Poland on the cards - Rohr Interview
Posted: Sat Dec 09, 2017 5:35 pm
Translated from football365.fr
http://www.football365.fr/nigeria-gerno ... 21852.html
http://www.football365.fr/nigeria-gerno ... 21852.html
NIGERIA/GERNOT ROHR: "A SUCCESS AT THE WORLD CUP WOULD BE EXCEPTIONAL"
POSTED ON 9 DECEMBER 2017 AT 12H10 - UPDATED ON 9 DECEMBER 2017 AT 12H19 PATRICK JUILLARD
Nigerian coach Gernot Rohr returns exclusively for Football365 Africa on the 2018 World Cup draw, which placed the Super Eagles against Argentina, Croatia and Iceland.
Gernot Rohr, hot after the draw for the World Cup, you said "It's going to be a physical challenge against the Icelanders, a technical challenge against the Croatians, and a challenge to the Argentineans." Can you detail? What is your opinion on these 3 opponents?
This draw is a difficult draw, with three good teams. Our first opponent will be Croatia. The match will take place in Kaliningrad, an eccentric place with a bit of jet lag and a former German city that I already know a bit. Croatia is capable of great things with a team of stars playing in the biggest clubs. They are able to beat the biggest, but also to be surprised by less prestigious teams. It will be up to us to question them. Their technical qualities are huge but we also have a quality game. This is the most important match, and we hope to prepare it, against opponents similar to Croatia. So we will play Poland at home on March 23rd.
Iceland remains more difficult to define ...
Iceland has worked hard for ten or twelve years with extraordinary structures to play football all year long despite the harsh weather conditions. Domes of football, where you can play at any time have been installed, with a dozen per region. Work is done from an early age. Today, it is a team that knows how to play football but who remains very physical and supportive. It is expected for this match that takes place in Volgograd to a very difficult game. Supporters will come in large numbers in charters to win their team. It will be an unprecedented match in the history of the World Cup, which adds spice. In this group, it is amusing to see that the four teams know each other very well in pairs: Croatia knows Iceland well,
Nigeria will meet Argentina for the fifth time in the finals, a record. How to finally take points against this opponent?
We will not make the mistake of thinking that we already know them. We beat them in friendly Krasnodar last month, but Argentina played without Lionel Messi. And Argentina without Messiit's not the same team. They have four goals, they may not have changed much defensively, but offensively they can change everything. Argentina is still vice-champion of the world, and had not passed away from the coronation in 2014. This team is perhaps at the end of the cycle, but it can make it all the more formidable, with players eager to prove that they can win. I met Jorge Burruchaga in the draw. He told me "we are coming to win the World Cup. They have chosen a magnificent base camp and will put the package to make it happen.
Do you have an idea of the ideal preparation program?
We chose a base camp that we visited in southern Russia, between Sochi and Volgograd, in the countryside, in a region of mineral and spa baths. We will be far from everything, with opportunities for care and excellent conditions of recovery between games. At 500 meters altitude, it will not be too hot.
On which points do you think you can make the most progress by June?
I think we can always progress on all levels: technical, but also tactical and physical. Tactically, we must be able to adapt according to our opponents. For example, we tried against Argentina, we tried a defense to three, which can turn into a defense to five. We can still do more. Physically, we will be ready. We will take a second physical trainer, in this case Bernard Ginès, I had in my staff in Nice, between 2002 and 2005. We will receive FieldWiz, which are GPS to work better in detail. We will have to progress in the detection of our own players so as not to be mistaken on the list of 30, then that of 23. We will strengthen the scouting team.
What about mental preparation?
We have already shown that we are mentally tough, but it will be even more for the World Cup. We already have a mental trainer with Nabil Trabelsi. Do not flood the group with too many foreign faces. We are not sick, we do not need psychiatrists (laughs).
Does Nigeria have the means to become the first African team semi-finalist of a World Cup?
It's a dream, it's a wish. To think we can do it would be pretentious. We will first try to pass the chickens. Then, it is another pair of sleeves, we will advise from match to match depending on the opponents. Nigeria today has the youngest team in the World Cup with 24.9 years of average age. The figure may be even lower in Russia, as we spotted a 19-year-old goalkeeper in La Coruna . We also come to learn: the life of Nigerian football does not stop after the World Cup. I sincerely believe that we have players who share my ambition to go very far and who have the technical means.
As a technician, is participating in a World Cup the best challenge of your career?
Yes, it's for me the most beautiful. It has been fantastic to qualify in this difficult group with Algeria, Cameroon and Zambia. To have a shot at the World Cup would be exceptional. I prepare myself as best as I can, personally. Every detail counts in the preparation and the choice of the players. We found young people at certain positions. The last challenge is to find a goalkeeper who satisfies us fully. We are working with my guardian coach, Enrico Pionetti. CHAN will be important to take stock. Ikechukwu Ezenwa will participate, under the direction of my assistant Salisu Yusuf. I will follow things closely.
On a personal level, several media announced your extension to the position of coach. What is it really ?
The verbal agreement was reinforced by an official handshake. We met in Moscow with representatives of the executive committee of the Federation. We agreed on a two-year extension. I thank my leaders for this trust. Beyond the World Cup, the goal is CAN 2019. We want to come back and win.