Watching WC '98 Spain vs Nigeria and one wonders why Spain has developed so much while Nigeria seem to be on same spot cuz the SE 98 could have been our foundation to more formidable world beating team
Spain developed its local league with consistent developmental programs while we have done nothing.

AIG07:
It seems 80% of Nigerians have written off this team...

All because of a few friendlies. Talk about cheap loyalty...

nelszx:

With pacey players at the wings that can track back to help the midfield yes it can. Our 4-2-3-1 is another 4-5-1 we've not mastered yet. The only time it worked well was against Cameroon away. That formation needs intelligent full backs sha

the absence of Moses Simon is one of the reasons we are presently struggling with the formation.

No one to compliment V. Moses at the right flank. Shehu has become frail and no one to track back to assist in defending.

So our best bet is sticking to the 3-5-2 formation

OMANBALA1:
News in camp has it that Ndidi is getting into a monster mode.

Iwobi getting better and one of the fittest player in camp.

Etebor pushing for a start.

Awaziem best in tackles.

Ogu getting even better with his passing game.

Everybody is a superstar during practice.

ChrisKels:


Uzoho should bid his time and not make any hurried move until the world cup is over. I believe if he does well in the world Cup, he could get a decent midtable team in France to sign with.

That is if he doesn't do an Agbonabasket.

A bird in hand is always worth more than 10 in the bushes you know.

oloriooko:
Watching WC '98 Spain vs Nigeria and one wonders why Spain has developed so much while Nigeria seem to be on same spot cuz the SE 98 could have been our foundation to more formidable world beating team
Spain developed its local league with consistent developmental programs while we have done nothing.

that spanish team in 98 was a very good team, it was our ruggedness that won that game for us, it takes ruggedness, tactics and discipline for an african team to overcome its european counterpart, just watch the Cameroon team in italia 90 and Senegalese team in 2002. Power play is one of our strength as Africans and must be deployed cos you can't beat very good European teams by skills alone, you got to show power like we also did in 94 against Bulgaria but if na ajebutter football you wan play, I sorry sorry!

nelszx:

They'd hold their held high
We (Africans) need to learn to bury our chances same thing with Senegal against the Croats yesterday. Tunisia should have layed this game to rest in the first half if only they learn to punish opponents.

Nonetheless, they have given teams expo on how to deal with Spain.
This world cup will be the best world cup in terms of smart formations and team setups. Many teams are coming with young and upwardly mobile tacticians.
World cup is no longer the play ground for geriatric septogerian managers.

TheGoodJoe:


Simple. Same player made two rash tackles to injure a particular player.

Finito.

oga france beat Nigeria fairly

goldfish80:


My brother, all these you stated have been what I have been preaching here over the past 2years but these people will prefer these shinny hipster choice European born players,hating players from their own league.

You should have seen the shameful comments made before, during and after the Chan tournament. If some had their way, they would have disbanded the Chan team even before the tournament.

Africans are just terribly lazy. They want ready made everything. They never make their own.
Consumer nation,that's what we are.

The Chan team was thrash. That's why they were criticized

Bolowolowo:


All because of a few friendlies. Talk about cheap loyalty...

haha... So many pessimists with defeatist mindset every where you turn too...

Some de even rank us alongside Saudi, Iran, Panama. They believe more in new comers like Iceland who'll be featuring in their second competitive tournaments.(the Euros and now WC)...

The same France and Spain they've all been singing to high heavens struggled to draw and beat their lowly rated opponents.

Friendlies are what they are- test games and nothing more. Russia, the host nation drew 7 straight games... If it were to be my dear country, the team and coaches would have long be disbanded and dismissed.

No wonder Nigeria doesn't have a DREAM OR VISION. Even if we do, no one BELIEVES IN IT. I think we're wired PESSIMISTS.

edi287:
Xvideos

Na wetin dem dey do dia?

