₦airaland Forum

10 minutes to half time. We've contained the French well so far.

Our bus parking really confusing the French players. Do they attack? Do they defend? And we keep threatening at counter. Pattern set for the match. Interesting, but nail biting.

Disciplined zonal marking from Nigeria. Dennerby can help super eagles with zonal marking training.

Oshoala really not impressing me with her casual game. This is not how she plays for Barca.

France win a freekick by selling a foul to Ebere. Ebere gets yellow after crowd pressure ref. ON replay it looked like the player jumped into Ebere. Soft yellow.

We;re losing concentration and France are less threatening. They are afraid to attack due to Ordega and Okeke's threat to counter at pace. They are happy to rumble.

Chikwelu trying to do a Xavi and loses possesion . Our keeper comes out but ball goes for goal kick.

Possession is 30% Nigeria. We're used to that now under Mr Dennerby aburo Alladyce.

Straight to keeper. We are looking balanced defensively and attacking.

Free kick Nigeria after Ordega is fouled. Inswinger if we get head.

semid4lyfe:
Leave story, Ordega is a baller. By far the most improved Super Falcons player

Most impressive of our attackers.

Oshoala with a 2 vs 2, but she casually missed the chance to square it. She's too casual for my liking. Star, yes, but pls put more effort.

Now we pushing up our defence line a bit. We still look dangerous on counter.

Ohale standing tall in defence. So far, we are compact defensively, but it only takes a mistake. Corner France.
Unmarked player shoots just wide. We're living dangerously.

Sloppy play for past 3 minutes by Nigeria. Another set piece for France.

Oshoala loses the ball casually. France get another corner. No protection for our keeper with our zonal marking. We get away with it.

France try Norway's short corner type. We don learn and we clear it with ease.

First corner for France. Heartbeat going pooompooompooom.

I rewatched that 8-0 beating and we were a match for France for most of the match. Defensive naivity cost us a lot on that day.

So far, we're compact. 8 minutes played.

Okeke break outs are causing France trouble. They cant attack down that flank.

Norway score and enter 2nd spot. As it stands, Nigeria qualify.

We're playing well. Almost scored from the corner. Not respecting France at all.

First corner to Nigeria after Okeke breaks out of defence with a pass to Ordega.

Kick off and France launch an attack to set the tone. Looks like we playing 5-3-2 on average.

Chidinma Okeke saying prayer like our Imam. She's looking fearless.

3 of our players on yellow, so they miss next match if they get a yellow. As if we go play next match...

Nigerian national anthem. We also wearing our lucky jersey. Today will be good!

French anthem going on and they look like they want to fight.

BascoVanVeli:
Starting XI

I dont know which player is Ajayi? Except if Amarachi Okoronkwo has changed name.

Welcome to Nigeria matchday...
Team news> Only one change from the last game. Uchendu is benched for the hardworking Halimatu Ayinde. Coach wants to pack midfield like olden days sardine. France make 4 changes, with one in each part of the field. Both sides retain their goalies.

PDPGuy:
And SA are the first team to be officially eliminated from the World Cup

They leave with 1 goal and 0 points.

Spain and China both trying hard to keep it as a draw. Spain should score 2 goals to make things interesting for China.

PDPGuy:
Well said.

A 4-5-1 or 4-2-3-1 formation would suit the team right. Any attempt to try to out-possess the French would be fatal (football-wise of course).

We need not change our formation just because we want a draw. We were compact enough against Korea and frustrated their attacks a lot of the time. If we do the same against France, we will be OK. Same formation for me, but Ajibade has to come in for Okobi. Or Ajibade comes in and Okobi drafted to replace Uchendu.

semid4lyfe:
Best approach in my opinion. There's no way we're gonna boss the midfield and control possession.

The players don't play close enough to each other, press high enough and their marking is poor as they leave pockets of spaces for opposing players to run into.

Containment should be our first priority with counter attacks being used with Ordega and Oshaola serving as the outlets.

If we can be defensively solid, we can get a draw or a shock victory.

Amen
Though I don't think France is as powerful as we make them look.
I'm a bit concerned that the same person in charge of VAR when we played Norway is in charge tomorrow. I don't expect any favours.