Fortaleza awaits entertaining game of football

In this instance, as it is the case tomorrow in Fortaleza, Brazil, not only is Spain the world champion-team, it is also the champion-team of the European continent.Even without the aforementioned titles, Spain would still be one of the most dreaded teams in the world, considering the kind of football that ‘magicians’ like Andres Iniesta, […]

In this instance, as it is the case tomorrow in Fortaleza, Brazil, not only is Spain the world champion-team, it is also the champion-team of the European continent.
Even without the aforementioned titles, Spain would still be one of the most dreaded teams in the world, considering the kind of football that ‘magicians’ like Andres Iniesta, Xavi Hernandez, Sergio Ramos, Jordi Alba, Pedro and David Villa play with FC Barcelona and for the National Team.
Last week Saturday, as the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup tournament began in Brazil, the focus was on waht Spain would do in their match against Uruguay. Even as the Brazilian team beat Japan 3-0 in the opening match, the average Brazilian football fan was still talking about what they expected to see Spain do onthe field on Sunday.
The Spaniards had dominated the 2010 FIFA World Cup finals in South Africa without any remorse. That was two years after they swept the stakes at the European Championship.
Since winning the World Cup, the Spaniards have also gone on to defend their European title, walloping Italy (yes, Italy) so convincingly in the final that everyone could only stare and marvel.
Yet, the Super Eagles of Nigeria are no pushovers. Since being voted the second most entertaining team at the 1994 FIFA World Cup finals in the United States of America, the Eagles have been no less entertaining.
While Nigerians love football so much that they want any of their National Teams to win its every match, they also love to see good, vintage football. that has informed the style and savvy that Nigeria teams bring onto the international podium.
The present group of Super Eagles have always entertained while playing to win. They dominated the Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa with champagne football, with so much enthusiasm and high ball sense that captivated the continent and the world.
Tomorrow in Fortaleza, the Super Eagles will have an opportunity to put on show what they can do against the world’s best, taking on Spain in a match that should see the very best of the African champions.
The Nigeria Football Federation have no doubt that the Super Eagles will up their game, play confidently and take the game to the Spaniards unabashed.
The setting at the Estadio Castelao tomorrow will be much like what obtained at the Royal Bafokeng Palace in Rustenburg on February 3, when the Eagles took on Cote d’Ivoire in the Africa Cup of Nations quarter final, the overwhelming underdogs against the champions-designate.
There is a popular saying in football that you can only play with the ball. Without the ball, not much can be achieved. That was what happened to the Ivorians on February 3. They looked for the ball and didn’t see, as the Super Eagles played a marvelous game that brought victory, and which set them on the part to glory.
While the bookmakers have their say on what would happen tomorrow evening in Fortaleza, the Super Eagles are bound to have their way. Something tells me that not only would we see a great game of entertaining football, there could be a huge upset that the world would live with for a long time to come.
We have the players to do it. The same players did it at the Africa Cup of Nations. The same players have been doing a good job in the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. The same players have remained unbeaten in their past 18 matches, and the same players dismantled Tahiti in their first match.
Go for it, Super Eagles. You can do it.
The FIFA U-20 World Cup…
Yesterday (Friday, 21 June), the FIFA U-20 World Cup finals kicked off in Turkey with our Flying Eagles taking on Portugal in one of the opening matches of the championship.
Our Flying Eagles have always had good outing at the U-20 World Cup, and the Nigeria Football Federation, as is the practise of the present administration, has adequately prepared the team, with quality camping programmes in Nnewi and Germany, and participation in the Toulon International Tournament – the first time a Nigeria team would take part in the 46-year old competition.
I recall that in 1985, the Flying Eagles won bronze medal at then FIFA World Youth Championship in Soviet Union, at the expense of the host nation. And two years later, they went one better by finishing second, after defeat by Portugal in the final in Saudi Arabia.
Our boys also did a great job finishing second in The Netherlands in 2005, after Lionel Messi’s Argentina proved too hot in the final in Utrecht.
The present bunch finished third at the African Youth Championship in Algeria in March, and Coach John Obuh says the team has learnt from its mistakes, including those made at the Toulon International Youth Tournament.
NEXT WEEK: Still On The FIFA Confederations Cup