Croatian coach says he did not want "fearless" Nigeria

[Ayo Akinfe]

Zlatko Dalic, head coach of the Croatian national team, has bemoaned his team’s ill-luck after they were paired with Nigeria at the FIFA World Cup draw here in Moscow on Friday, Completesportsnigeria.com reports.

The manager who guided his team to a play-off victory over Greece to qualify for the 2018 World Cup said Nigeria was the one African team he had hoped to avoid meeting at the group stages. Reacting to a direct question from completesportsnigeria.com, Dalic said he has followed the Nigerian team because of the young and fantastic players paraded by the Super Eagles.

“I know your team very well. They are a very good side. They finished the qualifiers unbeaten and are not afraid of anybody. I’m not very happy to have Nigeria in my group. All of their players are in Europe and they are very unpredictable to play against. It is our first game and it will be difficult for us to play against your team,” he said.

On his team’s preparations for the World Cup, the 51-year old former footballer reckons that work will start immediately in order to have a good outing at the competition next year in Russia.


He said: “We now know our opponents and we must go and start work immediately. We have to go and look for video tapes of the games of all our opponents but I know it’s not going to be easy to play these teams, especially Nigeria.”

Argentina and Iceland are the two other teams in Group D

https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/c ... ria-group/

[Ayo Akinfe]

Croatian midfielder, Mateo Kovacic and winger, Marko Pjaca, are expecting a tough opening fixture against Nigeria at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, reports Completesportsnigeria.com.‎

The Europeans who will also confront former champions Argentina and debutants Iceland in Group D of the tournament will face the Super Eagles on June 16 at the Kaliningrad Stadium. Kovacic, who plays for European champions Real Madrid describes the Super Eagles as a tricky opponent but states that his team will go all out for a win against the three-time African champions.

“Argentina has a great team, we got to just know how good Iceland is in the qualifiers and African teams are always tricky to play against. But just like I am sure we are facing 3 very good opponents, I am sure that we will enter each game with plan to win and get 3 points,” Kovacic tweets on his Twitter handle.

Pjaca, a winger who has been capped 13 times by Croatia and currently in the books of Italian side Juventus labels the Super Eagles a dangerous opponent.


“A tough group, but we knew we had no easy opponents. Argentina has the top stars, Iceland who, after the excellent European championship, continued the series of great results and dangerous Nigeria. It will certainly be difficult for us, but it has to be,” reads a Tweet on Pjaca’s Twitter handle.

https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/r ... er-eagles/

[YemiBrazil]

Fearless wetin? You are a yeye coach if you cannot see that the SE are clear underdogs and you should instruct your team to look beyond that easy walk-over fixture and think of Argentina and Iceland.

[aruako1]

Fearless wetin? You are a yeye coach if you cannot see that the SE are clear underdogs and you should instruct your team to look beyond that easy walk-over fixture and think of Argentina and Iceland.

Kpom! He should see us as an easy job and trading session for the more serious tests against Iceland and Argentina.

[mate]

For once, I like what Croatian players and coaches are saying. We usually shoot our mouth off. Giving the opponent less respect.

I'm hoping these statements signal a new maturity. Croatians and Nigerians have a lot in common here. At the end of the day, you never know what kind of Nigerian or Croatian teams show up on the day.

Here's hoping both play their past. That's ultimately what I hope for...and then may the best team indeed win.

[Odas]

Zlatko Dalic, head coach of the Croatian national team, has bemoaned his team’s ill-luck after they were paired with Nigeria at the FIFA World Cup draw here in Moscow on Friday, Completesportsnigeria.com reports.

The manager who guided his team to a play-off victory over Greece to qualify for the 2018 World Cup said Nigeria was the one African team he had hoped to avoid meeting at the group stages. Reacting to a direct question from completesportsnigeria.com, Dalic said he has followed the Nigerian team because of the young and fantastic players paraded by the Super Eagles.

“I know your team very well. They are a very good side. They finished the qualifiers unbeaten and are not afraid of anybody. I’m not very happy to have Nigeria in my group. All of their players are in Europe and they are very unpredictable to play against. It is our first game and it will be difficult for us to play against your team,” he said.

https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/c ... ria-group/

What else would he have said? He said what he was meant to say - diplomacy at its best

[Odas]

Fearless wetin? You are a yeye coach if you cannot see that the SE are clear underdogs and you should instruct your team to look beyond that easy walk-over fixture and think of Argentina and Iceland.

