After an exhilarating 2-2 draw against South Koreans in Durban on Tuesday, June 21st, the Super Eagles were knocked out of the 2010 World Cup much to the disappointment of millions of Nigerians. Yet again the Eagles have failed to win a game at the World Cup or make it through to the knockout rounds. Recriminations are already flying, finger-pointing for Nigeria’s dismal outing at the Mundial. Things would have been different had the Super Eagles had the rub of the green in South Africa but it seemed that Lady Luck did not favour the Nigerians.
I am going to dissect the Super Eagles’ performance at the World Cup and possibly highlight the turning points in the Eagles’ fortunes.
Pre-World Cup Preparation
The Nigerian FA are notorious for their tardiness and shoddy preparation for major football tourneys. The so-called ‘Fire Brigade’ approach came to fore once again; rushed preparations without careful and considerate planning has always been the bane of Nigeria football. Coach Lars Lagerback was only appointed by the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) in February this year and the Swede barely had a month to familiarise himself with the players before the World Cup. Credit must be given to Lagerback for his squad selection despite a very short time with the players.
After a narrow 0-1 loss to Diego Maradona’s Argentina, Dickson Etuhu in an interview with the BBC complained bitterly about playing at altitude and lack of training at altitude. It will only make sense for a team gunning for glory to acclimatise with the conditions they will be playing in good time. Why did the Super Eagles have their training camp in the Swiss Alps in the Northern Hemisphere when the tournament is to be staged far below the equator? A training camp in South Africa should have been ideal from my point of view. The players would have acclimatised easily rather than popping into South Africa four days before the tournament kicked off. The NFF should take a cue from their South Korean counterparts; the Taeguk Warriors had training sessions in SA prior to the World Cup. The Taeguk Warriors obviously acclimatised better than the Eagles as evident in their performances.
Professionalism or lack of it
With utter disappointment and regret, the lack of professionalism amongst the Eagles is simply appalling. These players call themselves professional footballers but seem to lack the basic knowledge of the game. Nigeria’s group opener against Argentina was littered by ‘foul throws’ by the Eagles. Come on! This is the World Cup! It is the highest level you can play football yet the Super Eagles lack the knowledge of what a ‘foul throw’ entails. If possible, the Eagles should be taken to the classroom and taught the basic skills, rules and regulation of the beautiful game.
The now infamous ‘Red Card’ incident involving Sani Kaita is another example of lack of professionalism in the team. Kaita should know very well that shoving an opponent is a bookable offence lest trying to trample on him. Kaita looked flummoxed when referee Olegario Benquerenca showed him red, but it is the rule of the game and it was a red card ‘well-justified.’ The 1-2 loss to Greece is now history, no thanks to Kaita’s ‘rush-of-blood-to-the-head’ moment. The Eagles battled with ten men for over an hour and in football terms, that’s a pretty long time to play with a man down. Lack of professionalism cost the Eagles maximum points in that match.
Poor defending
Poor marking was a recurring decimal in all three games the Eagles played in South Africa. Against Argentina, the Super Eagles conceded the game’s lone goal from a set-piece; a corner kick by Juan Sebastian Veron floated into the Eagles’ penalty box and Gabriel Heinze beautifully headed home unchallenged. Should you take a look at Heinze’s goal against Nigeria, you will notice how pedestrian the Nigerian defence were. None of the Eagles in the box made an attempt to clear the initial cross from Veron, the Eagles were all guilty of ‘ball-watching,’ perhaps they were transfixed, rooted to the ground whileLionel Messi and co did maximum damage. Heinze’s seventh minute goal eventually turned out to be the game winner.
The Nigerians were also undone by two set-pieces against the Koreans. One should expect the Nigerians to use their height as an advantage over the shorter Koreans but the Eagles never exploited that advantage. Once again a free kick from the left, floated into the box leaving the Eagles flat-footed and an easy tap-in for Lee Jung Soo at the far corner of the goal post. Then Park Chu Young’s curled free kick round a not-so solid Eagles’ wall sailed through into the net giving the Koreans a 2-1 lead few minutes into the second half. Lapses in concentration by the Eagles defence were obviously exploited by the Koreans to Nigeria’s eventual elimination. Lesson learnt: set-pieces should be properly defended, while balls floated into the 18-yard box shouldn’t be allowed to land before they are cleared.
Poor Finishing
The Super Eagles are the most culpable of sides in the first round of the World Cup in missing goal-scoring chances. The main culprits include Yakubu Aiyegbeni, Obasi Ogbuke and Uche Kalu amongst others. Nigerians need not be reminded of Yakubu’s miss only from three yards against Korea or Obasi’s fumble against Greece. I don’t doubt the quality of the Super Eagles forwards but their finishing leaves a lot to be desired. Had the Super Eagles taken chances that came their way against all three Group B opponents, the scenario would have been totally different. As evident in football, you will be made to pay for missed chances sooner or later. No one can lay blame on the Jabulani for such profligacy in front of goal; football is all about taking your chances when the opportunity presents itself. After all said and done, the Super Eagles should have been more clinical in their finishes and spared the nation heartache.
