The Nation Newspaper

Category: World Cup Russia 2018

World Cup 2018

  • I’ll score against Argentina – Musa

    Ahmed Musa is basking in confidence to score again for Nigeria ahead of tonight’s crunch clash against Argentina.

    Musa, 25, scored the two goals that gave Nigeria victory over Iceland in the Group D fixture of the ongoing FIFA World Cup in Russia.

    The Leicester City forward reckoned that he has always scored against the Argentina national team and Lionel Messi, stating that he has a target to continue his scoring streak against the La Albiceleste on Tuesday.

    He said, ‘Whenever I play against Argentina, or whenever Messi is playing against me, I score.

    ‘Four years ago I scored two goals. When I transferred to Leicester City and we played against Barcelona I scored another two goals, so I think in the next game anything can happen.

    ‘Possibly, I’m going to score another two goals.’

    The Eagles forward bagged a brace against Argentina at the 2014 World Cup, although Nigeria lost the match 3-2, with Messi also scoring two.

    Then in 2016, Musa scored two more when he lined up against Messi, this time in a pre-season friendly between Leicester City and Barcelona.

    Musa was on the losing side, as Barcelona beat the Foxes 4-2.

    The game will get underway at 7pm on Tuesday night with Iceland and Croatia playing at the same time.

    The team to join Croatia in the knockout phase will either France, or Denmark or Australia in the round of 16.

  • Injured Mikel trains for Argentina showdown

    Eagles Captain, Mikel Obi may have been rushed back to fitness from injury for the crucial Argentina game at the ongoing FIFA World Cup in Russia.

    The 31-year-old sustained a wrist injury during Nigeria’s 2-0 win over Iceland at the Volgograd Arena on Friday.

    But the Nigeria midfielder resumed light training on Monday with the national team with a bandage on his wrist.

    Nigeria are second in Group D and will next face two-time former champions Argentina, who have only point from two games at the St. Petersburg Stadium in a match that will start by 7:pm.

  • Advantage Super Eagles

    Nigeria’s victory over Argentina at the ongoing 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia may be decided on a divine note.

    Former Green Eagles skipper, Segun Odegbami, may have been sensing the issues at stake when Kunle Solaja quoted him as saying, “Pray for them please so that the elements conspire with us and give us sweet victory.”

    However, psychology may win the match over artistry. Whichever way, only the toughest will survive.

    The pressure is on former world champions Argentina whose performance in this World Cup are woeful having only one point and a three goal deficit against a Nigeria who probably need just a draw after a three point advantage but a zero goals difference.

    If Croatia does not make “deal” with Iceland playing their first eleven as Mikel alleged, Nigeria may have a stroll in the park.

    Reports have said the Argentine camp have been in disarray and players may choose their team cutting off the coach.

    Reports say the players want their coach sacked after the Croatia match. Aguero may be benched for clashing with the coach after the embarrassing  defeat to Croatia.

    The team former star, Diego Maradona, had never been comfortable with Nigeria since Super Eagles ended his blissful career in 1994.

    Maradona tested positive to banned drugs and he was slammed with a two- year FIFA ban.

    Sanni Toro, the NFA scribe, then had wanted the match won through boardroom decision but FIFA gave a “capital No” verdict.

    Nigeria lost by the odd goal in four previous meetings between the two countries at the World Cup but defeated the Albiceleste  4-2 in a pre-World Cup friendly played in Krasnodar , Russia, in November last year.

    Messi had repeatedly expressed fears  about the threat posed by the physical, fast and youthful Nigerian side.

    Super Eagles Coach, Gernot Rohr, had admitted earlier in the tournament that Nigeria’s Achilles heel is set pieces and lack of concentration in closing moments. But it is more than that.

    The passes are not accurate and shot at goal is poor. Nigeria may benefit from bounce off from the goalkeeper if they are alert. There should be no deep defending which can dash them VAR sponsored penalties.

     

     

  • World Cup: Super Eagles on the brink of round of 16?

    Ahead of the crucial Group D final round of matches at the ongoing World Cup in Russia, the Super Eagles face an uphill task, against a hell-bent La Albiceleste of Argentina that hope to reach the round of 16.

    While the former two-time World Champions would want to use the pivotal match to revive their faltering campaign in Russia, the Super Eagles also sees the match as a must-win; to prolong Nigeria’s stay in Russia.

    This is where we expect superior team tactics, maximum fitness level of players and a high sense of commitment on the part of the Super Eagles, in the must win match against Nigeria’s perennial rival at the World Cup.

