2014 World Cup: Nigeria And Iran Booed off The Field as They Play First Goalless Match
Team Nigeria and Iran were booed off the field at the Atletico Paranaense ground by the largely Brazilian crowd of 39,000 after a first half that looked shockingly meagre compared to the goal feasts served up elsewhere.
They played out the first goalless match of the 2014 World Cup in their Group F clash at the Baixada Arena, Curitiba, on Monday, leaving both sides still chasing their first victory at a finals since 1998.
The draw at the Baixada Arena left both unfancied sides still chasing their first victory at a finals since 1998 and with every prospect of having to wait at least another four years.
While Iran could take some small satisfaction in keeping a clean sheet for the first time since their debut in 1978, their toothless performance stood out like a suit salesman on Copacabana beach.
Lionel Messi's Argentina are installed as clear Group F favourites and on Monday's evidence debutants Bosnia will fancy their chances of joining them as runners-up.
Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi warned on Sunday that the African sides were as good as any in Brazil and could win the tournament, but the small group of travelling fans who made it to Curitiba saw little evidence of that.
Keshi said his side, with Premier League players of the goalscoring calibre of John Obi Mikel and Peter Odemwingie, had dominated but suffered from "nervousness and anxiety" in front of goal.
"We want to score and want to score and it's not coming. We just have to calm everybody down and take it from there."
Next up for Iran is Argentina in Belo Horizonte on Saturday and a defiant coach Carlos Queiroz said everything was still open for his men.
Nigeria's Super Eagles will be looking forward towin score in their next match against Bosnia on Saturday.
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| © Gallo Images |
The draw at the Baixada Arena left both unfancied sides still chasing their first victory at a finals since 1998 and with every prospect of having to wait at least another four years.
While Iran could take some small satisfaction in keeping a clean sheet for the first time since their debut in 1978, their toothless performance stood out like a suit salesman on Copacabana beach.
Lionel Messi's Argentina are installed as clear Group F favourites and on Monday's evidence debutants Bosnia will fancy their chances of joining them as runners-up.
Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi warned on Sunday that the African sides were as good as any in Brazil and could win the tournament, but the small group of travelling fans who made it to Curitiba saw little evidence of that.
Keshi said his side, with Premier League players of the goalscoring calibre of John Obi Mikel and Peter Odemwingie, had dominated but suffered from "nervousness and anxiety" in front of goal.
"We want to score and want to score and it's not coming. We just have to calm everybody down and take it from there."
Next up for Iran is Argentina in Belo Horizonte on Saturday and a defiant coach Carlos Queiroz said everything was still open for his men.
Nigeria's Super Eagles will be looking forward to
2014 World Cup: Nigeria And Iran Booed off The Field as They Play First Goalless Match
Reviewed by The Niger Times
on
9:18 am
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Reviewed by The Niger Times
on
9:18 am
Rating:
"Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi warned on Sunday that the African sides were as good as any in Brazil and could win the tournament..."
ReplyDeleteBecause in Africa TELLING someone how good you are is better than SHOWING someone how good you are...
Since when is Mikel "of goalscoring calibre"? He is an average player at best and I am not sure why we have kept him at Chelsea, for so long. Poor performance by Nigeria.
ReplyDeletePoor! Poor! Poor Nigerian team!.
ReplyDeletePoor Poor performance by the Nigerian team. Very disappointing just like Nigeria itself.
ReplyDelete#BringBackOurGoals
ReplyDelete