It is not all doom and gloom for Nigerian Football after all. There are few positives to take from the World Cup; the team created lots of scoring chances. They had the fighting spirit that has been missing in the Nigerian game lately. I reckon the Super Eagles would have done better had Lagerback got a longer period with the team. It is time to revamp the NFF, give Lars Lagerback a long term contract and the Eagles will take flight once again. Not long now, let’s wait and see!
Thursday, 24 June 2010
Friday, 18 June 2010
The Navigators seek Glory
Portugal
With a squad as gifted as their Iberian neighbours Spain; Portugal once a feared name in the World of Football have been in and out of the doldrums. The promised Golden Generation with the likes of Luis Figo, Rui Costa, Fernando Couto, the Pinto brothers, Victor Baia amongst others are long gone but Selecção das Quinas are primed to lay claim to World Cup glory in South Africa.
The great Eusebio was phenomenal in his playing days as Cristiano Ronaldo could be phenomenal for Portugal in South Africa. The weight of expectation on the Real Madrid midfielder-turned-striker is enormous due to his reputation as a goal scorer and playmaker.
Admitted Portugal play good football, but why is goal-scoring such a big problem for Selecção das Quinas? The Portuguese came undone in the semi-finals in Germany four years ago. Eight years earlier in Korea/Japan 2002 it was a disaster as the Humberto Coelho tutored side failed to make it out of the group phase against Poland, the United States and Italy.
With a good mix of youth and experience, Carlos Queiroz’s side are strong contenders for the trophy. How will Portugal fare in the so-called ‘Group of Death’ including Brazil, the Ivory Coast and North Korea? Or will they be tagged as 'Underachievers'?
With a squad as gifted as their Iberian neighbours Spain; Portugal once a feared name in the World of Football have been in and out of the doldrums. The promised Golden Generation with the likes of Luis Figo, Rui Costa, Fernando Couto, the Pinto brothers, Victor Baia amongst others are long gone but Selecção das Quinas are primed to lay claim to World Cup glory in South Africa.
The great Eusebio was phenomenal in his playing days as Cristiano Ronaldo could be phenomenal for Portugal in South Africa. The weight of expectation on the Real Madrid midfielder-turned-striker is enormous due to his reputation as a goal scorer and playmaker.
Admitted Portugal play good football, but why is goal-scoring such a big problem for Selecção das Quinas? The Portuguese came undone in the semi-finals in Germany four years ago. Eight years earlier in Korea/Japan 2002 it was a disaster as the Humberto Coelho tutored side failed to make it out of the group phase against Poland, the United States and Italy.
With a good mix of youth and experience, Carlos Queiroz’s side are strong contenders for the trophy. How will Portugal fare in the so-called ‘Group of Death’ including Brazil, the Ivory Coast and North Korea? Or will they be tagged as 'Underachievers'?
Friday, 11 June 2010
Total Football Comes to Africa
Netherlands
The proponents of ‘Total Football‘; everyone remembers how well the Oranje play at the World Cup but never seem to get the rub of the green. The Dutch are most neutrals favourite for the trophy but they seem to crumble when it matters most.
Should Spain somehow win the World Cup in South Africa, then the tag of ‘Football’s Underachievers’ should be passed onto the Dutch. Losing finalist in 1974 and 1978 to then West Germany and Argentina respectively, you would be pardoned to sympathise with the Dutch. Knocked out of the last World Cup in Germany by Portugal in the Second Round, the Dutch failed to qualify for the party in Korea/Japan 2002.
With the likes of Patrick Kluivert, Edgar Davids, Edwin Van der Saar, the De Boer brothers, Philippe Cocu amongst others, Holland were eliminated by Brazil in the semi-finals after a penalty shoot-out in France 12 years ago. Most neutrals would like to see the Dutch excel and with a team of young talents including Robin Van Persie, Ryan Babel, Nigel De Jong, Dirk Kuyt, Wesley Sneijder, Arjen Robben amongst others, this may be the year the Oranje finally break their duck. I doubt it! But who can tell? 2010 could just be the year that Total Football reaps its dividends.
The proponents of ‘Total Football‘; everyone remembers how well the Oranje play at the World Cup but never seem to get the rub of the green. The Dutch are most neutrals favourite for the trophy but they seem to crumble when it matters most.
