Drogba needs to start against Greece. Greece is one of those "we can't lose if they don't score" teams. Their game is defend, counter, and set pieces. Colombia played better and deserved the three points in my opinion. Bad tactics by the manager, and horrible, horrible crossing. And the team mentality is horrible. They're approaching this as if it's just for fun. There is no intensity...that's why the keep on making errors. They lack focus. They keep on burying themselves early and there is no excuse for that. I have to question if they even really want it. Greece isn't an easy out, I never rated Colombia and they proved me wrong. There is quality there. However, I do rate Greece. Over Japan. Nigeria aren't out of it either. Either winning against Bosnia or drawing against Argentina, and they should go through. Algeria's group is pretty even, so I have no idea what could happen. Algeria could still pull it out. Ghana are right back in it if they draw against Germany, and Ghana have played Germany well in the past. Overall, not as well as I expected. Very disappointing. CAF is stagnant.
Serbians are just as bad or even worse. A lot of racist scum here (ex-Yugoslavia) and you can't deny it. Stopped going to games because of it. Never knew when it wouldn't turn on me. If nothing was said to him - and given absolutely no information to the contrary I rescind everything. I was half-hoping something was said in a half-hearted attempt to understand how he could do something as stupid, because what he did was unfathomable, Zidane at least was provoked. Before that play there wasn't much between the teams and with a few minor tactical changes (and subbing in a creative midfielder) I could have seen them come back. Song is a colossal massive idiot who should never play for Cameroon again. If you felt offended I apologize. (Doesn't change the fact that some Croatia fans brought Nazi banners to the stadium though).
I appreciate your passion for african national teams but must say you are very biased. I thought the game was officiated rather fairly, and colombia was the more dangerous team aside the last 15 minutes in which they got into their terrible habit of stopping their attack in order to hold the lead. IC have a good team and gervinho had a wonderful goal. Still though, the scoreline accurately represented the better side. Good luck to the ivorians i see you making it out of the group with us
Must disagree. I see you are being extremely biased about it which is underdstandable as you're a Colombian. The first half was very even and you can't honestly say any team was better than the other. Colombia did have the better chance to go ahead, but that was after a clear offside, which wasn't called. In the second half Cote d'Ivoire were the better team save for the 15 minutes in the second half where you scored. At best it should have been a draw, especially given the referee missed a clear penalty handball. The referee was anything but fair. Calling every challenge for Colombia, while letting the Colombians do whatever. Yaya was fouled three times and then was barged into to get the ball away from him - all in one run. No call. Serey Die makes a fair challenge to reclaim the ball - foul. It was like that all day. Zokora's yellow card was ridiculous (and came after a Cuardrado dive). The very last play of the day? Yepes loses a fair battle vs Drogba, Webb calls a foul. Webb's preferential treatment of Colombians severely limited Cote d'Ivoire. --- Was pretty impressed with Cote d'Ivoire's organisation and defence. That said they are still prone in the odd mistake - both of which came from totally avoidable giveaways.
Rumoured Ghana line-up vs Germany: -------------------------------Kwarasey------------------------------ -Inkoom-----------Mensah--------------Boye---------------Afful- -------------------Essien------------------Muntari------------------ -Andre Ayew----------------Boateng--------------------Asamoah- ------------------------------Gyan------------------------------------- I firmly believe you can't have both Essien and Muntari in midfield. A lot of experience there, but not sure the pace is... Rabiu did just fine and needs to start.
Godfrey Oboabona and Gabriel Reuben are out injured. Reuben is hardly a loss, although makes the bench even thinner. But with Oboabona out I guess we're left with Yobo at CB. Yobo can be excellent, but he was never the most reliable defender. Nonetheless probably a good backup by Nigerian standards... Still no Nosa Igiebor, Sunday Mba, Fegor Ogude or anyone of the sorts to take on the AM role... The only player I would risk is Ejike Uzoenyi.
Not a good day for the Ivorians on a personal level. Kolo and Yaya Toure lose their younger brother to cancer, while Serey Die loses his father. https://eurosport.yahoo.com/news/football-toure-brother-dies-aged-28-101644760--sow.html
Is that true about Die's father? I've read conflicting reports about that one. Prayers to the brothers.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/wo...ogises-red-card-Cameroon-crash-World-Cup.html you thought Cameroon would outmuscle Croatia, Croatia outsmarted them and you just try to find reasons when the best team won. and your comment, your anger are even more stupid than this player stupid mistake... you think that most of players that live all year long with teammates from different cultures got the mentality of nationalist fans and hooligans stucked in their countries or communities almost all year long? it's dumb... m'bia is rakitic's best friend in sevilla fc. my best friend is black from madinina, and few of the close friends i made till now in my life are blacks, one from ivory coast, and 4 from french carribean islands, madinina and gwadada. i don't have any serbian or croatian friend as close as they are to me! just second kind of dear friends. when i was kid i had also a very good friend from cameroon.... noone saw racism in Song lack of brain reaction, you're the only one that brought that in the topic. you're more biased about african teams on this forum than any person biased about their own teams.
to add something more positive, as i really think that Ivory Coast got a nice team and will go through, the match between Italia and Costa Rica starting in 20 minutes will be very interesting. I'm convinced Ivory Coast could have reached round 16 or 1/4 of the last world cups if they were in most of others groups.
