Rohr's use of Youth as an excuse

[kali]

Several times Rohr has used the excuse of youth for this Super Eagles team saying it is the youngest team at the tournament but so what? The 1994 team that beat Bulgaria 3-0 and Greece 2-0 and lost narrowly to Argentina and almost eliminated World Cup finalists Italy had 5 of its starting players under the age of 25 :

Rufai - 31 years

Defense

Eguavoen - 29 years
Emenalo - 29 years
Iroha - 25 years
Nwanu - 27 years
Okafor - 26 years
Okechukwu - 26 years

Midfield

Adepoju - 24 years
Okocha - 21 years
Oliseh - 19 years
Oliha - 25 years

Forwards

Amokachi - 21 years
Amunike - 23 years
Finidi - 23 years
Ikpeba - 21 years
Siasia - 26 years
Yekini - 30 years

[kali]

Lets contrast with Rohr's team where an equal number of starting players 5/11 are under the age of 25:

GK
Uzoho -19

Defence

Shehu - 25
Ekong - 24
Balogun - 29
Idowu - 26
Omeruo -24
Ebuehi - 25
Echiejile - 30


Midfield

Mikel - 31
Ndidi - 21
Etebo - 22
Ogu - 25
Joel - 27
Onazi - 25

Forwards

Ighalo - 28
Moses - 27
Iheanacho - 22
Iwobi - 22
Musa - 25
Nwankwo - 26

[cchinukw]

This should have been evident to anyone.

You can't win anything with these young ajes that bleed at the slightest touch by the offense on the pitch. Nothing!

Besides the youth - For the first time in my life I am looking at the most disjointed SE team I have ever been opportune to see.

I will never want us to go back to the days of age cheating but there is a price to pay.

We have to be disciplined about not just churning through youth talent, but also in harnessing and cultivating them through their professional careers.

England already have an elite playing programme and even with the most minimal exposure to playing top flight soccer, have St. George's Park and an FA that pushes for top performances.

We cannot continue to look for quick fixes with a foreign coach.

The countries that invest in their local academies and national team development will rule the future.