Cybereagles

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/64952428


Based on the newly announced format (and assuming the SE can qualify from Africa), our buys would have to make it through 8 games (instead of the former 7) in order to lift the World Cup. There is now a “round of 32” to get past before reaching the round of 16 (our best to date) and then contemplating quarter finals and the rest.

What do you guys think - does it make it harder or better for us compared to other teams?

donadoni wrote: ↑Tue Mar 14, 2023 9:42 pm https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/64952428


Based on the newly announced format (and assuming the SE can qualify from Africa), our buys would have to make it through 8 games (instead of the former 7) in order to lift the World Cup. There is now a “round of 32” to get past before reaching the round of 16 (our best to date) and then contemplating quarter finals and the rest.

What do you guys think - does it make it harder or better for us compared to other teams?

You mean will it be hard for France, Spain, Brazil, Germany or Argentina to win it? We "Nigeria" should be aiming for round of 16! We can't win it!

The new format means it is likely we play at least 4 games rather than possibly only 2.

With 8 of 12 3rd place finishers advancing I like our odds to make knockout rounds.

since it is now a round of 32. ghana making the qfinals back in 2010, should not count anymore

With Nigerias reliance of foreign based players most of which might not have played a full season as staters for their clubs 8 games shouldn’t brr we a problem.

With Nigerias reliance of foreign based players most of which might not have played a full season as staters for their clubs 8 games shouldn’t be a problem.

We have never won a knockout match at the World Cup since we started playing almost 30 years ago. The round of 32 may be our chance to break this streak and perhaps build some momentum into the later stages. Although any World Cup game is tough, the knockout games in particular require another level of concentration- no second chances. Our players need to mentally prepare for this - many times we have had crucial games where a lapse of concentration, focus and intensity has cost us …v Italy 1994, v Sweden 2002, v Argentina 2018 and so on. Anyway, long way to go, but after the pain of missing out last year this generation better make the next one count!

Will we even qualify at this rate ?

I am not convinced.