future,’’ he said.

  • Nigeria will be ready for World Cup in 2022 – Odegbami

    Adeyinka Akintunde

     

    Former Nigerian international, Chief Segun Odegbami has advised Nigerians to be humble, and not expect much from the Super Eagles as they go into the 2018 FIFA World Cup, which kicks off in Russia today.

    The 1980 Africa Cup of Nations winner gave this advice in Channel Televison’s Sunrise Daily”.

    Odegbami expressed joy in the fact that for the first time, the players have no problems as regards finance, which suggests a possibility of a good outing in Russia. But, he cautioned that it would be too much for Nigerians to expect the Super Eagles to win the World Cup in this edition.

    Odegbami analysed: “They had a good outing, defeating Argentina in a friendly match, and I think that is the best preparation we can have going to the World Cup, because the odds tip them as one of the favourites to win the World Cup.

    “But looking at their recent friendly results can stir up some worries. I think those results should be a wake-up call to the coaches, not to allow what happened against Argentina to dominate their thoughts. They should realise that they are going into the most difficult football competition and should be prepared for it.

    “As we go, I want Nigerians to be humble. We should enjoy the World Cup and show respect to our opponents. Those of us that will be watching on television should enjoy the tournament, and not hope that Nigeria will win the World Cup because we cannot win it. We don’t have the team that can win on July 15, but we can go a bit far at the tournament.”

    Odegbami believed that tagging the Super Eagles as underdogs, even against their first opponents Croatia is a good thing. For him, Nigeria could spring surprises during the tournament.

    “The Super Eagles can sometimes be like Arsenal, who play like potential world champions today and then play like secondary school students tomorrow. That is why I said they cannot win the World Cup because to be champions require consistency,” he said.

    Read Also: Odegbami sends Goodwill Message

    The former national team captain said that the current Super Eagles squad was a team for the future and not the current World Cup. He said the team should be ready to explode in the 2022 World Cup.

    Odegbami explained: “For the first time, we have a team that is playing like a team, but we don’t have any exceptional player in the mould of a Jay-Jay Okocha or Nwankwo Kanu or Muda Lawal, people who can on their own take up responsibility and do exceptional things for the team. The only person that comes close in our current team is Victor Moses.  So we are going to the World Cup with a future team. Thanks to Coach Gernot Rohr, there is much more understanding in this team than our previous Super Eagles.”

    Speaking on the issue of the goalkeepers, Odegbami observed that the Super Eagles do not have problem with the goalkeepers, but with the defence line. “We have a tall and good-statured Francis Uzoho, and we have an energetic Ikechukwu Ezenwa, who is like the Best Ogedengbe of those days, but they depend on the defence line, which is where I think we have problems.  I think we have good goalkeepers that will do well.”

    The FIFA World Cup begins on Thursday, June 14, 2018 in Moscow, and Nigeria kick off their campaign two days later against Croatia, in a match Odegbami thinks the Super Eagles will perform poorly “but will pick up against Iceland, and will be in the form of their lives against Argentina. I see Nigeria progressing to the second round.”