*smiles* Congrats to Croatia, they needed the game more........ We didn't.

We've already done the work in the first 2 matches.

I know the result would have been different had Nigeria needed that game for qualification....... But it's so funny, Many Nigerians started following this team after their 5-1 win over the hosts.

I was kinda uncomfortable with how Nigerians were expecting an outright win against a good croatian side who I felt we would be doing a kinda injustice to if we take them "serious".

Osimhen's goal when the croatians were all over us showed that if Nigeria decided to throw caution out the window and play their "A" GAME, Croatia might be on a plane back home..... But at what cost? Card suspensions, injuries, etc. A pyrrhic victory at best against a "desperate side".

Of course No team goes into a match to lose but you cannot rule out the psychology and mindset of the players which was, "guys, we've qualified ooo... Let's not get unnecessary cards, injuries/cramps, or tire our selves out here. This game no matter how u look at it is inconsequential...... Let's just see off the game we way we can coz we got the knock-out rounds to think about.........."


For crying out loud, Even if that game ended croatia 100-1 Nigeria................. WE'RE STILL TOPS AND NOTHING CAN CHANGE THAT.

Seriously, Many Nigerians really got short memory........ So the team has suddenly become lack lustre..... Na wa o!

I, for one, have always said that this is, in my books, a good "tactically disciplined" team with nothing too spectacular but with a few top talents that can sparkle when the occasion arises...... They are not as flamboyantly talented as the 2013 class but they can still break the "win-in-asia-only-syndrome".............. Why? Because of their impressive "tactical discipline" plus the "killer ablities" of the team's top talents such as the Osimhen, K. Nwakali, Chukwueze, Anumudu, Bamgboye, Osinachi and Agor.

So, cut the boys some slack coz we're all looking ahead already to the next round......... *smiles*

Nigeria, South Korea, France, and Germany are still my top 4 picks for the cup.

Maybe Brazil and Mali can launch strong challenges also...............

**smiles**

TheSuperNerd:
*smiles* Congrats to Croatia, they needed the game more........ We didn't.

We've already done the work in the first 2 matches.

I know the result would have been different had Nigeria needed that game for qualification....... But it's so funny, Many Nigerians started following this team after their 5-1 win over the hosts.

I was kinda uncomfortable with how Nigerians were expecting an outright win against a good croatian side who I felt we would be doing a kinda injustice to if we take them "serious".

Osimhen's goal when the croatians were all over us showed that if Nigeria decided to throw caution out the window and play their "A" GAME, Croatia might be on a plane back home..... But at what cost? Card suspensions, injuries, etc. A pyrrhic victory at best against a "desperate side".

Of course No team goes into a match to lose but you cannot rule out the psychology and mindset of the players which was, "guys, we've qualified ooo... Let's not get unnecessary cards, injuries/cramps, or tire our selves out here. This game no matter how u look at it is inconsequential...... Let's just see off the game we way we can coz we got the knock-out rounds to think about.........."


For crying out loud, Even if that game ended croatia 100-1 Nigeria................. WE'RE STILL TOPS AND NOTHING CAN CHANGE THAT.

Seriously, Many Nigerians really got short memory........ So the team has suddenly become lack lustre..... Na wa o!

I, for one, have always said that this is, in my books, a good "tactically disciplined" team with nothing too spectacular but with a few top talents that can sparkle when the occasion arises...... They are not as flamboyantly talented as the 2013 class but they can still break the "win-in-asia-only-syndrome".............. Why? Because of their impressive "tactical discipline" plus the "killer ablities" of the team's top talents such as the Osimhen, K. Nwakali, Chukwueze, Anumudu, Bamgboye, Osinachi and Agor.

So, cut the boys some slack coz we're all looking ahead already to the next round......... *smiles*

Nigeria, South Korea, France, and Germany are still my top 4 picks for the cup.

Maybe Brazil and Mali can launch strong challenges also...............

**smiles**

good thing we are still top but even if we needed dat game we would still have lost oh if u watched the match it was clear Croatia dominated .
#team Nigeria for the cup tho

[b][size=14pt]
AF Nigeria Nigeria U17
Nigeria lost to a better team - Amuneke
[/size]

Eaglets coach Amuneke

Nigeria U17 team coach Emmanuel Amuneke has stated his team were not at their best and Croatia deserved their 2-1 win in a final group game of the 2015 FIFA U17 World Cup in Chile.

But despite the loss, Nigeria finished top of Group A with six points from three matches with Croatia runners-up on five points for both teams to automatically progress to the next stage.

Amuneke said his team have to play more as a team going forward.

"My players wanted to win, but we were not the best tonight. The Croats have asked us many problems. They prevented us from playing our game and deserved to win,” he said.

“My players are very talented, but still have room for improvement collectively."