AIG07:
It seems 80% of Nigerians have written off this team...

this is very nice .... i remembered talking to someone yesterday that we will win Croatia , the guy just stood up and left , even the other one said ... i should talk about something else ... i told them we re beating them 3-1 the worse version of what happened to spain in 1998

Oasis007:




This is becoming Drama...... LOL! You volunteer yourself as a Witness, he asked for the Evidence, you couldn't present the Evidence coz you are too lazy to dig out for it.

Alas! You come into Conclusion that he's a Liar - another Allegation?! LMAO!

You know in a competent Court of Law, your Testimony is DOA?! Besides you've committed Perjury?!

did i quote you?? was i referring to you?? why do you choose to just be an ass licker??

forgiveness:


LMAO. hahahahhahha!

Abeg no kill me here.

I was never against the invitation of any FB including Iwobi and I can boldly tell you that 98% of monikers in this thread and the other thread BOLDLY AGAINST the idea of FB players who have not distinguished themselves in their clubs be given a call to the National team which I agured against.

That was where I started having arguments and disputes against majority of them here.

Ebuehi and Brian where players 98% of this monikers fought against me when I first brought them to the attention of this thread.

So, why should I against what I fought for?

Maybe this days, I don tire for such scouting because I can see some doing the good job hence my retirement from scouting FB.

i usually confuse you both,is not you but your brother

Goke7:


that spanish team in 98 was a very good team, it was our ruggedness that won that game for us, it takes ruggedness, tactics and discipline for an african team to overcome its european counterpart, just watch the Cameroon team in italia 90 and Senegalese team in 2002. Power play is one of our strength as Africans and must be deployed cos you can't beat very good European teams by skills alone, you got to show power like we also did in 94 against Bulgaria but if na ajebutter football you wan play, I sorry sorry!

Nigeria dont play physical football ... Nigeria is the only country in Africa that plays that style ... we re only going to perfect it soon

One thing our players need now is to be Psyched up. I hope our team psychologist is not sleeping.

They need to see themselves as Champions. Going into every game with winner's mentality and superior mindset as these will activate beast and ruthless mode.

They did it against Algeria and Cameroon. Scoring 3,4 goals against African finests. There are is need for them to have the believe that they can do it again - this time around against World bests.

I want to see Mikel, Moses and Ighalo put on serious face. No smiling, no laughing until the did has been done.

It's high time the Super Eagles declare war on their Opponents.

edi287:

The Chan team was thrash. That's why they were criticized

If the super eagles play trash and qualify for the world cup finals, will they be criticized?

AIG07:
One thing our players need now is to be Psyched up. I hope our team psychologist is not sleeping.

They need to see themselves as Champions. Going into every game with winner's mentality and superior mindset as these will activate beast and ruthless mode.

They did it against Algeria and Cameroon. Scoring 3,4 goals against African finests. There are is need for them to have the believe that they can do it again - this time around against World bests.

I want to see Mikel, Moses and Ighalo put on serious face. No smiling, no laughing until the did has been done.

It's high time the Super Eagles declare war on their Opponents.

we can do it ... #GO SUPEREAGLE GO

AIG07:
One thing our players need now is to be Psyched up. I hope our team psychologist is not sleeping.

They need to see themselves as Champions. Going into every game with winner's mentality and superior mindset as these will activate beast and ruthless mode.

They did it against Algeria and Cameroon. Scoring 3,4 goals against African finests. There are is need for them to have the believe that they can do it again - this time around against World bests.

I want to see Mikel, Moses and Ighalo put on serious face. No smiling, no laughing until the did has been done.

It's high time the Super Eagles declare war on their Opponents.

I am not sure we have one bro

TheGoodJoe:


The French resorted to underhand tactics to get leverage. It is not even up for debate self.

Why is Diego Maradona holding that picture?

MetalJigsaw:
Na wetin dem dey do dia?

Mental exercises for better concentration

goldfish80:

If the super eagles play trash and qualify for the world cup finals, will they be criticized?

