Complacency is Nigeria's biggest downfall(as it is with most African nations), they have ample amount of firepower and pace in that front four to beat Bosnia.
I know about as much about B and H as I do Nigeria - i.e. Their highest profile players. Dzeko, Pjanic and Begovic are all from there and I presume will go.
A quick google yields this: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/bosnia-and-herzegovina/10810419/Bosnia-Herzegovina-World-Cup-2014-squad.html
Panic, Ibisevic, Spahic.
Seen it happen a lot with Eastern European nations though. Qualify well (Bosnia had a very easy group tbf), look strong on paper but not get out of first gear in the tournament.
A bit of stereotyping, but I think the same will happen to Bosnia.
Looking at that, Spahic is an OK CB who will probably start and be their key defender, recognise Lulic and Misimovic was a cracking playmaker with long hair for Bochum on FIFA 06. Scored plenty of beautiful free kicks with him.
Spahic is their captain and will definitely start.
DJ, you could say the same about a lot of African teams, to be fair.
I know nothing about them and based my assumption off having seen him play after we were linked with him a couple of years back
Japan will make it through the group stages at the expense of Ivory Coast for me, former tend to play with pace and are energetic with a good few technically sound players which will abolish the latter's slow paced game.
Eastern European teams bombing like Ukraine and Croatia? I remember Serbia/Montenegro doing exactly that in 06 though.
Ivory Coast squad starting to age.
Nigeria and Ghana have the best squads on paper, and I fancy Nigeria to get out of the group stages tbh. They do have quite a good side.
Enyeama
Ambrose Omeruo Yobo Echijiele
JoelObi Mikel Onazi
Musa Emenike Moses
Moses and Mikel tend to perform a lot better for Nigeria. Good impact subs off the bench in Oduamadi and Obinna. Not sure why Imoh Ezekiel wasn't taken though.
Ghana line up:
Barry
Opare Mensah Boye Addy/Schlupp
Essien Muntari
Ayew Boateng Asamoah
Gyan
Defence is meh but midfield and attack have experience and youth.
Nigeria would be my pick to do something if any of them do.
On the back of winning the ACON and having experienced the Confed Cup last year they should have a degree of confidence about them. John Obi Mikel is like a different player for them, playing further forward and making the play. He could surprise many in this tournament.
Odemwingie won't start cmf, will be the same 4-3-3 used at aCON and Confeds.
Has Boubacar transferred from the Elephants to Ghana?
My mate is just uploading me a vid he's just taken at the big game today - Maldives V Palestine @ Male.
Odemwingie will start BK, in form player and adds experience at the front.
Settled his differences with the coach, silly not to field him.
Joel Obi...who has only appeared twice this season from the start for his club(6 sub apps)
Probably wont even make the final cut.
Injury problems of course, but if he's fit, he'll start (if Keshi continues with the 4-3-3). Just because he's best option there next to Mikel and Onazi. There's been a lot of rotation about the 3rd midfield spot next to them.
No, there's been times when he has been fit but has been nowhere near the national set up.
Bench or dropped from squad.
Shola should start. Keshi loves him.
comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 2 hours, 19 minutes ago
Panic, Ibisevic, Spahic.
Seen it happen a lot with Eastern European nations though. Qualify well (Bosnia had a very easy group tbf), look strong on paper but not get out of first gear in the tournament.
A bit of stereotyping, but I think the same will happen to Bosnia.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Croatia haven't done badly over the last couple of decades. Yugoslavia were good too
People need to learn "a lot" does not mean all
I read that Cameroon have only ever won one World Cup game bar 1990
I would say Nigeria..
Ivory Coast players are old and I think they got embarrassed by Nigeria in ACON.
Anyone will be a fool not to think Cote d'Ivorie won't go far, team breaming full of established top class players at the highest level, and Yaya Toure (who is Premier Leagues best midfielder by a mile) will have that star power effect as a Cristano Ronaldo for Portugal or Zlatan to Sweden.
Bony has had a great 1st season at higher level too. And we Arsenal fans should be looking out for our possible future RB Serge Aurier, who was named in Ligue 1 team of the year, and will most certainly be RB for Ivory Coast.
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Which African Nation?
Page 3 of 5
posted on 23/5/14
Complacency is Nigeria's biggest downfall(as it is with most African nations), they have ample amount of firepower and pace in that front four to beat Bosnia.
posted on 23/5/14
I know about as much about B and H as I do Nigeria - i.e. Their highest profile players. Dzeko, Pjanic and Begovic are all from there and I presume will go.
