TheSuperNerd:
Leicester City Star Ndidi: Messi Is Unstoppable, We Have To Beat Croatia, Iceland


Leicester City midfielder Wilfred Ndidi was honest to admit that Nigeria will find it difficult to beat Argentina when both countries face off at the World Cup on June 26 because the South Americans have the best player on the planet, Barcelona's Lionel Messi.
The Super Eagles kickoff their sixth World Cup campaign against Croatia on June 16 before another intriguing clash against tournament dark horses Iceland six days later, and the Foxes current Young Player of the Year has stressed that they have to pick up wins in the first two games or know their last sixteen fate before battling Argentina.

''Argentina team is very good, for me I will say Messi is unstoppable. He is the best player in the world,'' Ndidi explained to FIFA World Cup Russia Magazine.
''We just have to try and win, give it all in our first two games before we face Argentina.''

Super Eagles captain John Obi Mikel says they are not traveling to Russia just to make up the numbers but to make history, which means they are targeting at least a place in the semifinals of the World Cup.

''I think we are in a group where we can do something. It depends on our preparations and how much we want it, not just we have qualified let's just go and play the World Cup.
''We want to make history, we want to do well. We want to make sure we go there believing we can beat Argentina, Croatia and Iceland,'' added Mikel.

The Super Eagles will face Democratic Republic of Congo, England and Czech Republic in friendlies before their trip to Russia for this summer's football festival.


**Igho Kingsley


Source: http://www.allnigeriasoccer.com/read_news.php?nid=27500


Russia 2018 WC Countdown: 49 days 4 hours 28 mins to go

gamaliel9:


NO NO NO not Greece....

safarigirl:
the sad thing now, is that I could be writing exams by then

Icon79:
Lionel Messi wins fight to register himself as trademark

A European court has ruled that Lionel Messi, the world's top earning footballer, can trademark his own name.

The Barcelona and Argentina striker fought a seven-year fight to be able to use his name on sports goods.

His original application was challenged by the Spanish cycling brand, Massi, which argued that the names were too similar and would cause confusion.

But the EU's General Court ruled that the footballer was too well known for confusion to arise.

The ruling comes days after France Football magazine reported Mr Messi had overtaken Cristiano Ronaldo as the highest earner in football, with an income of €126m (£108m).




Mr Ronaldo is making €94m, the magazine said.

'Fame'

Mr Messi's application to trademark his name was made to the European Union Office for Intellectual Property (EUIPO) in 2011.

It ruled against the footballer, saying the names were similar, because their dominant elements, "consisting of the terms 'Massi' and 'Messi', are almost identical visually and phonetically".

EUIPO said that only some people would be aware the two were different.

But the General Court, the EU's second highest court, disagreed.

It said on Thursday: "The football player's fame counteracts the visual and phonetic similarities" with Massi.

"Mr Messi is, in fact, a well-known public figure who can be seen on television and who is regularly discussed on television or on the radio," the court said.

Widely considered one of the world's greatest soccer players, Mr Messi, 30, scored his 600th professional goal last month and is the all-time highest scorer for both Barcelona and Argentina's national team.


Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/business-43904274


O pari

Bolowolowo:
Abeg, my fellow eagalians and Nairalanders. I was recently banned by spambot. This is the 2nd time in two weeks. I do not post ads nor links on this forum. Why does this keep happening to me? How can I address this issue to the he higher ups on this site. I am seriously getting fed up with this.

Danielnino00:




let it hold at Abuja abeg..so the stadium can get some upgrade...

Truidstar:
b]Tactically, the team is based on a good defense, energetic ball winners in the base of midfield with the calming presence of Mikel and a ruthless counter attack.[/b]

We abandoned this principle in our last two friendly matches. Time to stick to our strength. CYRIL DESSERS!!!!

tbaba12345:


We do not have the structures in place to find and develop talent.

Our NPFL teams do not have established youth structures. Qualified Coaching is non-existent.

Certitude:

I neva go Nysc yet. If i get cash, must see it.

kentebemoney:


Nah!!!
we stuck to same principle but experimented with different formation, against poland it was a 4-4-2, against serbia it was a 4-1-4-1.
if you ask me, i'd say that is the essence of these friendly games. the game against congo most likely would be another but the england game will likely see us play our "real game", cus it's an opportunity to make a statement (Big occasion, big masquerade ).

safarigirl:
the bigger they are, the harder they fall

Icon79:
Lionel Messi wins fight to register himself as trademark

A European court has ruled that Lionel Messi, the world's top earning footballer, can trademark his own name.

The Barcelona and Argentina striker fought a seven-year fight to be able to use his name on sports goods.

His original application was challenged by the Spanish cycling brand, Massi, which argued that the names were too similar and would cause confusion.

But the EU's General Court ruled that the footballer was too well known for confusion to arise.

The ruling comes days after France Football magazine reported Mr Messi had overtaken Cristiano Ronaldo as the highest earner in football, with an income of €126m (£108m).




Mr Ronaldo is making €94m, the magazine said.

'Fame'

Mr Messi's application to trademark his name was made to the European Union Office for Intellectual Property (EUIPO) in 2011.

It ruled against the footballer, saying the names were similar, because their dominant elements, "consisting of the terms 'Massi' and 'Messi', are almost identical visually and phonetically".

EUIPO said that only some people would be aware the two were different.

But the General Court, the EU's second highest court, disagreed.

It said on Thursday: "The football player's fame counteracts the visual and phonetic similarities" with Massi.

"Mr Messi is, in fact, a well-known public figure who can be seen on television and who is regularly discussed on television or on the radio," the court said.