Amodu's SE teams got criticized despite making the WC twice and winning Bronze at Afcon twice. They weren't as bad as the CHAN team

darkelf:


I am not sure we have one bro

Apparently we do. If he was great, then Akpeyi would've been our first choice goalie.

lexyman:



Nigeria dont play physical football ... Nigeria is the only country in Africa that plays that style ... we re only going to perfect it soon

What style?

Fly, Eagles fly

Posted By: Ade Ojeikere On: June 9, 2018

Let us tell ourselves the truth – Nigeria cannot win the Russia 2018 World Cup diadem, with the lackadaisical manner in which our players prosecuted the first half of their last three international friendly matches. That they are playing safe is an unacceptable excuse, given how other players slated to participate in the Mundial approach their countries’ games. What our last two friendly matches have shown is that Nigeria will be at the Mundial on an excursion, except something drastic happens to the players’ attitude. For now, it is despicable. Sad.

Gernot Rohr should fix the defence. Our players are slow to react to crosses. The taller ones, particularly who wait until the ball gets to them before reacting. At the Mundial, strikers will snatch the ball by reacting first. And bang the ball or nod it into the net for goals. The flank defenders are left vulnerable because those who man the midfield and the flanks upfront never fall back when they lose the ball.

Those who attempt to fall back to mark are slower than the millipede. It is ironic watching taller Nigerians marking shorter opponents. Are the players expecting Rohr to teach them what to do? Please, senior national team players ought not be taught this basic skill. It should come to them naturally.

The roof top of The Nation Sportinglife’s office almost came down as Neymar riffled home Brazil’s opening goal in their 2-0 victory over Croatia at Anfield Stadium, home of Liverpool FC of England. The game was Neymar’s first since he copped an injury that almost ruined his chances of participating in the Mundial. I leapt onto my feet watching Germany’s goalkeeper Neuer show no traces of being rusty, even when he had been off the pitch for over 249 days due to an injury. Neymar and Neuer are big stars whose countries must feature those games. Neuer, in particular, is a World Cup winner. But they chose to subject themselves to scrutiny. That way others in the teams wouldn’t feel cheated.

Super Eagles manager Gernot Rohr goofed by allowing Victor Moses a few days to celebrate his wedding anniversary instead of going to Nigeria’s World Cup camp which opened in Uyo penultimate Monday. Rohr has unwittingly created an Animal Farm setting in the Eagles. I hope it doesn’t haunt him when the chips are down in Russia. Moses is an integral part of the Eagles and should be made to play in all our friendly games, especially as Wilfred Ndidi is still recuperating.

Moses was a shadow of himself and rightly so, because he didn’t subject himself to the training drills others had in Uyo and Port Harcourt when DR Congo held Nigeria to a 1-1 draw inside the Adokie Amiesimaka Stadium. Moses’ penchant for missing Nigeria’s friendly matches is legendary- when he isn’t injured, he is asking for days to rest or feigning injury. Yet, he gets fielded in our matches and becomes a cog in the wheel of progress.

Moses is Nigeria’s poster boy to the Mundial and he has not applied himself to the team’s build-up matches. Moses’ conduct reminds us of John Mikel Obi’s days at Chelsea. Sadly, other nationals who play for the Blues don’t behave like the Nigerian duo with their countries? ‘’Why are we so blessed?’’

Rohr has been fine with his selection, but his decision to field Moses ahead of Kelechi Iheanacho defied tactics as the Chelsea star was lost in the game in England. He neither marked nor provided the passes to free the strikers to score goals. Moses had only one moment, where he dribbled an English defender who fell on his knees. He lost the ball shortly, making such a dribbling, a foolish act.

Iheanacho trained more with the team than Moses before the game against England. He even played in the first half of the game against DR Congo and was definitely in form than the latter. Perhaps, Rohr’s excuse would be that Iheanacho had a knock, yet he shouldn’t have played Moses for that long. Good player, no doubt, but he selects matches and may not be part of Nigeria’s subsequent matches, given what we saw from the boys who drilled Europa Cup champions Atletico Madrid inside the Nest of Champions Stadium in Uyo. The Spaniards won the game but they confessed that those young Nigerians stretched them to their limit.

