- The Super Eagles host Iceland in their second Group D game on Friday, June 22
- They will hope to bounce back from their opening group game defeat to Croatia over the weekend
- A win for them will give them a chance to progress to the next round of the championship staging in Russia
Nigeria will stand a chance to get their 2018 World Cup campaign back on track when they host Iceland at the Volgograd Arena on Friday, June 22.
The Super Eagles were beaten 2-0 by Croatia in their opening Group D game over the weekend - with Oghenekaro Etebo scoring an own goal, Real Madrid star Luka Modric sealing the victory for the Croats.
Iceland on the other hand forced Argentina to a 1-1 draw in their opening group game and will hope they can build up on that performance to ensure they stand a chance of reaching the second round of the competition in their debut appearance.
READ ALSO: Incoming Chelsea manager Sarri wants Gonzalo Higuain as his first signing
Heimir HallgrÃmsson's men could line up without Johann Berg Gudmundsson following the injury he sustained during their first game against Argentina.
After the first game, the three time African champions are with no point and they will hope they can turn the table in their favour after today's game.
PAY ATTENTION: Become a member of the leading sports Facebook group 'Naija Football Fan Zone'
Nigeria and Iceland have only met just once in a friendly game and the European team were the better side on the day with a 3-0 victory over the Super Eagles.
Nigeria
- The Super Eagles have won all their five World Cup matches against European sides in their past appearances.
- They have won just one of their last 13 World Cup games (D3, L9), with that victory coming against Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2014.
- Nigeria have failed to progress to the knockout stage on the two occasions they have lost their opening game.
- Nigeria are currently on a World Cup losing streak of three games, their worst run since losing four matches between 1998 and 2002.
- They have failed to score in six of their last 11 World Cup matches.
PAY ATTENTION: Click on link to get World Cup fixtures on NAIJ.com
Iceland
- Iceland claimed a point in their first ever World Cup clash against Argentina.
- The last side to avoid defeat in their opening two matches were Senegal in 2002.
- FC Augsburg's striker Alfred Finnbogason has scored in his last three appearances for Iceland, though they've failed to win any of those matches (D2, L1).
PAY ATTENTION: Click on link to get World Cup standings on NAIJ.com
Possible line up
Nigeria: Francis Uzoho, Abdullahi Shehu, William Troost-Ekong, Leon Balogun, Brian Idowu, Onyinye Ndidi, Oghenekaro Etebo, Alex Iwobi, John Obi Mikel, Victor Moses, Odion Ighalo
Iceland: Hannes Thor Halldorsson, Birkir Saevarsson, Kari Arnason, Ragnar Sigurdsson, Hoerdur Magnusson, Rurik Gislason, Aron Gunnarsson, Emil Hallfredsson, Birkir Bjarnason, Gylfi Sigurdsson, Alfred Finnbogason,
NAIJ.com previously reported that Nigeria were beaten 2-0 by Croatia in their opening Group D match.
Ogehenekaro Etebor unfortunately scored an own goal as Mario Manduzkic's flying header came off his foot and the ball rolled into the net to put Croatia ahead.
Gernot Rohr's men did not create a meaningful chance in the first half but came back strongly in the second half.
Super Eagles in Russia 2018: The First Taste of Failure - NAIJ.com TV
Source: Naija.ng
from Nigeria News today & Breaking news ▷ Read Naija news 24/7 https://ift.tt/2Kcfiko
via IFTTT
No comments:
Post a Comment