Nigeria will now face the third best losers in Groups C, D and E in the Round of 16.
[/b]

africanfootball.com//news/578995/Nigeria-lost-to-a-better-team-Amuneke

terzurum5:
[b][size=14pt]
AF Nigeria Nigeria U17
Nigeria lost to a better team - Amuneke
[/size]

Eaglets coach Amuneke

Nigeria U17 team coach Emmanuel Amuneke has stated his team were not at their best and Croatia deserved their 2-1 win in a final group game of the 2015 FIFA U17 World Cup in Chile.

But despite the loss, Nigeria finished top of Group A with six points from three matches with Croatia runners-up on five points for both teams to automatically progress to the next stage.

Amuneke said his team have to play more as a team going forward.

"My players wanted to win, but we were not the best tonight. The Croats have asked us many problems. They prevented us from playing our game and deserved to win,” he said.

“My players are very talented, but still have room for improvement collectively."

Nigeria will now face the third best losers in Groups C, D and E in the Round of 16.
[/b]

africanfootball.com//news/578995/Nigeria-lost-to-a-better-team-Amuneke

Perfect quote class and dignity. We will rise again.

The Croatia loss can either make or break this team, if anything it makes this world cup all the more interesting.

Mali finishes top of Group D, Ecuador a close second. Nigeria may meet 3rd placed Belgium in R16


Meanwhile, Chile progresses as best 3rd

safarigirl:
Mali finishes top of Group D, Ecuador a close second. Nigeria may meet 3rd placed Belgium in R16


Meanwhile, Chile progresses as best 3rd

Looks more like we are to play Australia(3rd from C) if they finally make it. Belgium(3rd from D) will b next choice if Australia doesn't make it. Nigeria Vs 3CDE

I tip Mali and Mexico for the trophy...

Tomtoxic:

good thing we are still top but even if we needed dat game we would still have lost oh if u watched the match it was clear Croatia dominated .
#team Nigeria for the cup tho

I don't belive so. If Croatia had secured qualification and also top of group and Nigeria needed to win to qualify we could have beaten Croatia.

If the two teams happen to meet again in either d semis or final u will see a different Golden Eaglets performance.

What happend to Nigeria also happened to Germany early this morning. They were through after 2 matches and they lost 1-2 to Mexico hu needed a result more.

Things like this happen in football. The psychology of haven qualified already relaxes their adrenalin and for d opposing side hu needs the result more their adrenalin fires up more and dey play better. This is jst part of Sports psychology.

This Eaglets should nt b judged from that game o. Amuneke said what he said ("they wanted to win" )so dat opposing teams and FIFA will nt suspect foul play .

Words like: "Boys u have already qualified as top of d grp. Play to win this game bt pls take it easy, knock d ball around, avoid reckless tackles so as to avoid cards and injuries.Go have fun on d pitch". While for the Croatian coach: " Boys it is a do or go home for u. Do all u can, challenge all passes, make all tackles" & stuffs like that.

For eg a team dat has won d league with four matches to spare what will dey b fighting for at that point? they may lose half of their remaining matches.

This is y at tourneys like these some coaches will chose to play there reserve players bc those ones will have d fighting spirit to impress d coach and also announce their names to d European scouts and dat alone is worth playing for. While d regulars will b avoiding injuries and cards.
It is same all over d world.

Watch out for d Eaglets in d final rounds.

cc: joseph1013, safarigirl, TheGoodJoe, TheSuperNerd, Mikron, Bascovanveli, terzurum5

Happy Sunday All.

Icon4s:


Looks more like we are to play Australia(3rd from C) if they finally make it. Belgium(3rd from D) will b next choice if Australia doesn't make it. Nigeria Vs 3CDE

ya, I know.....just didn't think they would qualify....


This means we play Australia (they qualified)

Korea Republic play Belgium

Mexico play Chile

Germany play Croatia (this should be interesting)

Mali play whichever shiiiit team comes 3rd in Group E or F (I swear they get to play mumu teams you don't even have to be good to win)

safarigirl:
ya, I know.....just didn't think they would qualify....


This means we play Australia (they qualified)

Korea Republic play Belgium

Mexico play Chile

Germany play Croatia (this should be interesting)

Mali play whichever shiiiit team comes 3rd in Group E or F (I swear they get to play mumu teams you don't even have to be good to win)

Australia have nt qualified yet. With 4pts and & -2 GD they are the least among d 3rd placed teams with 4pts after 3 games. So far d only 3rd placed team from 3 games that dey are ahead of is England (2 pts from 3games).

Australia, though very likely to qualify, will have to wait for todays matches to confirm there qualification. A team like Syria (3rd with 1 pt after 2 games) may have to beat Paraguay by a wide margin (2-3 goals) for them to over take Australia. Remember also South África (3rd with1pt & -1 GD after 2 games) are to play Russia (4pts). South Africa need a 1 goal margin win to over take Australia also.

