Reactions have been trailing the World Cup draw released on Friday and one of those who spoke is the Coach of the Nigerian Super Eagles, Gernot Rohr.
The German tactician said he hopes to spring a surprise after drawing Argentina in the 2018 World Cup on Friday — the two-time champions they sensationally beat 4-2 in a friendly last month.
Making their sixth appearance in the showpiece competition, Nigeria are bringing their most inexperienced squad ever to Russia next year.
“This is the youngest team in Nigeria’s history in the World Cup. We have the youngest team of the 32 teams here. So we have to learn,” German coach Rohr said after also drawing Iceland and Croatia in a tricky Group D.
“This is a difficult group, but I think we can spring a surprise.”
Nigeria clawed their way back from a 2-0 deficit to claim a stunning friendly win over Argentina at the Krasnodar Stadium in Russia on November 14.
Argentina did not have superstar Lionel Messi last month.
“But we also played without Victor Moses,” Rohr said in reference to the talented Chelsea winger.
Nigeria have shown much promise since making their World Cup debut at the 1994 competition in the United States.
They fought hard before falling to Argentina 2-1 in their debut finals, winning plaudits for bringing sub-Saharan African flare to the game.
Their 1994 bow may also have been their most memorable, ending in a 2-1 extra-time last-16 defeat by Roberto Baggio’s Italy, who went on to lose the final to Brazil on penalties.
Nigeria have never reached the quarter-finals and lost 3-2 to Argentina in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, when they were beaten by France in the last 16.
Rohr said their toughest match will be against Croatia on June 16 in Kaliningrad, because it will be Nigeria’s opener.
“The first game is always the most difficult,” he added.
He also attributed Nigeria’s failure to fully fulfil the promise others saw in them to a lack of discipline that he intended to fix.
“I believe that African players have the talent, they have the physical and technical possibilities, but what they are missing is organisation, what they are missing is discipline,” said Rohr, who has also coached Gabon, Niger and Burkina Faso.
2018 World Cup Fixtures, Including Dates, Kick-Off Times & Venues
Thursday, June 14
(1500) Russia v Saudi Arabia, Moscow (Luzhniki)
Friday, June 15
(1200) Egypt v Uruguay, Yekaterinburg
(1500) Morocco v Iran, Saint Petersburg
(1800) Portugal v Spain, Sochi
Saturday, June 16
(1000) France v Australia, Kazan
(1300) Argentina v Iceland, Moscow (Spartak)
(1600) Peru v Denmark, Saransk
(1900) Croatia v Nigeria, Kaliningrad
Sunday, June 17
(1200) Costa Rica v Serbia, Samara
(1500) Germany v Mexico, Moscow (Luzhniki)
(1800) Brazil v Switzerland, Rostov-on-Don
Monday, June 18
(1200) Sweden v South Korea, Nizhni Novgorod
(1500) Belgium v Panama, Sochi
(1800) Tunisia v England, Volgograd
Tuesday, June 19
(1200) Poland v Senegal, Moscow (Spartak)
(1500) Colombia v Japan, Saransk
(1800) Russia v Egypt, Saint Petersburg
Wednesday, June 20
(1200) Portugal v Morocco, Moscow (Luzhniki)
(1500) Uruguay v Saudi Arabia, Rostov-on-Don
(1800) Iran v Spain, Kazan
Thursday, June 21
(1200) France v Peru, Yekaterinburg
(1500) Denmark v Australia, Samara
(1800) Argentina v Croatia, Nizhni Novgorod
Friday, June 22
(1200) Brazil v Costa Rica, Saint Petersburg
(1500) Nigeria v Iceland, Volgograd
(1800) Serbia v Switzerland, Kaliningrad
Saturday, June 23
(1200) Belgium v Tunisia, Moscow (Spartak)
(1500) Germany v Sweden, Sochi
(1800) South Korea v Mexico, Rostov-on-Don
Sunday, June 24
(1200) England v Panama, Nizhni Novgorod
(1500) Japan v Senegal, Yekaterinburg
(1800) Poland v Colombia, Kazan
Monday, June 25
(1400) Saudi Arabia v Egypt, Volgograd
(1400) Uruguay v Russia, Samara
(1800) Spain v Morocco, Kaliningrad
(1800) Iran v Portugal, Saransk
Tuesday, June 26
(1400) Denmark v France, Moscow (Luzhniki)
(1400) Australia v Peru, Sochi
(1800) Nigeria v Argentina, Saint Petersburg
(1800) Iceland v Croatia, Rostov-on-Don
Wednesday, June 27
(1400) South Korea v Germany, Kazan
(1400) Mexico v Sweden, Yekaterinburg
(1800) Serbia v Brazil, Moscow (Spartak)
(1800) Switzerland v Costa Rica, Nizhni Novgorod
Thursday, June 28
(1400) Japan v Poland, Volgograd
(1400) Senegal v Colombia, Samara
(1800) England v Belgium, Kaliningrad
(1800) Panama v Tunisia, Saransk
Saturday, June 30
Round of 16
(1400) Group C winners v Group D runners-up, Kazan (R1)
(1800) Group A winners v Group B runners-up, Sochi (R2)
Sunday, July 1
Round of 16
(1400) Group B winners v Group A runners-up, Moscow (Luzhniki) (R5)
(1800) Group D winners v Group C runners-up, Nizhni Novgorod (R6)
Monday, July 2
Round of 16
(1400) Group E winners v Group F runners-up, Samara (R3)
(1800) Group G winners v Group H runners-up, Rostov-on-Don (R4)
Tuesday, July 3
Round of 16
(1400) Group F winners v Group E runners-up, Saint Petersburg (R7)
(1800) Group H winners v Group G runners-up, Moscow (Spartak) (R8)
Friday, July 6
Quarter-finals
(1400) Winner of R1 v Winner of R2, Nizhni Novgorod (Q1)
(1800) Winner of R3 v Winner of R4, Kazan (Q2)
Saturday, July 7
Quarter-finals
(1400) Winner of R7 v Winner of R8, Samara (Q3)
(1800) Winner of R5 v Winner of R6, Sochi (Q4)
Tuesday, July 10
Semi-final
(1800) Winners of Q1 v Winners of Q2, Saint Petersburg
Wednesday, July 11
Semi-final
(1800) Winners of Q3 v Winners of Q4, Moscow (Luzhniki)
Saturday, July 14
(1400) Third-place play-off, Saint Petersburg
Sunday, July 15
(1500) Final, Moscow (Luzhniki)
Packaged by Lanre Olabisi with additional reports from punchng.com
