WORLD CUP: Wenger tips Nigeria to join Argentina in knockout stage
The Arsenal manager has tipped the
Super Eagles to join Argentina into the
second round due to the fact that they
have less stars but greater spirit
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has tipped
Nigeria to reach the second round of the
World Cup alongside Argentina in Group F.
The Frenchman feels that the Super Eagles
have something going for them this year,
'team spirit' and a lack of big egos which has
ensured for a united squad and differentiated
them from many African sides of the past.
He said Argentina should win the group
which also has Iran and Bosnia-Herzegovina
and that Nigeria should join them in the
second round.
“I think that Nigeria might qualify for the
second stage,” Wenger wrote in his Eurosport
World Cup preview.
“They really made a good impression on me
during the African Cup of Nations. They seem
to have a really good team spirit, which is
not always easy for African teams.
“They have less star players. They have a
real team, and it’s been a while since that
happened for them,” Wenger said of Stephen
Keshi’s team.
Of Argentina, the Frenchman expects them to
do well playing in South America where they
would be buoyed by the rivalry with
neighbours Brazil.
He also said that coach Alejandro Sabella
has done better than Diego Maradona in his
selection of a balanced side despite the
array of impressive attacking talent at his
disposal.
“Normally Argentina should qualify thanks to
their offensive potential. You might even say
that Argentina have too many good players in
attack,” Wenger wrote.
“ It’s not easy to be a manager in Argentina,
because it’s hard to build a balanced team
without leaving some indisputable players
off the field.
“They have Higuain, Messi, Aguero, and
Tevez, who didn't even make the final squad.
they have so many forwards; it will be very
hard to keep a balanced team. It’s what
happened in South Africa.
“Still, Sabella’s team seems more balanced
than Maradona’s. They can’t make a mess
of this World Cup; Argentina just can’t.
“The two main rivals in South America are
Brazil and Argentina. There can’t be a World
Cup in Brazil and Argentina be humiliated
and not have a great tournament. They will
have a huge pressure on them,” Wenger said.
Nigeria and Argentina will meet for the fourth
time in the World Cup on June 25 in Porto
Alegre. The Super Eagles will open their
campaign against Iran on June 16 in Curitiba
before taking on Bosnia in Cuiaba on 21.
Comments
Post a Comment