A quick google yields this: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/bosnia-and-herzegovina/10810419/Bosnia-Herzegovina-World-Cup-2014-squad.html
posted on 23/5/14
Mikel in midfield.
posted on 23/5/14
Panic, Ibisevic, Spahic.
Seen it happen a lot with Eastern European nations though. Qualify well (Bosnia had a very easy group tbf), look strong on paper but not get out of first gear in the tournament.
A bit of stereotyping, but I think the same will happen to Bosnia.
posted on 23/5/14
Looking at that, Spahic is an OK CB who will probably start and be their key defender, recognise Lulic and Misimovic was a cracking playmaker with long hair for Bochum on FIFA 06. Scored plenty of beautiful free kicks with him.
posted on 23/5/14
Spahic is their captain and will definitely start.
posted on 23/5/14
DJ, you could say the same about a lot of African teams, to be fair.
posted on 23/5/14
I know nothing about them and based my assumption off having seen him play after we were linked with him a couple of years back
posted on 23/5/14
Japan will make it through the group stages at the expense of Ivory Coast for me, former tend to play with pace and are energetic with a good few technically sound players which will abolish the latter's slow paced game.
posted on 23/5/14
Eastern European teams bombing like Ukraine and Croatia? I remember Serbia/Montenegro doing exactly that in 06 though.
posted on 23/5/14
Ivory Coast squad starting to age.
Nigeria and Ghana have the best squads on paper, and I fancy Nigeria to get out of the group stages tbh. They do have quite a good side.
Enyeama
Ambrose Omeruo Yobo Echijiele
JoelObi Mikel Onazi
Musa Emenike Moses
Moses and Mikel tend to perform a lot better for Nigeria. Good impact subs off the bench in Oduamadi and Obinna. Not sure why Imoh Ezekiel wasn't taken though.
Ghana line up:
Barry
Opare Mensah Boye Addy/Schlupp
Essien Muntari
Ayew Boateng Asamoah
Gyan
Defence is meh but midfield and attack have experience and youth.
posted on 23/5/14
Nigeria would be my pick to do something if any of them do.
On the back of winning the ACON and having experienced the Confed Cup last year they should have a degree of confidence about them. John Obi Mikel is like a different player for them, playing further forward and making the play. He could surprise many in this tournament.
posted on 23/5/14
Odemwingie won't start cmf, will be the same 4-3-3 used at aCON and Confeds.
posted on 23/5/14
I meant poor not poof.
posted on 23/5/14
Has Boubacar transferred from the Elephants to Ghana?
posted on 23/5/14
My mate is just uploading me a vid he's just taken at the big game today - Maldives V Palestine @ Male.
posted on 23/5/14
Odemwingie will start BK, in form player and adds experience at the front.
Settled his differences with the coach, silly not to field him.
Joel Obi...who has only appeared twice this season from the start for his club(6 sub apps)
Probably wont even make the final cut.
posted on 23/5/14
Injury problems of course, but if he's fit, he'll start (if Keshi continues with the 4-3-3). Just because he's best option there next to Mikel and Onazi. There's been a lot of rotation about the 3rd midfield spot next to them.
posted on 23/5/14
No, there's been times when he has been fit but has been nowhere near the national set up.
Bench or dropped from squad.
posted on 23/5/14
Shola should start. Keshi loves him.
posted on 23/5/14
comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 2 hours, 19 minutes ago
Panic, Ibisevic, Spahic.
Seen it happen a lot with Eastern European nations though. Qualify well (Bosnia had a very easy group tbf), look strong on paper but not get out of first gear in the tournament.
A bit of stereotyping, but I think the same will happen to Bosnia.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Croatia haven't done badly over the last couple of decades. Yugoslavia were good too
posted on 23/5/14
People need to learn "a lot" does not mean all
posted on 23/5/14
I read that Cameroon have only ever won one World Cup game bar 1990
posted on 23/5/14
I would say Nigeria..
Ivory Coast players are old and I think they got embarrassed by Nigeria in ACON.
posted on 23/5/14
Anyone will be a fool not to think Cote d'Ivorie won't go far, team breaming full of established top class players at the highest level, and Yaya Toure (who is Premier Leagues best midfielder by a mile) will have that star power effect as a Cristano Ronaldo for Portugal or Zlatan to Sweden.
Bony has had a great 1st season at higher level too. And we Arsenal fans should be looking out for our possible future RB Serge Aurier, who was named in Ligue 1 team of the year, and will most certainly be RB for Ivory Coast.
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