    For the Super Eagles to land safely in the knockout stages, certain permutations must be taken into consideration to make Nigeria understand the enormity of the task at hand.

    Croatia lead with six points in Group D, Nigeria are second with three points, Iceland are third with one point and Argentina are at the bottom with one point.

    Croatia have qualified and will be group winners with a point against Iceland.

    Nigeria will qualify with a win over Argentina. A point will be enough if Iceland do not beat Croatia.

    If Argentina and Nigeria draw, Iceland will make the last 16 if they beat Croatia by a two-goal margin, and also score at least one more than Nigeria.

    Argentina will qualify with victory over Nigeria coupled with Iceland failing to defeat Croatia.

    If Iceland beat Croatia, then Jorge Sampaoli’s side can still qualify if they beat Nigeria by two more goals than Iceland win their game.

    If Argentina and Iceland win and finish with identical records their fate will be decided by their disciplinary records and then the drawing of lots. Argentina have picked up three yellow cards and Iceland have none.

    Ahmed Musa of Super Eagles celebrating after scoring a goal against Iceland.

    It is against this seemingly impossible backdrop, that we expect Coach Gernot Rohr to field a durable squad that would tackle the Lionel Messi-Captained La Albiceleste toe-to-toe for the maximum three points at stake.

    We expect to see the same line-up Nigeria used against the Strakkamir Okkar of Iceland to play against Argentina, and the three man defence line of Kenneth Omeruo, Leon Balogun and Troost Ekong should continue from where they stopped against Iceland.

    While the midfield of Mikel, Wilfred Ndidi, Oghenekaro Etebo, and the wingbacks combination of Brian Idowu/Tyronne Ebuehi and Victor Moses; form a compact unit that should be able to contain the expected onslaught from Messi, Paulo Dyabala, Angel de Maria…

     

    Soccer Football – World Cup – Group D – Argentina vs Iceland – Spartak Stadium, Moscow, Russia – June 16, 2018 Argentina’s Lionel Messi in action REUTERS/Carl Recine

    According to Godwin Dudu-Orumen, renowned Executive Producer of “The Best of Football’’ an award winning TV programme; the Super Eagles must be on their toes all through the match and guard against blunders.

    “Super Eagles must play in the front. They have to avoid giving away free kicks in our half and vital areas that Argentina could use to hurt us.

    “Eagles must create chances and take them, all half chances must be converted.

    “They must be strong in going forward. No goal scoring opportunity should go unutilised.

    Dudu-Orumen told NAN that Moses should be made to play the way he played against Iceland from the wing back, and urged Rohr to impress on whoever he chooses to be the arrowhead of the attack to be clinical.

    “Must be more daring, more positive and must cut into the 18 yard box as did Ahmed Musa against Iceland and to constantly put the Argentine defence under pressure.

    “Whoever is selected for the striking role must be mobile and constantly on the move to shake off Nicola Otamendi who can be rough if not dirty, Javier Mascherano is another very dirty player.

    “The Eagles must have less physical contact with Gonzalo Higuain who are very dangerous but can be checked with alert marking,’’ he said.

    According to the entrepreneur all the players of the Super Eagles must play for the team and by so doing victory will likely come Nigeria’s way.

    In the same vein, Adefeko Mohammed, Vice-President Corporate and Government Relations, Olam Nigeria, who is also a keen football enthusiast, told NAN on telephone that the showdown against Argentina was a winnable match.

    “I think we should stick to our formation from the last match and the players must be tactically disciplined in their approach to the match.

    “We should play to our strength and impose ourselves on La Albiceleste in order to disorganise their game plan.

    “If Mikel is not fit for the match, he should be replaced by John Ogu at the back; if Mikel is playing then he should play from the holding midfield role.

    “Where we cannot win the match then we should strive to avoid defeat,’’he said.

    The onus is now on the Super Eagles to take the bull by the horn through a creditable display that would deny the Argentine team a berth in the last 16; which they regard as their birthright.

    Super Eagles met Argentina for the first time in its maiden appearance at the USA `94 World Cup, where the Diego Maradona captained the squad that defeated Nigeria 2-1.

    Nigeria has since that encounter met Argentina at the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup in which Nigeria lost 1-0, lost to Argentina again at the South Africa 2010 1-0 and lost 3-2 to Argentina at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

    The only time Nigeria and Argentina avoided each other was at the France `98 World Cup.