However, England’s game served its purpose. It has forced Rohr to adopt the 3-5-2 formation which he employed against Argentina and the English in the second half. It worked for the Eagles against the Argentines with their historic 4-2 whiplash of the former World Cup champions. But England’s manager Gareth Southgate opted to park-the-bus, like they say in coaching, by putting enough men behind the ball. This defensive net held the rampaging Nigerians after their early goal in the second half, scored by Alex Iwobi.

Nigerians watched in awe as the Eagles wobbled against a starless Czech Republic that didn’t have former Arsenal FC of London’s ace Rosiky and goalkeeper Petr Cech. With such a team, it should be a stroll in the park for the Nigerians, given our players’ pedigree. The Czechs exploited our weakness in aerial battles to score their only goal. What stood out was the failure of our central defenders to mark their men during set pieces, such as the corner kick which resulted in the goal.

Indeed, the most difficult balls to contend with by goalkeepers are close range headers. And it behoves on our defenders to pick the nearest free opponent during such goalmouth melee. Goalkeeper Francis Uzoho did well with the first header but the rebound fell on an unmarked Czech who riffled the ball into the net. That was a cheap goal, which could have been averted had a defender stayed with the scorer. Our players must be told that our group opponents sent spies to watch our matches. Teams wobble when the opposition attacks them at their weaknesses. I hope this won’t be our portion on June 16 against Croatia.

Nigeria cannot afford to lose her first game, especially against the background that the Argentines will be battling newcomers Iceland in their opening game. Should the Argentines whip Iceland, the losers will pull all the stops to avert another defeat against Nigeria in the second game. A win for Nigeria over Croatia will not only be a morale booster with three points, it will also give us the impetus to beat a losing Iceland, even if they lose to Argentina.

With six points, Nigeria would have equalled her best performance at the Mundial, leaving the last game against Argentina a mere formality. But, the permutations by iconic manager Jose Mourinho raises an interesting poser in the event that Nigeria and Argentina win their two matches in the group.

The two countries will be fighting for the group’s leadership but the critical question will be which of the two countries will like to draw France in the second round? Argentina won’t like to play against France, ditto the French, won’t cherish a fixture against the Argentines. So, which country will love to play the French? I pray we draw Australia in the Round of 16, following Mourinho’s prediction. Nigerians would be glad to have the Aussies. If it does happen, Nigeria will join the league of African nations that have played in the quarter-finals.

In the last edition, the French eliminated Nigeria in the second round and didn’t look like the team to beat us. We have the players to beat France if they play to their potential. Indeed, our players spent the night leading to the French game in Brazil sharing $3.8 million cash instead of training or resting. If there wasn’t the money distraction, perhaps we would have given the French the fight of our lives, reminiscent of what we did to Brazil at the Atlanta ’96 Olympic Games, where we turned the table against the Samba Boyz in one of the semi-final matches. The Samba Boyz led us by 3-1 but the Nwankwo Kanu-led squad turned it around to 4-3. The Brazilians were sobbing like kids after the final whistle. Nigeria went on to win the Olympic Games’ gold medal, beating Argentina 3-2 in the final game.

Rohr has challenged us not to press the panic button based on the last two losses. He took Moses, Mikel and Iwobi through the gym work while their colleagues trained. It is clear that the trio are our best. When they are not fit to compete, we are always in trouble.

“We’ve nine days to be ready for our first match vs Croatia, as at today, we are not ready. I am not sad because of this result, the result that matters will be in Russia,” Rohr said after Wednesday’s match.

Good to know that Ndidi is fit because he would bring steel into the defence, a quality missing in the team while Ndidi was injured. Onazi was too fat to cope with the demands of the position. He has promised to improve. Will he get a second chance? That is neither here nor there.

http://thenationonlineng.net/fly-eagles-fly-3/

lexyman:



Nigeria dont play physical football ... Nigeria is the only country in Africa that plays that style ... we re only going to perfect it soon

That is why we may never get to quarter final in the world cup if we continue with our aje butter ways

South American teams combine power and skill, reason they do well. You need something extra to bulldoze your way beyond your opponents in big tournaments, even France had to get physical with us to boot us out at the last world cup. Italy did it to us in 94. So you see say kpako and skill na the way or else we will be back home. Did you not observe England getting physical with us in that friendly?