RIP Ibrahim, I remember him when he was playing in France I think for one of Lens or Nice. Not as talented but very hard working. That sucks man.
Damn is that why he was so emotional when the anthems were being played? That was him who was crying when teh anthem was played, no?
He said himself that wasn't the reason he cried. Damn... African teams obviously have more talent in some of their sides than Costa Rica, yet why can't they create the same results? Self-destruction is just all too often the norm. To think that two of Uruguay, Italy and England are out, while Costa Rica dances on (ok ok speaking too soon)... Fingers crossed - hopefully there is a turnaround and at least two teams go through from Africa... But their performance, save for Cote d'Ivoire and Ghana hasn't been encouraging.
You must have been watching a different game. It's all cool though. Hopefully CIV can do something vs Greece..
Ahead of preparation for the Bosnia game the team is training freekicks. Enyeama is not only a star player on the team, but he apparently is also the best freekick taker http://www.kickoffnigeria.com/news/45823/nigeria-coach-stephen-keshi-admits-that-scoring-is-an-issue
Nigeria are a good team, they always do produce good teams, and should have had us (Greece) beat at 2010 World Cup had it not been for the red card. I was less impressed in the friendly prior to the World Cup, but then again that's a friendly. Moses looked good out there though, if only for some better passes to his direction. They are up against it again now. No goals against Iran and I see them struggling all the more against Bosnia. Bosnia have a lot of firepower and it wouldn't surprise me if they grab several goals. It'll be tough. Same with Greece against Ivory Coast. We're up against it. Before I felt we could get a draw in this match at best, but our team is under pressure just to score, never mind draw or win for that matter, which is what we'll have to do now if we want to progress. We have players who I think can cope with Drogba (Moras in tandem with Manolas), but unless Greece plays a lot of defenders and get lucky, this is a sure loss for us. We'll need to get the lead, believe, and frustrate. Personally, I feel our team should play 6-3-1-0 and try to catch Ivory Coast between the 2o minutes to half-time, a window of opportunity where I think we can catch Ivory losing some of their steam and concentration. I just hope we can get something positive out of this game and I really do hope my countrymen can surprise the world with a hard fought win, but that's just hope speaking. It's a tough ask. Our players look physically and emotionally drained. For some this is their last match and for others the biggest game of their careers yet. Japan will play Colombia's B team, but that means Japan will be playing against Freddy Guarin and Quintero, quality players who will want to impress and earn a place in Colombia's starting eleven in the next round. Japan too is struggling to score and I see them having continued problems against Colombia. That game should hopefully end in a draw as a matter of interest for both the Ivorians and Greeks. Also, nothing but praise for Pekerman, Colombia's coach, he's arguably the best coach at the tournament. I see Colombia and Ivory Coast going through.
And another rumoured line-up... -------------------------------Dauda-------------------------------- -Afful-----------Mensah--------------Boye-------------Asamoah- -------------------Rabiu------------------Muntari------------------ -Andre Ayew----------------Boateng-------------------------Atsu- ------------------------------Gyan-----------------------------------
Why Nigeria should be a soccer world power in the next 10-20 years, if the NFF doesn't mess it up: http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-06-20/the-worlds-most-crazed-soccer-nation-try-nigeria Hopefully however the investment into the local league is just the beginning. Players need to be able to develop first in Nigeria and not be subject to fickle management in Europe. On a related subject: 170 mln soccer crazed people and this was the best 23 Keshi chould select... (of course it wasn't, but just saying - for one thing Campbell of Costa Rica has been all the craze, but Olaitan from Nigeria outshined him in Olympiacos). --- This years Octopus predicts a Ghana win
Ghana's premiere journalisty confirms that this is the line-up for today - two changes made - Afful for Opare and Boateng for Jordan Ayew. In all fairness this probably should have been the lineup vs USA as well. Three big game players in Muntari, Boateng and Andre Ayew. Against the might of Germany forward lines Ghana had no chance but to play Asamoah at the back. As it stands he's Ghana's best left back, hopefully he gets forward as well. I would play Andre Ayew on the right to help out Afful - he's in need of more assistance than Asamoah: ----------------------------Kwarasey-------------------------------- -Afful-----------Mensah--------------Boye-------------Asamoah- -------------------Rabiu------------------Muntari------------------ -Atsu---------------------Boateng------------------------A. Ayew- ------------------------------Gyan----------------------------------- Today is basically do or die for Africa...