England can also qualufy if Syria, New zealand ånd South Africa all lose their matches which is d likely scenerio baring any upsets.

New Zealand vs France
Syria Vs Paraguay
South Africa vs Russia

Icon4s:


Australia have nt qualified yet. With 4pts and & -2 GD they are the least among d 3rd placed teams with 4pts after 3 games. So far d only 3rd placed team from 3 games that dey are ahead of is England (2 pts from 3games).

Australia, though very likely to qualify, will have to wait for todays matches to confirm there qualification. A team like Syria (3rd with 1 pt after 2 games) may have to beat Paraguay by a wide margin (2-3 goals) for them to over take Australia. Remember also South África (3rd with1pt & -1 GD after 2 games) are to play Russia (4pts). South Africa need a 1 goal margin win to over take Australia also.

England can also qualufy if Syria, New zealand ånd South Africa all lose their matches which is d likely scenerio baring any upsets.

New Zealand vs France
Syria Vs Paraguay
South Africa vs Russia

New Zealand won't qualify, forget...and I don't see SA winning Russia, Korea stands a higher chance of winning CRC....Australia will qualify. Only one of the 2 remaining groups can produce a best 3rd, Group F is just the worst

safarigirl:
New Zealand won't qualify, forget...and I don't see SA winning Russia, Korea stands a higher chance of winning CRC....Australia will qualify. Only one of the 2 remaining groups can produce a best 3rd, Group F is just the worst

Yeah Australia will likely qualify. Bt dnt completely rule out SA yet o even though Russia are favorites to get their needed result. SA needs a 1 goal margin win to get to 2nd rnd. CRC are favorites to win N. Korea. As for New Zealand or Syria this is where Australia have hope knowing dey are above England already. Anyways in d next couple of hours all d calculations and permutations would have ended.

Likely gonna be Nig vs Aus.

HT Group F

France 2-0 Syria (France going for all 9 points....strong contenders)

Paraguay 1-1 New Zealand.....


3-0 for France in 46 mins

Its Nigeria v Australia in the round of 16.

The last two times both countries met at the U-17 WC, the eaglets won both matches 5-1 and 2-1, in the 2001 quarter-finals and 2003 group stage respectively. In the 2003 encounter, a certain Mikel Obi equalized after Nigeria had gone behind to a 2nd minute Aussie goal.

Icon4s:


Yeah Australia will likely qualify. Bt dnt completely rule out SA yet o even though Russia are favorites to get their needed result. SA needs a 1 goal margin win to get to 2nd rnd. CRC are favorites to win N. Korea. As for New Zealand or Syria this is where Australia have hope knowing dey are above England already. Anyways in d next couple of hours all d calculations and permutations would have ended.

Likely gonna be Nig vs Aus.

....and Korea won Costa Rica 2-1 while SA lost 2-0....Korea DPR enters R16 and SA goes home.

Told ya Korea DPR would win CRC before SA would win Russia.

As expected, only 2 teams qualified out of Group F, unexpectedly, New Zealand won Paraguay 2-1 and took that 2nd spot, sending Paraguay home with 3 points.

5 of 6 European teams remain: France, Germany, Croatia, Russia, Belgium

3 of 5 South American teams: Brazil, Chile, Ecuador

3 of 4 Asian teams: Korea DPR, Korea PR, Australia

2 of 4 North American teams: Mexico, CRC

2 of 4 African teams: Nigeria, Mali

1 of 1 Oceania team: New Zealand


R16 ties 28 Oct

Brazil v New Zealand

Mexico v Chile

Nigeria v Australia

Korea Republic v. Belgium

R16 ties 29 Oct

Croatia v. Germany

Mali v. Korea DPR

Russia vs. Ecuador

France v. CRC

safarigirl:
....and Korea won Costa Rica 2-1 while SA lost 2-0....Korea DPR enters R16 and SA goes home.

Told ya Korea DPR would win CRC before SA would win Russia.

As expected, only 2 teams qualified out of Group F, unexpectedly, New Zealand won Paraguay 2-1 and took that 2nd spot, sending Paraguay home with 3 points.

5 of 6 European teams remain: France, Germany, Croatia, Russia, Belgium

3 of 5 South American teams: Brazil, Chile, Ecuador

3 of 4 Asian teams: Korea DPR, Korea PR, Australia

2 of 4 North American teams: Mexico, CRC

2 of 4 African teams: Nigeria, Mali

1 of 1 Oceania team: New Zealand


R16 ties 28 Oct

Brazil v New Zealand

Mexico v Chile

Nigeria v Australia

Korea Republic v. Belgium

R16 ties 29 Oct

Croatia v. Germany

Mali v. Korea DPR

Russia vs. Ecuador

France v. CRC

Yeah u predicted d Korea DPR and South Africa outcomes correctly.I expected Russia to beat SA bt didnt expect CRC to lose to Korea DPR.
New Zealand shocked d world by beating Paraguay thereby also sending England home cos if Paraguay had won England too would have qualified. Shiits happen in football and I think that's 1 of them.

