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Vol 1 Issue 6 FREE | June 02, 2014

WHAT ISDEL BOSQUE

THINKING?

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HISTORY

5 THINGS5 THINGSWE LEANRTWE LEANRTFROM THEFROM THENIGERIANIGERIASCOTLAND TIESCOTLAND TIE

5 THINGSWE LEANRTFROM THENIGERIASCOTLAND TIE

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5 5 5 5 5 5 THINGSTHINGSTHINGSWEWEWE

LEARNTLEARNTLEARNTFROM THEFROM THEFROM THE

NIGERIA/SCOTLANDGAMEGAMEGAME

KUNLE

ODUNLAMI

IS NOT SUITED

FOR LEFT BACK

AND IS A BETTER

OPTION AT

CENTRAL

DEFENCE THAN

EGWUEKWE

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YOBO IS ON HIS LAST LEGS FOR THE SUPER EAGLES

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3

3

2

1

CHIBUIKE EGWUEKWE IS STILL SOME WAY OFF FROM BEING READY FOR THE BIGGEST STAGE

MICHAEL UCHEBO & MICHAEL BABATUNDE ARE NOT YET SUPER EAGLES MATERIAL

OSAZE ODEMWINGIE & UCHE NWOFOR MUST BE IN THE PARTY TO BRAZIL.

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igeria's tie against Scotland was nothing

Nmore than a test for the fringe players. A

test they didn't really do too well.

Excuses can be made that it was a combination of

strange bedfellows strung together and thrown into

the fray to hold their own. Well, that game gave us

an inkling of the players who will be in that plane to

Brazil.

Kunle Odunlami was like a fish out of water at right

NIGERIA2-2SCOTLAND

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level which would be demanded of him should he

make it to Brazil. Uchebo on the other hand just

didn't cut the part. For a big and strong man like

him he rarely tested the Scot defence and was

lucky with his goal. His shooting was erratic and

wayward.

There is however something to cheer about. I have

always been of the opinion that Uche Nwofor is a

fantastic striker since I watched him at under 20 for

Nigeria. When he came on, he caused the Scots all

sorts of problems. His movement was always goal

bound. His attempts always kept the goalkeeper

and his defenders on their toes and his goal was

true poachers' goal. Nwofor, Odemwingie and

Igiebor with their performance must ticked all

keshi's boxes and booked a place in the final 23.

back position. If Ike Anya was able to run him

ragged, can you imagine the likes of Di Maria

running at him for 90 minutes? He is better suited

for center back position. Even though Joseph Yobo

is just returning from injury, I'm yet to be convinced

that his great days as a defender are not past him.

He certainly doesn't have the legs anymore. He will

be on the plane to Brazil though. This should give

Nigerians the jitters; the Super Eagles do not have

adequate cover for Oboabona and Omeruo. It is

clear that Keshi still doesn't have the perfect right

sided full back.

Two other players that did not cover themselves in

glory were Michael Babatunde and Michael

Uchebo. Babatunde was busy and full of energy but

did not have the necessary guile to operate at the

rdigeria is building quite a history with Greece. On the 3 of

NJune, the Super Eagles will lock horns with the Greece

national side. To what effect will this friendly be for the

Super Eagles? Considering that the final 23 man list would already

be in FIFA's office by the time this game gets underway. It is safe

to conclude that the game against Scotland just helped Keshi in

making up his mind about those who will not be in the plane to

Brazil.

NIGERIAVSGREECE

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The Greeks are a very compact side and technically sound. They are

hard to break down and know how to punish the opposition for errors.

Nigeria know a bit about this team. In Giorgos Karagounis they have

an experienced and wily customer who would pull the strings in the

middle for Greece. He was there in 2010 when they beat Nigeria at the

World Cup. Greece are not known for scoring plenty goals, but they

still boast some potency upfront. Giorgios Samaras (Celtic) and

Konstantinos Mitroglou (Fulham) will form their arrowhead and both

are dangerous customers.

Konstantinos Mitroglou is the first

Greek player to complete a hat-

trick in the Champions League.

Even though he didn't quite settle

in Fulham, but Oboabona and

Omeruo will do to keep a close

eye on him.

This tie should be for fine tuning

strategies and we should see a

more recognizable team. The

Greeks are the closest to the kind

of opposition Bosnia and

Herzegovina would pose. Keshi

has to use this game to finalize

what his starting eleven would

look like. At this stage his team is

still undefined, but we should have

a clearer picture of the final

components of this side heading

to the world cup. One thing is for

sure, the Eagles must not lose

and they must also play well, if for

nothing else but to assure

Nigerians that going to the world

Thistieshouldbefornetuningstrategies

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MIROSLAV

ermany striker Miroslav Klose could become the

Grecord scorer in World Cup finals history after being selected for the tournament in Brazil.

