ADVERTISEMENT
  • The Membership Club
  • PT Hausa
  • About Us
  • Advert Rates
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
Friday, January 22, 2021
Premium Times Nigeria
  • Home
  • COVID-19
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
  • Investigations
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Opinion
  • Health
    • News Reports
    • Investigations
    • Data and Infographics
    • Health Specials
    • Features
    • Events
    • Primary Health Tracker
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Research & Innovation
    • Data & Infographics
    • Special Reports/Features
    • Investigations
    • Interviews
    • Markets
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • Projects
    • Parliament Watch
    • Panama Papers
    • Paradise Papers
    • AGAHRIN
  • Home
  • COVID-19
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
  • Investigations
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Opinion
  • Health
    • News Reports
    • Investigations
    • Data and Infographics
    • Health Specials
    • Features
    • Events
    • Primary Health Tracker
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Research & Innovation
    • Data & Infographics
    • Special Reports/Features
    • Investigations
    • Interviews
    • Markets
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • Projects
    • Parliament Watch
    • Panama Papers
    • Paradise Papers
    • AGAHRIN
Premium Times Nigeria
BUA Group Ad BUA Group Ad BUA Group Ad
ADVERTISEMENT
Super Eagles of Nigeria

Super Eagles of Nigeria (Photo Credit: Reuters)

Four matches to watch this week

byJide Alaka
September 5, 2018
2 min read

Seychelles v Nigeria @Stade Linité @1:30pm on Sep. 8

Seychelles is ranked 188 in the world so one would expect Nigeria’s third team to hold their own against the supposed minnows. The Super Eagles were at Russia 2018 but have missed the last two Africa Cup of Nations, despite winning the title just five years ago.

The venue of the very first-ever encounter will be Stade Linite on an artificial turf with the temperature oscillating between 25oC and 29oC though it is said to feel like 34oC in the afternoon.

The Eagles have been hit by injuries to some key players – especially William Troost-Ekong and Alex Iwobi but the fringe players like Chidozie Awaziem and Kenneth Omeruo should come into their own while new invitees like Samuel Kalu could help the fans get over the absence of a retired Victor Moses.

Current Form: Seychelles [L-D-D-D-L]; Nigeria [L-W-L-L-L]

Head to head

First ever meeting

Prediction: Seychelles 0-2 Nigeria

Germany v France @Allianz Arena @7:45pm on Sep.6

RelatedNews

VIDEO: How my three-year-old daughter was sexually molested in Akwa Ibom school – Mother

COVID-19: Why Ondo recorded three deaths, 39 cases in three days – Official

17% of Nigerians don’t believe COVID-19 is real – Report

VIDEO: How communal crisis set back my farming business – Susan Godwin

Die Mannschaft were embarrassed in Russia, as the defending champions lost out in the first round. Manuel Neuer, in the pre-match press conference, stated that they have to go again and what better opposition than the current world champions, France. For Les Bleus, the euphoria is yet to totally dissipate but in Didier Deschamps, they have a manager who will be pushing the champions to forget the past and focus on the future.

Joachim Low has recalled Leroy Sane to the team while Mesut Ozil has retired from the team. At the World Cup, there seemed to be a basic lack of communication between the lines, especially the role of the full backs, which exposed the central defensive pairing of Mats Hummels and Jerome Boateng.

Low needs to accomplish some stringent tactical adjustments to get the 2014 world champions back to their normal speed. He said as much in his press conference saying, “As far as the immediate future is concerned, it’s important that we make some changes in the team.”

Dangote adbanner 728x90_2 (1)

France will be without their goalkeeper and captain, and PSG’s Alphonse Areola will start on Thursday.

Current Form: Germany [L-W-L-W-L]; France [W-W-W-W-D]

Head to head

14/11/17 FRI Germany 2 – 2 France

07/07/16 EUC Germany 0 – 2 France

13/11/15 FRI France 2 – 0 Germany

ADVERTISEMENT

04/07/14 WOC France 0 – 1 Germany

06/02/13 FRI France 1 – 2 Germany

Prediction: Germany 1-2 France

Portugal v Italy @Estadio do Sport Lisboa @7:45pm on Sep.10

Italy missed Russia 2018 and on the back of that embarrassment employed Roberto Mancini as the new manager. The spiky former Manchester City boss has recalled maverick Mario Balotelli though he now needs capable replacements for the retired Gianluigi Buffon and Giorgio Chiellini in the defence.

For Portugal, Russia 2018 was not a disaster, even though they must know that they could have performed better. Cristiano Ronaldo is still his country’s talisman and he now plays his football with Juventus in Italy.

