Cybereagles

Nigeria has been drawn in a fairly tough but conquerable group. We have Argentina, Croatia and Iceland and from a neutral perspective Nigeria or Croatia would be fighting for that 2nd position behind Argentina. (I agree) anyway, I believe that our game against Croatia would decide who will join Argentina from that group and this has made me to compare our strongest 11 to Croatia strongest 11

Nigeria. Vs Croatia
1) Uzoho (Deportivo) vs. subasic ( Monaco)
2, shehu ( Bursapor) vs. vslaiko ( Atletico Madrid)
3, idowu (ampker) Vs. strinic (Sampadoria)
4 Ndidi. {Leicester) vs. kovacavic ( Real Madrid)
5, balogun ( Mainz ) Vs loveren ( Liverpool)
6, Ekong. ( bursapor) vs d. Vida ( besiktas)
7, Moses ( Chelsea) vs kramaric ( hoffenheim)
8, Etebo. (Las Palmas) vs Rakitic ( Barcelona)
9 Iheanacho ( Leicester) vs madzukic (Juventus)
10, Mikel Obi (China) vs. Modric (Real Madrid)
11, Alex iwobi ( Arsenal) vs perisic ( inter Milan)

Before, I used to think that Croatia were ahead of us only in the midfield department but looking at their probable 11 Vs Ours and judging from transfer market value/international ratings, Croatia actually has a better defense, Midfield while forward is very debatable. However. As a patriotic Nigerian I believe that we can conquer them. Anyway, I want to see you guys opinion between the two teams

Looking at our squad it’s obvious that croatia has the better players (name) but we can win (hopeful). Anyway, this is why I’m really opposing the type of players that you guys suggest. It’s obvious that SE needs more QUALITY players in QUALITY Teams at QUALITY Leagues. We need more world class players and less backwater league players if we’re aspiring to achieve higher than our previous teams. It’s not like I have a personal preference towards any player or despises any player just that I want us to really achieve higher than our previous teams and the more we keep asking for backwater league players the less our chances of Performing exceptionally. At the end of the day wata go find its level

Why don't you compare the team to 1994 Nigeria team and their clubs.

Comparing clubs is a poor barometer to judge the perceived strength of players from opposing countries.

Our 1994 team lost 2 games to Argentina and Italy. Also, while Bulgaria had 1 or 2 better players than us overall our players individually was rated higher than both Bulgaria and Greece.

Highbury i totally disagree your club is definitely one of the strongest barometer to judge a player. Why I you think that the best clubs aspire to sign the highest rated players?

On paper they are ahead of us in every department, from goalie on up, but game is played on the green grass.

lol
reality is setting in.

I really don't know the benefit of this comparisons apart from giving some people the shakes.
In all our wc appearances we were rarely, if at all, better than most of the teams we've ever played.

If you look st the opposition long enough, listen to them long enough, you'll turn back on the day of battle.

Lets concentrate on our own team. Concentrate on our strengths and work on our weaknesses. On the day of battle, it would be about who wants it most.

Is there any World Cup year we weren’t the worst team on paper in our group?


This comparison should be reserved for the Croatian forum. So they can ask their players and coaches how come they lost to such lower caliber of players.

For me, the team I actually fear is Iceland. Because they are a TEAM.

Trying to compare the 2 teams on paper is a mathematical exercise and in football 1+1 does not always equal 2. If you take the Senegalese side that beat France, Or the Roger Milla side that beat Maradona, or the Nigeria side that put paid to Spain's ambitions in France'98, It's all down to who shows up more determined and prepared on the day. Alas, I just watched a Seville side knock Manu out of the CL at home.

Something tells me the game will be drawn 1-1 and we will beat Iceland 2-1, therefore going into the Argentina game with 4 points. Nigeria will take the game to Argentina and I suspect will be drawn, with us qualifying with 5 points.

I actually thought you was going to give us an analysis on each player and just their names and clubs,yes Croatia has players in big clubs in Europe that was clear to many before reading this but if Nigeria play to the best of their ability for 90+ minutes Croatia won’t find it easy!

Cellular wrote:For me, the team I actually fear is Iceland. Because they are a TEAM.

A team whose most gifted player is set to miss the World Cup.

South Korea, Greece, Iran were not better than us.

I don't remember what the FIFA ranking said (but that ranking is a joke).