Widely considered one of the world's greatest soccer players, Mr Messi, 30, scored his 600th professional goal last month and is the all-time highest scorer for both Barcelona and Argentina's national team.


Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/business-43904274


O pari

safarigirl:
where dem post you to?

rabzy:


What manner of madness is this, who the heck knows the damn company. Messi is incorruptible, I guess they just instituted the case to gain fame for themselves. Now I delete their memory.

kentebemoney:


brs ehen!!!!

i can't wait for that day , i'll be in the staduim 5 hours before the game.

Danielnino00:
***Off discussion***


Sweden FA have confirmed that Ibrahimovic won't be returning fr retirement to partake in the world cup... Ibra retired from international football after Sweden poor showing at the Euros. And now they have managed to qualify for the world cup without him... nothing stops them from doing well this time without him..

something for the team oldies to learn from...

TheSuperNerd:
The News sites recap: April 24


EXCLUSIVE Rohr: Why Iheanacho Is Important In My Super Eagles Plans
By Kayode Ogundare



Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr has reiterated the indispensability of Leicester City of England forward Kelechi Iheanacho to his World Cup plans despite the player’s limited playing time for his English Premier League side, Completesportsnigeria.com reports.

Speaking exclusively to Complete Sports, the German coach revealed that Iheanacho’s never-say-die attitude, his big heart and team spirit make it virtually impossible for him to be dropped from the Russia 2018-bound team.

“For us he’s a very important player. He’s able to make the difference and he has a good fighting spirit,” Rohr told CSN.

“He helps the team when we have difficulties. I remember the match in Krasnodar, Russia against Argentina. We were trailing two goals and he scored a very important goal in the last minute to help us stay in the game. He never gives up and I like the fact that he can be powerful and efficient in corners and free kicks too. I like his will to win
.”

He also advanced reasons why the former Manchester City forward has struggled for game time and goals since moving to the Foxes.

Rohr added: “You see it is not easy for a goalscorer to score all the time, especially if he’s changed clubs because it’s a new environment with new players around. He needs time to adjust and adapt his game to his new team. We are happy that he’s playing so many games now which is good and he’s scored a couple of goals. He’s a fighter and that’s one of the things I like about him. He’s a natural left-footer and we don’t have so many like that in our team. When you see the free-kick he scored in the friendly against Argentina to give us our first goal, you’ll know he can be very efficient for the team in tight situations.
”

The Nigeria manager revealed that he had to call on his friendship with Leicester City manager Claude Puel to find out why Iheanacho had seen more time on the bench than on the pitch and how their discussion has benefitted the 22-year old former Golden Eaglets star.

“I have a very good relationship with my friend Claude Puel (Leicester City coach) and he told me that Iheanacho is working very hard at training sessions and that he just needs to work on his right foot. But overall, Puel said his mentality is okay for the game,” Rohr explained..

Iheanacho has been the most productive Super Eagles player under Rohr with six goals from 11 games. He had scored two in four games for Rohr’s predecessor Sunday Oliseh.

@bold Italicised... actually that should be Salisu Yusuf not Oliseh. Nacho didn't score under Oliseh. And Salish only handled two games as Super Eagles stand-in manager/caretaker head coach

Source: https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/exclusive-rohr-why-iheanacho-is-important-in-my-super-eagles-plans/



Russia 2018 WC Countdown: 49 days 4 hours 43 mins to go

TheSuperNerd:
Mikel Lists Six Players Who Make Super Eagles Thrive In Their Passing Game




In an interview with FIFA World Cup Russia Magazine, Nigeria captain John Obi Mikel has mentioned six players in the squad that help the national team thrive in their passing game.

The former Chelsea star says the players understand the philosophy of the team and coupled with their discipline he expects the Super Eagles to perform admirably at the 2018 World Cup, where they face Croatia, Iceland and Argentina in the group stage.

''This team is one team that really like to play football. We have Victor Moses, we have Kelechi Iheanacho, we have Alex Iwobi, we have Ndidi, we have Onazi, we have Etebo,'' Mikel stated.
''These players all like to have the ball and it is important for us, we like to play a passing game.'
''There is a lot of discipline, calmness in the team. Everybody does his job, everybody knows what to do, everybody knows you can't let the team down.''

Mikel is set to compete in his second World Cup and it would have been three if not for a knee injury that ruled him out of the 2010 tournament in South Africa, he was named to the 23-man roster but was replaced by Brown Ideye.


**Ifeanyi Emmanuel

Source: http://www.allnigeriasoccer.com/read_news.php?nid=27502

Russia 2018 WC Countdown: 49 days 3 hours 9mins to go

komekn:


The question is how much better could they have done with him❓ Furthermore it was Ibrahimovic who retired from international football voluntary, they actually wanted him to stay. He has played 5 games in the MLS and scored 3 goals.

The proposition that you make here really is without
substance. Considering that Dani Alves, Robben, Riberie, Defoe, are well above 34 but top players in top teams.

komekn:


The question is how much better could they have done with him❓ Furthermore it was Ibrahimovic who retired from international football voluntary, they actually wanted him to stay. He has played 5 games in the MLS and scored 3 goals.

The proposition that you make here really is without
substance. Considering that Dani Alves, Robben, Riberie, Defoe, are well above 34 but top players in top teams.

daveP:
A dribbling Iwobi would have done better than that useless Welbeck that can't make an attacking run on the wing.
He made it look like it was 10vs10.

Ozil, Ramsey and Wilshere had a bad bad game too.


Shock that le prof didn't make any subs.

1-1 and I wonder how the arsenal defenders would face beast Costa.

Bolowolowo:
So Arsenal cannot exploit a handicapped Atletico. Na wa o, imagine full strength AM!!! I just tire for the gunners