  • ‘Wild’ Argentina fans cautioned ahead Eagles showpiece

    THE FIFA Disciplinary Committee has cautioned Argentina for its fans misconduct at the ongoing FIFA World Cup in Russia. 

    The football governing body passed down the caution to the Argentines two days to their crucial match with the Super Eagles of Nigeria.

    Fifa said the caution became necessary owing to incidents of crowd disturbance against Croatia on June 21 at Nizhny Novgorod.

    Croatia were also sanctioned by FIFA for the same offence.

    Already Polish Football Association has been fined 10,000 Swiss Franc for unruly conduct by its fans.

    FIFA has reminded teams of its disciplinary code and recalled the background information it gave earlier in March on disciplinary matters at the ongoing 2018 FIFA World Cup.

    Meanwhile, according to the information which has now been circulated to all the team heads of delegation, single yellow cards received by players would be cancelled after the quarter-finals.

    It also said a player would automatically be suspended from his team following matches if he receives two cautions during two different matches

    “If a player is sent off as a result of a direct or indirect red card, he will automatically be suspended from his team’s following match. In addition, further sanctions, such as additional suspensions and fines, et cetera, may be imposed,’’ a statement by FIFA said.

  • Messi skips birthday celebration for Eagles’ showdown

    Argentina’s best player and arguably world best, Lionel Messi yesterday clocked 31 but the Barcelona hero chose to train with his national team squad on his birthday as they prepare for the June 26th showdown against Super Eagles of Nigeria.

    The two countries will slug it out in the final group match that will make or mar their fate of progressing to the second round of the FIFA World Cup in Russia.

    Messi was full of live at the Argentina training on his birthday morning as he jettison going for party with probably knowing how crucial their encounter with Nigerian side is in the light of the country’s position in Group D.

    However, the intensive training which lasted for hours did not end without special congratulatory messages from Argentina manager, Jorge Sampaoli, Sergio Aguero and teammates.

    Though Messi has not scored a goal in this tournament, but there are high hopes that he will spring surprise with his magical moves to lead the wounded Argentine team to victory against Nigeria.

    Nigeria is however, a strong opposition with renew confidence ahead of the Tuesday’s showdown as the three-time African champion team is poised to qualify for the knockout stage with a total victory against the South Americans.

    If Argentina fails to win the World Cup this year, Messi will have to wait until 2022 to have another crack – where he will be 35.

  • Turk referee picked to handle Nigeria-Argentina match

    Cuneyt Cakir of Turkey has been picked to handle the Super Eagles’ final Group D fixture against Argentina on Tuesday at St Petersburg, with two other Turks alongside.

    The 41-year-old who was in charge of proceedings when Juventus faced FC Barcelona in the 2014/2014 UEFA Champions League final will be assisted by compatriots Bahattin Duran and Tarik Ongun.

    Cakir is said to have a high-profile list of players he sent off during his career, including Steven Gerrard, John Terry and Nani, and had earlier officiated the Iran vs Morocco game.

    The Turk has as his Fourth Official Bjorn Kuipers of Netherlands and Sander van Roekel, also of Netherlands, as the Reserve Assistant Referee.

    His Turk assistants had worked with him during the FC Barcelona vs Juventus game, as well as the Morocco vs Iran game.

    The Dutch assistants had handled the Brazil vs Costa Rica game of Friday in St Petersburg, with three other officials.(NAN)

  • World Cup Update: Japan 2-2 Senegal

    Senegal and Japan fans who have received international acclaim for their cleanliness in the stadium where rewarded when their team ended in a thrilling 2-2 draw on Sunday in Yekaterinburg.

    Both teams won their opening games of the World Cup, yet it was the two sets of fans who grabbed the headlines.

    Videos posted on social media showed Japanese fans cleaning up after themselves in the wake of their win over Colombia, picking up litter under their section stadium seats .

    Senegal fans were also filmed being similarly hygienic following their win over Poland.

    Both sets of fans were at it again on Sunday, making the job of the volunteer cleaners at the Yekaterinburg Arena much easier.

     

    “Also we like to try and support our team by waving the blue big dustbin bags, so I think like we make the most of the dustbin bags as well,” said Japanese fan Wataru Morita outside the stadium.

     

    “So we are looking forward to showing our culture to the world through this competition as well.”

     

    “You know, we have to do that. We have to show the world that we are doing something nice,” said Senegal fan Gora Ndoye after the match.

     

    “We don’t come here to leave the rubbish here. We have to take it out after every game to show the world that we are disciplined people.”