[quote="john12"]Looking at our squad it’s obvious that croatia has the better players (name) but we can win (hopeful). Anyway, this is why I’m really opposing the type of players that you guys suggest. It’s obvious that SE needs more QUALITY players in QUALITY Teams at QUALITY Leagues. We need more world class players and less backwater league players if we’re aspiring to achieve higher than our previous teams. It’s not like I have a personal preference towards any player or despises any player just that I want us to really achieve higher than our previous teams and the more we keep asking for backwater league players the less our chances of Performing exceptionally. At the end of the day wata go find its level[/ well based on Musa's performance, skill and talent he is not worthy to come close to SE camp unless as a water boy.,

The YeyeMan wrote:

Cellular wrote:For me, the team I actually fear is Iceland. Because they are a TEAM.

A team whose most gifted player is set to miss the World Cup.

Which will motivate those Vikings all the more. Iceland will come ready for 90 minutes and extra time. Their paucity of quality is concealed by an energy sapping willingness to work. They're a far better outfit than their last showing at the Euros. Their achilles heel remains their lack of second dimension, however, it's a 12 rounder, with no towel in the corner and no TKO.

Lets be honest to ourselves without any bias or equivocation if SE beats Croatia it is definitely an upset but they beat us it is expected. I have been wondering all these sanguine feelings where is it emanating from. It is absolutely self aggrandizement which is not justifiable with what is on ground. Heartily some people are setting themselves up for a severe myocardia infarction . The earlier we tone down our expectations the better for most of us.

Coach wrote:

The YeyeMan wrote:

Cellular wrote:For me, the team I actually fear is Iceland. Because they are a TEAM.

A team whose most gifted player is set to miss the World Cup.

Which will motivate those Vikings all the more. Iceland will come ready for 90 minutes and extra time. Their paucity of quality is concealed by an energy sapping willingness to work. They're a far better outfit than their last showing at the Euros. Their achilles heel remains their lack of second dimension, however, it's a 12 rounder, with no towel in the corner and no TKO.

Not necessarily. It's a World Cup - if they weren't already going to be 100% motivated then they're not ready at all. I saw them at the Euros - to say they're a much better team than their showing is a bit of an exaggeration tbh. Not taking them lightly, however.

john12 wrote:Nigeria has been drawn in a fairly tough but conquerable group. We have Argentina, Croatia and Iceland and from a neutral perspective Nigeria or Croatia would be fighting for that 2nd position behind Argentina. (I agree) anyway, I believe that our game against Croatia would decide who will join Argentina from that group and this has made me to compare our strongest 11 to Croatia strongest 11

Nigeria. Vs Croatia
1) Uzoho (Deportivo) vs. subasic ( Monaco)
2, shehu ( Bursapor) vs. vslaiko ( Atletico Madrid)
3, idowu (ampker) Vs. strinic (Sampadoria)
4 Ndidi. {Leicester) vs. kovacavic ( Real Madrid)
5, balogun ( Mainz ) Vs loveren ( Liverpool)
6, Ekong. ( bursapor) vs d. Vida ( besiktas)
7, Moses ( Chelsea) vs kramaric ( hoffenheim)
8, Etebo. (Las Palmas) vs Rakitic ( Barcelona)
9 Iheanacho ( Leicester) vs madzukic (Juventus)
10, Mikel Obi (China) vs. Modric (Real Madrid)
11, Alex iwobi ( Arsenal) vs perisic ( inter Milan)

Before, I used to think that Croatia were ahead of us only in the midfield department but looking at their probable 11 Vs Ours and judging from transfer market value/international ratings, Croatia actually has a better defense, Midfield while forward is very debatable. However. As a patriotic Nigerian I believe that we can conquer them. Anyway, I want to see you guys opinion between the two teams

Look at this Agent, how can you ignore your client Musa from the strongest SE 11, with all his experience and goals?
Anyway, if you want to talk about our strongest 11 then Ebuehi replaces shehu and onazi replaces etebo. To have a chance the SE must pick intelligent players over gra gra penalty/free kick gifting players.

To not be worried about that list is to be an Ostritch only with your head not just buried in the sand, but up your backside.

It’s gonna be tough. Very tough.

The main thing we have going for us is a stable team that is still on an upward trajectory.

One thing that would be interesting to compare would be average age. My rough guess is our team average age is just below optimum age for a footballer (26) and there’s would be older.

My hunch is for the neutral, this will be one heck of a game. Contrasting styles, teams at different stages of evolution, attacking flair on both sides, a dynamic midfield versus a robust one, and a whole host of unknowns.

For now, I’d give Croatia the edge, but I wouldn’t bet agains Rohr and his men.

john12 wrote:Our 1994 team lost 2 games to Argentina and Italy. Also, while Bulgaria had 1 or 2 better players than us overall our players individually was rated higher than both Bulgaria and Greece.

Nobody rated our team higher than Bulgaria and Greece in 94!

If una tok finish, make una tell me make I tok my own. Eh-heee! Elm, well, my own bi say Croatia go loose to us, dats all.

Do the same thing for Algeria.