Greece vs Nigeria World Cup Preview 17/06/10 15:00
After Greece were humiliated by South Korea and Nigeria put up a stern resistance to lose only 1-0 to Argentina, it’s logical to point to a Nigerian win.
With no players suspended for either team, nor any new injury concerns, this game is the proverbial ‘last chance’ for both, with a loss signifying almost nailed-on certainty of failure to progress. A win and qualification to round 2 is still a tangible chance.
From the position of Nigeria, who have already played the toughest team in the group, Argentina, this mentality suits them better – a win against both Nigeria and Japan would mean certain passage. With an exciting array of goal accumulators in Yakubu Aiyegbeni, Obinna, Martins, Uche, Obasi and Odemwingie, firepower favours the West Africans.
What favours the Greeks? In truth, little. Should Rehhagel again prefer Vyntra to Liverpool’s Kyrgiakos, there is next to no hope of holding back the tide of Nigerian attacks. Equally, up front, Angelos Charisteas, hero of 2004, MUST be dropped in favour of Patsatzoglou, allowing Samaras to partner the excellent (if previously isolated) Frankfurt striker, Gekas. Even then , the void left since the retirements of Basinas, Nikopolidis, Dellas and especially Zagorakis, has not been sufficiently filled.
Rehhagel is still loved by Greek football fans for giving them a slice of exceptional history, for making them a major winner but time is against him and his team. The talent pool has never appeared so dry. Nigeria, on the other hand, have the correct blend of youth and experience to at least give them hope of reaching round 2, even if the likely outcome of beating Greece is to finish 3rd after losing to South Korea. Nigeria should just about do this. 2-1.
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