The coach said what he is supposed to say. However, deep down in his mind, he could be rejoicing

[oloye]

The other teams are being modest and giving us respect...but over here we are making mouf like poff poff lover!

[oloye]

Fearless wetin? You are a yeye coach if you cannot see that the SE are clear underdogs and you should instruct your team to look beyond that easy walk-over fixture and think of Argentina and Iceland.

The coach said what he is supposed to say. However, deep down in his mind, he could be rejoicing

Yemi does not understand the oyinbo mentality, they will praise an underdog saying all the nice things even when they already have you figured out. There is a reason oyinbo rarely do this dirty talj or boasting....they love to sell you a dummy.

[asabatex]

For once, I like what Croatian players and coaches are saying. We usually shoot our mouth off. Giving the opponent less respect.

I'm hoping these statements signal a new maturity. Croatians and Nigerians have a lot in common here. At the end of the day, you never know what kind of Nigerian or Croatian teams show up on the day.

Here's hoping both play their past. That's ultimately what I hope for...and then may the best team indeed win.

[Ayo Akinfe]

The other teams are being modest and giving us respect...but over here we are making mouf like poff poff lover!

Ha ha ha ha. In all fairness, Rohr and the NFF have been modest too. This is just a fans forum and like all other fans we are going all out for our team.

[marko]

Trying to lead nigeria into a false sense of security haha, if nigeria brings its A game to croatia, especially the 2nd haöf against argentina, many teams will struggle with the pace

[AreaStarr]

The likes of Ayo "10 points" Akinfe will buy into what the Croation coach is saying.

[theYemster]

Gassing us up for the kill. Typical.

[Elexus]

The Croats are very creative. They have midfielders with tremendous work rate. It is going to be a bloodbath in this group. And I hate to play against Iceland. Iceland would pack the bus and hit on the counter. Nigeria have problems playing against teams that pack the bus. It was very easy to win our world cup group because none of the teams came out defensively.
Nigeria have rarely lost matches in which the opposing teams were offensive minded. So it is important not to lose the first game against the Croats.
But be rest-assured that on June 16, the Croats will come to play.

[Tbite]

Yes I have always, said that in open-play, Nigeria stands a chance against ANY opposition. Not that we would win, but there is a chance.

But against a compact side that is VERY GOOD, our chance would be minuscule.

[ElHadary]

Yes I have always, said that in open-play, Nigeria stands a chance against ANY opposition. Not that we would win, but there is a chance.

But against a compact side that is VERY GOOD, our chance would be minuscule.

Sounds like you're describing what's in your pants.

[Mzekezeke]

Does Ayo only show up when Nigeria qualifies for AFCON or the World cup?

[Tbite]

Yes I have always, said that in open-play, Nigeria stands a chance against ANY opposition. Not that we would win, but there is a chance.

But against a compact side that is VERY GOOD, our chance would be minuscule.

Sounds like you're describing what's in your pants.

If you had spent less time thinking about what was in my pants and more time preparing for the WC, you wouldn't have qualified ONCE in my lifetime.

[ElHadary]

Yes I have always, said that in open-play, Nigeria stands a chance against ANY opposition. Not that we would win, but there is a chance.

But against a compact side that is VERY GOOD, our chance would be minuscule.

Sounds like you're describing what's in your pants.

If you had spent less time thinking about what was in my pants and more time preparing for the WC, you wouldn't have qualified ONCE in my lifetime.

I'm personally not tasked with qualifying for the WC, but qualifying once in your 12 year lifespan isn't such a bad thing.

[metalalloy]

Does Ayo only show up when Nigeria qualifies for AFCON or the World cup?

yes

[ANC]

Does Ayo only show up when Nigeria qualifies for AFCON or the World cup?

yes

They guy is a keen observer.

[marko]

Nigeria struggles against organised european sides that hardly give anything away, Iceland match will be tough, the argentines even with messi will find it hard to beat them, they will put men behind the ball and messi will need to come up with some magic to beat them, if iceland scores first, argentines sre in trouble