TheGoodJoe:


Stop switching topics of debate. I pointed out Ike Uche and your writing a host of players.

The remark is pertinent to the discussion.

You made the unit of measurement i.e. failure to follow instructions, as the basis for exclusion.

Therefore does that same measurement reflect the exclusion in addition to those players named I add Hope Akpan ( dislocated his shoulder playing for us) and also Danny Shittu. Both highly disciplined players.

daveP:



They made life difficult for Brazil. But a world cup vibed Brazil would always find a way. I'm sure they would rewatch thus match and find loopholes just like we are too.

That's just theory after the event.

I was at that match front lower level barely 2/3 metres from the pitch. I cam tell you Brazil didn't even get to gear three. It was almost a training game for Brazil and how baby fouls did Croatia commit against vthe very relaxed Brazilians

I still expect us to beat Croatia, particularly if we adopt the 3-5-2 with Omeruo - Balogun - Ekong

I wouldn't play Ogu or Echiejile simply too slow and not mobile enough possibly 2nf half for Ogu.

The Croatian struggle with pace.

forgiveness:


Lies everywhere.

What else do you expect them to give in order to justify their actions?

As long as we have not heard Ike Uche's side of the story, this remains an allegation and not a fact.

Gerrit!?

AGREED WITHOUT RESERVATION

Unless any of you have first hand personal knowledge then it's all mere HEARSAY.

ChrisKels:
Aina's snub already yeilding bad fruit as Anglo Nigerian trio vow to turn down Nigeria if approached and their fear is that they might be treated like their colleague Aina.

Tom Dele Bashiru who once opted to rep Nigeria, lukas Nmecha, Tosin Adarabioyo and others are the ones listed for now who have vowed to turn down the NFF due to how poorly Aina was treated.

I gave a tongue and cheek indication about this and was hotly contested with the usual nonsensical propositions that stemmed from prejudiced sentiment. All garnished with unsavoury language and sometimes downright abuse.

We are practicing a kind of indigenous tribal discrimination with Nigerian origin players considered to be less NIGERIAN by quite a few here.

ChrisKels:



As much as I was pained by Aina's omission, I also feel this news is false because if those guys feel bad about Aina's snub, they should also consider the fact that iwobi, vicmo were picked.

But the last paragraph carries much info and its true. Idowu and Elderson are not better than Aina.

Iwobi is an exceptional case, we all should know,his Uncle is JJay he was in the national team before he even played one senior game for Arsenal.

Victor Moses was born in Nigeria and actually played for a local academy in Benin City before coming to England.

Consider the way Sone Aluko, Danny Shittu and Hope Akpan ( actually dislocated his shoulder playing for Nigeria) were all treated. You then have past,present and continuous form.

It's not everything that they will say in public but I can. And behind it all was the issue if inducement.

charlesemeka85:
you are right bro. the mistake of the nff all these years is they tend to wait until these kids reach stardom which by then will be difficult for them to turn down a call from their country of birth. the nff should engage certain individuals with the responsibility to monitor kids of Nigerian parentage doing well in various European academies with the purpose of drafting them to our youth teams. i can remember vividly how a lot here were against the invite of ebuehi but today he is the darling of every nigerian football fan. one good thing with this euro born kids is they play with their real ages and tend to develop and blossom as the years goes unlike some of our locally breed players who regress easily. after the world cup i want the nff and rohr to still scout europe for kids of nigerian parentge who are willing to change allegiance to us. another big catch will be getting huddlesfield's philip anyanwu billing. i foresee him developing to a midfield dynamo in no distant time.

Ovie Ejaria and Ademola Lookman were initially invited to the National U17 set up then dropped and not followed up and or the relationship developed beyond the superficial.

The question WHY