Should Spain somehow win the World Cup in South Africa, then the tag of ‘Football’s Underachievers’ should be passed onto the Dutch. Losing finalist in 1974 and 1978 to then West Germany and Argentina respectively, you would be pardoned to sympathise with the Dutch. Knocked out of the last World Cup in Germany by Portugal in the Second Round, the Dutch failed to qualify for the party in Korea/Japan 2002.
With the likes of Patrick Kluivert, Edgar Davids, Edwin Van der Saar, the De Boer brothers, Philippe Cocu amongst others, Holland were eliminated by Brazil in the semi-finals after a penalty shoot-out in France 12 years ago. Most neutrals would like to see the Dutch excel and with a team of young talents including Robin Van Persie, Ryan Babel, Nigel De Jong, Dirk Kuyt, Wesley Sneijder, Arjen Robben amongst others, this may be the year the Oranje finally break their duck. I doubt it! But who can tell? 2010 could just be the year that Total Football reaps its dividends.
Monday, 7 June 2010
A legend with a bunch of talents
Argentina
World Cup Winners in 1978 and 1986. How much La Albiceleste would give to win the World Cup a third time and for keeps?
Under the tutelage of legend Diego Maradona, the White and Sky blues can boast of another legend in the making in the form of Lionel Messi.
The diminutive striker has set Spain and Europe alight with his dazzling skills for two seasons. The FIFA World Footballer of the year seems to be off pace and off colour when he wears the white and sky blue of his homeland.
Perhaps he misses Andreas Iniesta's passes or Xavi Hernandez's through balls while playing for Barcelona.
Maradona has been heavily criticsed for fielding over 100 players during the South America World Cup qualifiers, on the other hand the World Cup legend has given every player a chance to play for La Albiceleste some may say. Maradona's 2010 squad is akin to Marcelo Bielsa's 2002 WC squad; bursting with talents. On paper, that Argentine squad of 2002 in the Far East were the best, but it should not be forgotten that the very talented squad failed to make it pass the group stage in Korea/Japan.
Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguerro, Diego Milito, Carlos Tevez, Di Maria, Higuain, Javier Mascherano, Juan Veron to mention but a few are all talented players in their rights. The question remains; can they be a force to reckon with in South Africa? Argentina endured a heart-wrenching qulaifiers, eventually finishing fourth and escaping the rigours of the play-offs. Maradona's side endured humiliating defeats during the qualifiers including a 1-6 loss to Bolivia in the altitude of La Paz, not to mention the 1-3 home loss to arch rivals Brazil.
La Albiceleste were knocked out by host Germany in an ill-tempered match four years ago; their quarter-final exit in 2006 was an improvement when compared to the debacle of 2002 in the Far East. The Argentines were knocked out of the 1998 Mundial by the Netherlands in the quarter-finals.
The world waits to see what Maradona and Argentina will do in South Africa, his coaching experience has been under scrutiny and will be put to test in as the tournament progresses.
World Cup Winners in 1978 and 1986. How much La Albiceleste would give to win the World Cup a third time and for keeps?
Under the tutelage of legend Diego Maradona, the White and Sky blues can boast of another legend in the making in the form of Lionel Messi.
The diminutive striker has set Spain and Europe alight with his dazzling skills for two seasons. The FIFA World Footballer of the year seems to be off pace and off colour when he wears the white and sky blue of his homeland.
Perhaps he misses Andreas Iniesta's passes or Xavi Hernandez's through balls while playing for Barcelona.
Maradona has been heavily criticsed for fielding over 100 players during the South America World Cup qualifiers, on the other hand the World Cup legend has given every player a chance to play for La Albiceleste some may say. Maradona's 2010 squad is akin to Marcelo Bielsa's 2002 WC squad; bursting with talents. On paper, that Argentine squad of 2002 in the Far East were the best, but it should not be forgotten that the very talented squad failed to make it pass the group stage in Korea/Japan.
Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguerro, Diego Milito, Carlos Tevez, Di Maria, Higuain, Javier Mascherano, Juan Veron to mention but a few are all talented players in their rights. The question remains; can they be a force to reckon with in South Africa? Argentina endured a heart-wrenching qulaifiers, eventually finishing fourth and escaping the rigours of the play-offs. Maradona's side endured humiliating defeats during the qualifiers including a 1-6 loss to Bolivia in the altitude of La Paz, not to mention the 1-3 home loss to arch rivals Brazil.
La Albiceleste were knocked out by host Germany in an ill-tempered match four years ago; their quarter-final exit in 2006 was an improvement when compared to the debacle of 2002 in the Far East. The Argentines were knocked out of the 1998 Mundial by the Netherlands in the quarter-finals.
The world waits to see what Maradona and Argentina will do in South Africa, his coaching experience has been under scrutiny and will be put to test in as the tournament progresses.
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