Nigeria and Mali should be able to ease past their opponents.

I think Nigeria, France and Germany(if dey beat Croatia) are top favorites and next grp of favorites are Mali, Mexico, Brazil & Croatia (if dey beat Germany)

Icon4s:


Yeah u predicted d Korea DPR and South Africa outcomes correctly.I expected Russia to beat SA bt didnt expect CRC to lose to Korea DPR.
New Zealand shocked d world by beating Paraguay thereby also sending England home cos if Paraguay had won England too would have qualified. Shiits happen in football and I think that's 1 of them.

Nigeria and Mali should be able to ease past their opponents.

I think Nigeria, France and Germany(if dey beat Croatia) are top favorites and next grp of favorites are Mali, Mexico, Brazil & Croatia (if dey beat Germany)

Mexico beat Germany. I think Mali is better than Nigeria.

I say top favorites Mexico, Mali, France..

Icon4s:


Yeah u predicted d Korea DPR and South Africa outcomes correctly.I expected Russia to beat SA bt didnt expect CRC to lose to Korea DPR.
New Zealand shocked d world by beating Paraguay thereby also sending England home cos if Paraguay had won England too would have qualified. Shiits happen in football and I think that's 1 of them.

Nigeria and Mali should be able to ease past their opponents.

I think Nigeria, France and Germany(if dey beat Croatia) are top favorites and next grp of favorites are Mali, Mexico, Brazil & Croatia (if dey beat Germany)

yep. Nigeria, France and Germany, I'll add Mexico to that, and Mali will have a very easy pass to the next round.

As far as the Round of 16 goes, whichever team makes it between Germany and Croatia will be top for me. Countries like Mexico, Mali and France are not playing top oppositions, so if they win those teams, it won't affect my ratings.


I don't know how easy Nigeria will have it against Australia though, I don't think it will be as easy as the other 3 teams I mentioned considering they drew Mexico and qualified out of a Group of Death. They're probably better than Mexico

tbaba1234:


Mexico beat Germany. I think Mali is better than Nigeria.

I say top favorites Mexico, Mali, France..

Mexico beat Germany where Mexico needed a win and Germany didn't. Australia drew Mexico where there was no pressure. Does that mean Australia is as good as Mexico?

Mexico winning Germany is not a strong enough point for me. Mali will probably go ahead of Mexico, after all, they play arguably, the weakest team in the Round of 16....as long as they don't meet France, Germany, Mexico or even Nigeria along the way, then they can be contenders.....we also forget PR Korea, the only team yet to concede a goal. They should be contenders as well

Their group wasn't as tough as Groups A-C

tbaba1234:


Mexico beat Germany. I think Mali is better than Nigeria.

I say top favorites Mexico, Mali, France..

Mexico beat an already qualified Germany.If Germany had needed to beat Mexico to qualify d result won't b same as it ended in dat grp meeting.
I still rate Germany above Mexico.

I rate Nigeria above Mali to win d title.Even though Mali are African champions they are known to b pereniel under-achievers dnt b surprised if dey lose to Korea DPR. A country dat has played 7finals out of 10 participation is always favorites to get to d next final.Mali has never reached d semis at this age grade.
History has a way of most times repeating itself.

How come nobody is tipping Croatia to at least reach the semi finals?

If I have to bet, I'll bet on them (Croatia) to take the trophy. They have a good team and can only get better.

I'll support Eaglets out of patriotism but i think they need to improve. Nwakali in my opinion isn't worth the £4m that agents valued him. He is in the mood of Mikel or Obiora Nwankwo...good football brain, less mobility and aggression, very cautious and laid back kind of midfielder.

Anumudu, Chukwueze and Osimhen are the stars of the squad. Agor and Enogela are hard working but over zealous. They need to know when to take risk or release the balls.

gbosaa:
How come nobody is tipping Croatia to at least reach the semi finals?

If I have to bet, I'll bet on them (Croatia) to take the trophy. They have a good team and can only get better.

I'll support Eaglets out of patriotism but i think they need to improve. Nwakali in my opinion isn't worth the £4m that agents valued him. He is in the mood of Mikel or Obiora Nwankwo...good football brain, less mobility and aggression, very cautious and laid back kind of midfielder.

Anumudu, Chukwueze and Osimhen are the stars of the squad. Agor and Enogela are hard working but over zealous. They need to know when to take risk or release the balls.

Bc they beat a Nigeria team dat had already qualified? Let them face Germany first before I know where to place them.