Klose is set to go to his fourth finals after being included in Germany's provisional 27-man squad.The 35-year-old needs two more goals to beat the record total of 15 held by former Brazilian forward Ronaldo."Miro always hits top form at tournaments. It will almost certainly be his last," said Coach Joachim Low.Klose scored five times in the 2002 and 2006 World Cup finals and four in the 2010 tournament in South Africa, when Germany were beaten semi-finalists, Klose is just one short of Brazil legend Ronaldo's record.The Lazio striker shares second place in the list of all-time World Cup finals scorers with compatriot Gerd Muller. The pair are also joint top scorers for Germany with 68 goals each.

He has said he wants to break Ronaldo's record of 15 World Cup goals before stepping down from international duty after Brazil 2014.

"I can't say that doesn't interest me, I'm too ambitious for that, but the team always comes first," Klose, who is set to make

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his 131st appearance for Germany in Wednesday's friendly with Chile, told Munich-based daily Sueddeutsche Zeitung.

The ex-Bayern Munich star has struggled with injuries this season after a foot operation in September, then a shoulder problem in November, and he says Euro 2016 will probably be beyond him.

"I think that the World Cup in Brazil is to be my last tournament," said the 35-year-old.

"The way my fitness is, I find it hard to assume I could play for two more years at the highest level."

Germany kick-off their World Cup campaign in Group G against Portugal in Salvador on June 16 before taking on Ghana and the Jurgen Klinsmann-coached United States.

Klose's contract expires in June and while Lazio are reported to want to offer him a year's extension on a reduced salary, the striker is considering offers from the United States and United Arab Emirates.

Date and Place of BirthBorn Opole, Poland, 1978ClubsSG Blaubach-DiedelkopfFC Homburg II, FC HomburgKaiserslauten Reserves, KaiserslautenWerder Bremen Bayern Munich LazioWorld Cup Golden Boot winner in 2006Germany National Team131 Germany caps, 68 goals

KLOSE FACTFILE

pain have released their 23 man squad for

Sthe world cup and of course there are notable

absentees. Vicente Del Bosque may have

earned himself the right of selecting any player for

the national side without being questioned. After all,

he has won the European cup and the world cup.

His latest team list begs for answers though. What is

Del Bosque thinking?

He is prepared to gamble on the fitness of Diego

Costa including him in his 23-man squad for Brazil

despite lingering worries over a leg injury to the

striker and having not played in a while.

The axing of Fernando Llorente and Negredo who

by far had better seasons than David Villa and

Fernando Torres begs for answers. Del Bosque

seems to be sticking with the players who have

been in the side. He has chosen to keep faith with

his tried and tested players with the bulk of the team

coming from Barcelona despite their shabby

season.

Del Bosque seems to have elected that the only way

to play is tiki taka and Barca players who are more

adept at it have all been included in the squad. The

WHAT ISDEL BOSQUETHINKING?

old wily manager seems to be forgetting that things

can change and an alternate plan may be needed,

this where Llorente and Negredo fit the bill. This lack

of an alternate plan was Bara's eventual undoing

this season.

Sixteen of the 23 squad players who lifted the World

Cup four years ago return for Spain.

Del Bosque said after Spain's 2-0 friendly win over

Bolivia that he has faith in Torres, who scored just

five Premier League goals this season.

Cesar Azpilicueta's strong performance against

Bolivia seemed to cement his place in the team

despite Dani Carvajal over the stretch of the season

proving he is a better right back than Azpilicueta.

Del Bosque seemed to have chosen players like

Mata and Torres on favor rather than obvious merit

heading into Brazil.

Spain's inability to score more than a goal in most of

their games should count for something and should

have given Del Bosque something to mull over, he

rather stubbornly refuses to change. Good things

they say have a funny way of coming to an end and

when they do, they usually do so spectacularly.

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Goalkeepers: Iker Casillas (Real

Madrid), Pepe Reina (Napoli),

David de Gea (Manchester

United)

Defenders: Cesar Azpilicueta

(Chelsea), Sergio Ramos (Real

Madrid), Gerard Pique

(Barcelona), Javi Martinez

(Bayern Munich), Raul Albiol

(Napoli), Jordi Alba (Barcelona),

Juanfran Torres (Atletico Madrid)

Midfielders: Xavi Hernandez

(Barcelona), Sergio Busquets

(Barcelona), Xabi Alonso (Real

Madrid), Santi Cazorla (Arsenal),

Cesc Fabregas (Barcelona),

David Silva (Manchester City),

Andres Iniesta (Barcelona), Koke

(Atletico Madrid), Juan Mata

(Manchester United)

Forwards: Pedro Rodriguez

(Barcelona), Fernando Torres

(Chelsea), David Villa (Atletico

Madrid), Diego Costa (Atletico)