Current Form: Portugal [L-D-W-D-W]; Italy [D-L-W-D-L]

Head to head

16/06/15 FRI Italy 0 – 1 Portugal

06/02/08 FRI Italy 3 – 1 Portugal

31/03/04 FRI Portugal 1 – 2 Italy

12/02/03 FRI Italy 1 – 0 Portugal

25/04/00 FRI Italy 2 – 0 Portugal

Prediction: Portugal 1-1 Italy

Spain v Croatia @Estadio Manuel Martínez Valero @7:45pm on Sep.11

This should be a very exciting encounter between two good passing teams. Croatia failed at the last hurdle at Russia 2018 while Spain underachieved by losing on penalties to hosts, Russia.

With the confusion that trailed Julen Lopetegui’s dismissal, former Barcelona manager, Luis Enrique, has been brought in to give added impetus to the team, which failed by not scoring the goals their possession stats entailed.

Andres Iniesta and Gerard Pique are now retired while Croatia have lost Mario Mandzukic, which means new beginnings. Who will start afresh the better?

Current Form: Spain [L-D-W-D-W]; Croatia [L-W-W-W-W]

Head to head

21/06/16 EUC Croatia 2 – 1 Spain

18/06/12 EUC Croatia 0 – 1 Spain

07/06/06 FRI Croatia 1 – 2 Spain

23/02/00 FRI Croatia 0 – 0 Spain

04/05/99 FRI Spain 3 – 1 Croatia

Prediction: Spain 2-1 Croatia

  • WhatsApp
  • Tweet
  • Email
  • Print
  • Telegram
  • More
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Pocket

Support PREMIUM TIMES' journalism of integrity and credibility

Good journalism costs a lot of money. Yet only good journalism can ensure the possibility of a good society, an accountable democracy, and a transparent government.

For continued free access to the best investigative journalism in the country we ask you to consider making a modest support to this noble endeavour.

By contributing to PREMIUM TIMES, you are helping to sustain a journalism of relevance and ensuring it remains free and available to all.

Donate


TEXT AD: To advertise here . Call Willie +2347088095401...


JOIN THE CONVERSATION

  • Disqus (0)
premiumtimes



PT Mag Campaign AD

Previous Post

JUST IN: Total, NNPC, other partners to launch Egina crude in Singapore

Next Post

Police release names of officers who raided Edwin Clark’s home

Jide Alaka

Jide Alaka

Former footballer, passionate football enthusiast and analyst and a proud Nigerian.

More News

Liverpool FC [PHOTO: LFC]

EPL: Liverpool finally lose at home

January 21, 2021
Joe Erico

Late Coach Erico was ahead of his time- Akpoborie

January 21, 2021
Former Super Eagles goalkeeper Late Joe Erico

Former Super Eagles goalkeeper Joe Erico is dead

January 21, 2021
Cristiano Ronaldo

Ronaldo notches record with Super Cup title

January 21, 2021
Manchester United players celebrates after scoring a goal (Photo Credit: Reuters on Google)

EPL: Cavani, Pogba shoot Manchester United back to top spot

January 21, 2021
Nigeria Golden Eaglets [PHOTO CREDIT: @thenff]

WAFU U-17: Onigbinde blames Golden Eaglets’ defeat by Cote d’Ivoire on NFF

January 20, 2021
Next Post
The suspect

Police release names of officers who raided Edwin Clark's home

APC Secretariat

2019: Adamawa APC stakeholders endorse direct primaries, list merits

Discussion about this post

Search

#EndSARS: Latest Updates




Polaris Bank


JAIZ Ad


NITDA Ad




Advertisement






netherland biz school Advert

Zenith Advert

Heritage Advert
ADVERTISEMENT

Our Digital Network

  • PT Hausa
  • Election Centre
  • Human Trafficking Investigation
  • Centre for Investigative Journalism
  • National Conference
  • Press Attack Tracker
  • PT Academy
  • Dubawa
  • LeaksNG
  • Campus Reporter

Resources

  • Oil & Gas Facts
  • List of Universities in Nigeria
  • LIST: Federal Unity Colleges in Nigeria
  • NYSC Orientation Camps Address Nationwide
  • Nigeria’s Federal/States’ Budgets since 2005
  • Malabu Scandal Thread
  • World Cup 2018
  • Panama Papers Game
  • Our Digital Network
  • About Us
  • Resources
  • Projects
  • Data & Infographics
  • DONATE

All content is Copyrighted © 2020 The Premium Times, Nigeria

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • COVID-19
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
  • Investigations
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Health
    • News Reports
    • Investigations
    • Data and Infographics
    • Health Specials
    • Features
    • Events
    • Primary Health Tracker
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Research & Innovation
    • Data & Infographics
    • Special Reports/Features
    • Investigations
    • Interviews
    • Markets
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • Projects
    • Panama Papers
    • Paradise Papers
    • Parliament Watch
    • AGAHRIN
  • Opinion
  • PT Hausa
  • The Membership Club
  • Dubawa
    • Dubawa NG
  • About Us
  • Advert Rates
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Digital Store
  • DONATE

All content is Copyrighted © 2020 The Premium Times, Nigeria

Our website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.