The battle of Scotland

Writing about the Super Eagles, her preparations for the World Cup and expectations have become so worrisome in recent times with regards to the hurdles, distractions to the build up and of recent, the rag tag army Keshi has proudly rolled out as a provisional squad filled with bench warmers, injured players, a calamity goalkeeper and some inform players, while leaving out our best striker due to personal reasons.

The journey to Brazil officially begins this week on Wednesday, May 28, 2014 as the Eagles begin their final lap of preparations against Scotland at Fulham Craven Cottage as the game against Gordon Strachan’s side will take place six days before Nigeria face World Cups bound Greece in another warm-up game in Philadelphia, United States.

Nigeria last met Scotland in 2002, when the Super Eagles came from behind to win 2-1 in Aberdeen.

The Eagles will also play the United States of America in Jacksonville, Florida on June after the June 3 encounter with Greece.

The matches will be part of the Super Eagles final preparations as they set up camp in Houston in the United States of America before leaving for Brazil.

Nigeria’s fifth quest at the World Cup is the brightest of all Africa’s five representatives at Brazil 2014 as the Eagles face Iran in Group F before taking on Bosnia-Herzogivina and will finish against Argentina in a bid to reach the last 16, as they did in both 1994 and 1998.

The team under Coach Stephen Keshi will hope to avoid falling at the first hurdle, a fate they suffered in both 2002 and 2010.

We recall that despite losing both their opening group games in South Africa, the Super Eagles could still have reached the last sixteen had  they beaten South Korea in their final game, but were held to a 2-2 draw to finish bottom of the pool.

Already, Keshi is talking tough ahead of the Scotland encounter as the May 27 deadline given to the invited players will not be shifted as any player that fails to make it to London, May just have ended his World Cup dreams.   

The team would have only a day’s training for the Scotland game and we do not expect much impact or tactical approach for a team going to the World Cup with less than twenty four hours in camp in such a high profile friendly.

With the league in Europe now ended, the team’s camp is expected to bubble without any distractions as Keshi begins his march to perform the miraculous at the World Cup.

Expectedly, Keshi and his troops especially the invited players have been sounding so excited, talking though with team captain Vincent Enyeama boasting of a final birth while one or two youngsters have even gone the extra mile by predicting the final and possible lift of the World Cup.
All these big talk will come to bear after the result of our first game against Iran and if we by happen stance fail to fly, I wonder what motivating factor would drive us to fly push Bosnia-Herzegovina and Argentina one of the tournament favourites.

For the Scotland test, the Tartan Army as they are fondly called have never been formidable opponents even at the World Cup or European Championships. Scotland has never passed beyond the opening round of a major tournament despite reaching eight FIFA World Cups and two European Championships.
They qualified for five successive World Cups between 1974 and 1990, the first two as the sole British presence, but have not been involved at a major tournament since France 98. It took then seven attempts to reach the Euro finals, and after making their debut in 1992, they again qualified in 1996 only to be knocked out early once more.

Already, Scotland boss Gordon Strachan has named his squad for the friendly date with Nigeria which included two of Derby Country’s stars – Craig Forsyth and Chris Martin earring their first call up.  
With a largely assembled team of youngsters as he re-builds for a possible bright future with the squad, Strachan has invited the likes of Cammy Bell who is among four Goalkeepers in the squad, along with Hull City’s Allan Mcgregor, Graham Dorrans, James McArthur and George Boyd.

For Efe Ambrose of Celtic Football Club, it would be a perfect opportunity to give his team mates a strong insight into the strengths and weakness of the Scottish side and once again, put up an excellent display of skills in achieving a positive result for the team.

The test of the Scottish “Tartan Army” may not stretch the Eagles on Wednesday, but we must carefully assess the team that will be paraded as we prepare our minds if we truly have a first team we can proudly call our own going into this game.

The scoreline for this game in my personal opinion remains irrelevant, what matters most I strongly believe is our tactical depth to achieve success on the field of play from the defence to the attack.
Keshi needs to gamble with this invited players whether home based or not. A majority must be given the opportunity to establish themselves, then would we know their injury status (if any), fitness level, tactical discipline and focus and above all, mental alertness.

Of recent, the challenge of the national team has been with the attack and the midfield as we await the presence of Emmanuel Emenike whose form today is a far cry from his predating skills at South Africa 2012 and if some partnership will be brewed to keep our hopes alive. 

Even the controversial goalkeeper, Chigozie Agbim must be given his due role and opportunity to make or mar  his career as I strongly believe that there is something extra-ordinary Keshi or Ike Shorunmnu see in him that we have failed to identify.  

The challenge before the Eagles as we begin our final preparations to Brazil 2014 remains enormous as we appeal that the Nigeria Football Federation and the technical crew should work together to achieve success.

My only problem at this moment stems from the fact that our present hope of a successful outing in Brazil is hinged on  our patriotism even as most Nigerians have accepted with despair and fate that the final 23 man team list would be filled with more laughter for Keshi to carry only his loyal subjects, irrespective of their quality to feature for our great country.

The Scotland test remains a stepping stone which the Eagles should not falter, yet the choice still remains with the Eagles to walk the path of honour and prove their true qualities with Nigerians if they are ready to re-position the legacies of Africa at the World Cup.

With less than a month to the World Cup, we can keep watching and praying. Only Keshi and his co-horts know the path their journey with the National team will tow. We can only wish him or them well, good or bad.