Mikel going to DM was the right thing to do. He dominated that tournament IMO because he was a physical Adonis compared with the other players at the time. His dribbling and passing has always actually been pretty good when he's given time to think, his strength could have been a factor to any time he got during that time. Right now he is clearly too slow on the ball, and off as well, to be an AM.

TRC it is a bit optimistic TBH, but just don't believe that because there is no Drogba or Eto'o African football is automatically in decline. There are some great young players around Europe. Having said that apparently it is harder than ever for a young African footballer to get into a proper academy (like the Clairefontaine academy(?), the one all the IC players come from) as prices are so high.

Because they cannot get a move to Europe via that, they play in local leagues, but of course can never get the exposure needed to get a move to a better league. That is a plus side for what Nigeria have done this tuornament - pick some locally based players, and that has clearly payed off, as one scored the winning goal today.

I did mention a lot of young players in above posts but nearly all of them were based in Europe since they were less than 16.

Local leagues in Africa are also dying out in popularity, people more willing to watch the European games in pubs/at home then go to the local team games.

Brazil 2002 were no more exciting than Brazil 94.
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Thank you Forza... My guess is that Red Cog only watched the final and is extrapolating from there

Right now he is clearly too slow on the ball, and off as well, to be an AM.
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5 years of playing at DM would do that to you... and thats the point I'm making.

If Chelsea and harnessed he's creative potential right from the get go (as SAF would have done), he would really have been an awesome player for you guys, not the average Joe you have today...

I guess you were to young to understand what was going on
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I was 21 in 1994.

It was the worst world cup ever. Romario and Bebeto completely ruined by a negative defensive formulaic formation that was exemplified by Dunga. As I remember it Parreira was so disliked by the nation for the crappy football that they had to bring back Zagallo to stop a riot.

Baggio was the star in that tournament. Italy played like Brazil and Brazil played like Italy.

Au contraire, i was actually in the states during the tournament and the whole atmosphere was poor. I watched every single game...

The states just do not do sports bonanzas that are not American-centric well at all as i was also there for the Olympics in 96 and it is equally dire.

I would not bother to debate elaborate on the deficiencies of that tournament as this is not the thread for it but amusingly enough, Nigeria were probably the most exciting thing in that tournament before the unscrupulous hatchet men of Italy resorted to dark practises in killing off their chances.

jeni hats off to you!!

finally someone older than me on this thread

Italy played like Brazil and Brazil played like Italy.
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Nope. Italy practised their catenaccio style of football with the offensive stardust of a peak Roberto Baggio - with his stupid ponytail- to boot.

I grinned impishly when R.Baggio skied his penalty.

Nigeria were probably the most exciting thing in that tournament
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Yep I agree.

While Baggio was the star, Italy were hardly exciting at any point in the tournament... Started slow as usual (wouldn't have qualified in todays game)... Should have lost to Nigeria in the second round and were rubbish in the final, so I don't understand how they played like Brazil

Its statements like that still make me think you were too young to remember... 21 huh... You must have been a slow burner

You must have been a slow burner
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Yeah I was about to graduate from Oxford. Very slow burner.

Yeah I was about to graduate from Oxford

Oxford brookes? It shows

Wadham College.

Oxford brookes? It shows
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+ MSc Imperial and MBA London Business School.

There you have it my CV.

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Forza...

I know you are a tad 'special' but Amokachi was hacked down and had to go, the same with Amunike (Nigeria's best attackers in the tournament). Yekini was through on goal and Maldini brought him down - rather than a penalty and a red card, it was a free kick and a caution.

Zola was sent off.

The match had 10 cards.

Italy equalised in the 89th minute.

I recall the match in vivid detail!

Even normally-mild mannered Zola was sent off!

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rather than a penalty and a red card, it was a free kick and a caution.
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It was clearly the right decision (I think it was Costacurta who was covering and the foul was nowhere near the box).

We only had ourselves to blame for that very sad exit.

Team of the tournament:

Emenike Gyan
Moses Mikel Keita(Mali) Pitroipa
Tiene(IC) Neves(CPV) Kone(BF) Ambrose(NIG)
Enyeama(NIG)
Fair player of the tournament: Moses
Top scorer: Emenike (4 goals in 5)
Player of the tournament: Pitroipa

Mba was better than mikel.

Pitriopa flattered to deceive. Then again, no outstanding player in the tournament overall.

Moses is a de facto Brit but is Nigeria's talisman.
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Moses got to England when he was 12, so already picked up his slick skills playing on the streets of Nigeria, before he left. Don't kid yourself he learnt that playing in England. Maybe he got better organisation and developed as a player.

English players bar Wilshere, don't have such abilities.

posted 13 hours, 9 minutes ago

Emmanuel Frimpong ‏@IAMFRIMPONG26
The commentator said john obi mikel at 25 is the of the oldest in the nigerian team.☺ooo really
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Victor Moses is 22. Guess if he hadn't come to England at age 12, Nigeria would be faking his age as well.

Dummy.

Keshi resigns Hopefully it's just silly rumours and not true!
Anyone else heard anything?