Nigeria’s head coach, Gernot Rohr, believes the Group D group game against Argentina will be like a final.
Speaking after Friday’s Russia 2018 World Cup draw pitted Nigeria against Croatia, Iceland and Argentina in Group D, Rohr reminded Nigerians that the recent 4-2 win over Argentina during a friendly at Krosnadar in Russia was now history.
‘’There is no hiding place for us now. They now know us, and we know them, our surprise weapon can no longer work.’’
Argentine captain, Lionel Messi was missing in the friendly, so Rohr knows the FC Barca stalwart will make a difference this time.
‘’It is going to be a lot more difficult with Messi playing. The game will be like a final for the qualification from our group. On paper, Rohr said Nigeria were the group’s underdogs.
‘’We are in a group where the three others are supposed to be better than us because they are all higher than us on FIFA ranking. We now need to prepare well for the World Cup by organising friendlies’’.
He said he watched a strong Croatia team beat Greece 3-1 in the last round of the qualifiers and will be prepared for the Europeans.
Rohr added that Iceland, being the second match on June 22 in Volvograd Arena will have to be sized up through a friendly with a country from a Northern part of Europe.
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