Super Eagles, Iberian demolition and the flying Dutchman.

The heat is on! Pressure is mounting! The FIFA World Cup 2014 is up and running. The football community is excited as she is once every four years. Brazil, the host nation opened the world cup account with a victory over Croatia. A game marred in controversy as Brazil were gifted a very saucy penalty kick which was duly despatched by Neymar Jr. Football fans the world over speedily got over the controversy as the balling continued. It had started!
   Spain,having beaten Netherlands in the 2010 edition in South Africa by a lone goal, were book makers favourites to lift the trophy. Alongside Germany and Argentina, Spain were favourites. Therefore, when the two teams were billed to play the opening game in the group, everyone was excited. It was billed to be a tickling game. One of high tempo. It didn't disappoint. Netherlands fell behind to a Xabi Alonso penalty,dubiously won by the Brazilian born Diego Costa,who was booed through out his time on the field. It seemed like the Iberians were cruising to a now traditional victory before the Louis Van Gaal team hit back. A Daley Blind drop from the left side of the field to the front of the penalty box was met by a flying Robin Van Persie who defied every available law to meet the ball with his head and lob it over the motionless Iker Casillas. What a goal! Absolutely beautiful! That was the equaliser and the beginning of the Dutch festival of goals as RVP got another goal, Robben got a brace after having Casillas crawl all over the box for one of his goals. Stefan de Vrij equally got on the score sheet. Spain had no answer to the Dutch questions and so ended the game. Spanish heads dropped.
Spain's Iberian neighbours,Portugal, were also taught a thing or two about football. Pepe,in a moment of madness and idiocy, head butted Muller who was on the ground clutching his face and was duly red carded. That was a turning point in the game as the Portuguese never came back into it. Muller went on to get a hat trick while Matt Hummels equally got on the score sheet. The Iberian demolition was complete.
   The Super Eagles of Nigeria were expected to run riot over Iran. However,that wasn't to be. The Iranians ran away with a point. No thanks to tactical inefficiency, lack of coordination and improper attitude. The Nigerian boss, Stephen Keshi decided to start the game with three defensive midfielders; Mikel Obi, Ramon Azeez and Onazi Ogenyi. It was never going to work. Who will attempt to open up the opposing defence with runs and passes? Who will link up play between the midfield and attack? Azeez was made to play in the hole. A tactic that failed woefully. The team was in total disarray. Thank the heavens for the Super good Super Eagles goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama, who produced a fine save from a corner to deny the Iranians a goal. The Iranians rarely tested the goalkeeper. Having lost a reliable Godfrey Oboabona to an ankle knock, Nigerians kept praying that no serious threat would come the way of the defence now led by Joseph Yobo. The Nigerian team was very poor. One wonders how the team will fare with Bosnia and Argentina. Some school of thought opine that Keshi is a slow starter. One who eventually gets it right. Okay. But he shouldn't ride that luck for so long. The tactics and team selection need to change against Bosnia. Osaze should be in the starting eleven. Nigeria misses dearly the services of Sunday Mba or Nosa Igiebor. The lack of creativity in the team is so appalling. The team is very predictable.
Nevertheless, all hope is not lost. If Keshi gets his tactics right and the players give 100%, Nigeria can beat Bosnia and Argentina and even go ahead to qualify from the group. It's still possible. It all depends on Keshi and his boys. Nigerians are realistic people. They are not asking for the trophy. What they want is a decent outing, irrespective of the final outcome. A decent outing. Definitely not what was witnessed against Iran.
   It's the world cup. Savour every second of it. As we stay awake into the wee hours of the day to watch matches, I wish us all good health. It's for the love of the game. Our game. The most beautiful game on mother earth. Happy World cup!