     

    “When we do that, next time wherever we go we have a good reception, that is why we are doing it.”

     

    Speaking before the match, Japanese defender Maya Yoshida said the Samurai Blue players were also fastidious in their cleanliness.

     

    “Well our locker room after the match, compared to those in the Premier League, is much cleaner,” said the Southampton defender.

     

    “In terms of fans, we were very impressed. For our fans to come from Japan to Russia and be praised by the media and the whole world…

     

    ” We are very proud of that.”

     

    “There is a saying in Japan that we must leave things cleaner than it was at the time we came to a place…

     

    ”That is one of the virtuous things fans are supposed to do. So that’s what they did.”

     

    Scott North, a professor of sociology at Osaka University, says that maintaining high standards of cleanliness is engrained in Japanese culture.

     

    “Cleaning the school is a part of the school day and an aspect of the education that students receive,” explains North.

     

    “Cleaning up contributes to keeping the environment liveable in the densely populated cities and is also an expression of care and regard for one’s neighbours,” North said.

     

    “I think the Japanese are proudly conscious of their reputation as a clean culture, and they probably expect other places to be somewhat less so.” (Reuters/NAN)

  • Mascherano denies rift between players and coach Sampaoli

    Argentina midfielder, Javier Mascherano, denied on Sunday that a rift had opened between the players and coach Jorge Sampaoli following their 0-3 World Cup defeat by Croatia.

    He said that the relationship between the two sides had remained “totally normal”.

    The loss to Croatia, Argentina’s heaviest in a World Cup group stage match since 1958, put the 2014 runners-up in serious danger of a first round exit before Nigeria’s 2-0 win over Iceland gave them a lifeline.

    However, Argentina must still beat Nigeria in their final Group D game on Tuesday to stand a chance of reaching the last 16 and keep alive, five-times world player-of-the-year, Lionel Messi’s, dream of winning a World Cup.

    “The relationship with the coach is totally normal,” said Mascherano, who at 34, is one of the most experienced and influential players in the squad.

    “Obviously, if we feel uncomfortable about anything, we let him know, and that goes for the players on the bench as well as the ones on the field,” he said at the team’s base outside Moscow.

    Mascherano said he had played under eight national team coaches in his Argentina career and none of them had complained afterwards that the players had picked the team.

    “There are many myths about the team and about this generation,” he said.

    “We need to be very optimistic. Believe it or not, we are World Cup runners-up and at some point we have to show that.

    “If we don’t say what we think, we’re going to get to the game with a lot of insecurities.

    “The aim is for everyone to give their knowledge and experience so that the team can rise again.

    ”I still believe a lot in these players that have taken us to three finals,” he added, referring to one World Cup and two Copa America finals.

    “I’m not going to stop believing in them.”

    Mascherano added that “we are aware of all the noise there is and, unfortunately, that does not help anyone.”

    Midfielder Lucas Biglia joined Mascherano’s complaints about the criticism.

    “I thought that after Ecuador, everyone would look ahead,” he said, referring to the 3-1 win in October where Argentina clinched their place at the World Cup after a tumultuous qualifying campaign.

    “But, at the slightest difficulty, they start hitting us again when we are on the floor. We will try to put those things aside and focus on the opportunity that we have.”

  • England march into last 16 after thrashing Panama 6-1

    Harry Kane struck a hat-trick as England marched into the last 16 of the World Cup after a record 6-1 win over a woeful Panama in their World Cup Group G match on Sunday.

    The result, a record win for England in a World Cup finals match, means England qualify for the knockout stage with a game to spare, along with Belgium who also have six points.

    Tournament debutants Panama are eliminated along with Tunisia.

    England was 5-0 up at halftime after taking full advantage of a poor Panamanian defence.

    A header from a corner by John Stones, a penalty from Kane and a beautiful strike from the edge of the box by Jesse Lingard set them on their way.

    A Stones header from a well-worked free-kick routine and a second Kane penalty gave them a 5-0 lead going into the break.

    The England captain, now the tournament’s top scorer with five goals, completed his hat-trick when a shot from Ruben Loftus-Cheek deflected in off the Tottenham forward in the 62nd minute.

    Kane became just the third England player to score a hat-trick in a World Cup game following Geoff Hurst in 1966 final and Gary Lineker against Poland in the 1986 tournament.

    Panama pulled a goal back in the 78th minute through Felipe Baloy, the Central American nation’s first goal at a World Cup. (Reuters/NAN)