XtraTime Web Desk: Nigeria, determined to perform well in 2018 FIFA World Cup as the head coach Gernot Rohr said. The African team reached round of 16 thrice and those are their best performances in the World Cup so far.
In this year they have to prove themselves against Croatia, Iceland, and Argentina. It will be though as all the other teams in Group D are better in terms of FIFA rankings.
“I think we have a really good team – and if you see the group we can make it into the next round,” Tyronne Ebuehi, the right-back told.
“We played against Argentina before in a friendly game, which we won. The most important thing is we can play as a team.
“We can beat Argentina again, you always have to believe. It doesn’t matter who you play against; however, Messi didn’t play against us in the friendly match.”
Reliving the experience, the 22-year-old says:”It [facing Di Maria] went well; it was a big lesson for me. It made me a better player, it was a dream come true.”
Talking about the tough group Nigerian coach Gernot Rohr said,“My honest assessment is that this is a very tough group, maybe the toughest at the World Cup,”.
“We are not the favourites to make it out of this group because we are the least ranked team here. However, we are confident, hungry and very determined to fight to qualify from this group. Remember we were not the favourites in our World Cup qualifying group in Africa but we made it, so we can do it again. The favourites at every World Cup are Brazil, Germany, Argentina together with Spain, France,” he continued.
“These teams have big players with huge experience, winning mentality, and quality. Talking about the stars of the tournament, I hope some of the young players in my team become the stars of this World Cup and my team also shines like a million stars at the tournament.” Rohr concluded.
The super Egals will play their wrap up pre-World Cup friendly against the Czech Republic on June 6.