Osaze Odemwingie believes Nigeria can go all the way in the ongoing 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil provided the players play to their potential.
The 32-year-old, who scored the only goal of the game against Bosnia-Herzegovina in Cuiaba on Sunday, said that Nigeria has what it takes to make it to the final.
“I saw a Brazilian on the street who told he foresaw Nigeria playing the final against Brazil and I said to myself why not, going by the level of our players and the fact that they are yet to peak,” Odemwingie said at the post-match press conference.
While revealing that the goal against Bosnia helped ease his disappointment at missing out on last year’s Nations Cup in South Africa, Odemwingie reiterated his confidence in the team, insisting that the squad is balanced in all departments.
“But mark my words we have a very resilient defence, a creative midfield and an attack force that can trouble any defence in the world if we play to our potentials we can go all the way,” he declared. (kickoffnigeria)
We are lucky to have goalkeeper like Enyeama – Omeruo
Kenneth Omeruo says Nigeria’s Super Eagles are lucky to have goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama.
Omeruo was full of praise for his senior colleague after he denied Edin Dzeko in the closing stages of Saturday’s all important win in Cuiaba.
Enyeama went down quickly to beat away a point lank effort from the strike onto the pits and away.
“He is one of the best in the world, a great goalkeeper and we are lucky to have a world class goalkeeper like him,” Omeruo said.
“As a defender, you are more confident when you know that you have such a person behind you and it makes your job slightly easier.” (kickoffnigeria)
Retirement Call: Gerrard says he won’t rush decision
England captain, Steven Gerrard says he will take his time before deciding on his international future.
The 34-year-old Liverpool midfielder was expected to announce his retirement yesterday following England’s group stage elimination at the World Cup, but says he will only make that call after taking a holiday.
“There is no truth that I’ll be making any announcements within a week,” Gerrard says.
“I think I need more time than that. I’ve spoken to the manager this morning and have asked him for some time to consider my future, but I certainly won’t be rushing into any decision.
“I don’t feel like it’s right to make a decision now or in a week’s time. I’m still hurting very bad and broken over what’s gone on over the last couple of weeks, so I need to get away, get on holiday and basically clear my head before I make that big decision.”
England’s elimination – after 2-1 defeats to Italy and Uruguay – was the first time they have failed to progress through the group phase since 1958. (kickoffnigeria)
Bento pessimistic on Portugal’s advancement at the World Cup
Portugal coach Paul Bento accepts his team’s prospects of reaching the last-16 of the World Cup don’t look good following their 2-2 draw with USA on Sunday.
The result left Jurgen Klinsmann’s side on the brink of advancing – while the Selecao must now beat Ghana in their final Group G tie on Thursday and hope that pool leaders Germany hammer the Americans by at least three goals to have any hopes of progressing.
“It is a result that is bad, that’s obvious,” Bento told RTP. “It does not put us out of the World Cup but it leaves us in a very precarious situation.
“We started well, with getting the goal, but then had great difficulty in holding off the right flank of USA. We tried to change this situation in the first half and the remainder in the second but we could not.
“The 2-2 result was representative of what we did with our last effort, an effort that was great considering the difficult conditions in Manaus.
“Now we have to play the last game and exhaust all of the possibilities we have, though there are few at this time.” (kickoffnigeria)
Babatunde in good shape, available for match against Argentina
Michael Babatunde trained with the rest of the Nigeria team on Sunday to ease fears that he was injured.
The forward, who Nigeria beat Bosnia-Herzegovina – News – Kick Off, asked to be subbed off as he went down heavily in the second half.
But he was assessed by team medics, found to be fit and took full part in Sunday’s recovery session in Campinas.
Officials told KickOffNigeria.com that the Volyn Lutsk forward is in good shape.
“If he is needed against Argentina, he will be available,” was the word from the camp on Sunday.
Babatunde and the rest of the squad will leave for Porto Alegre on Monday, where they will face Argentina in Wednesday’s final group game.
Kick-off is at 1pm local time (5PM Nigeria time) (kickoffnieria)
Cristiano reveals his reservations on World Cup win by Portugal
Portugal forward, Cristiano Ronaldo has remarkably admitted that he never believed his ‘average’ side could win the World Cup.
The Real Madrid forward spoke frankly to television cameras after his side’s 2-2 draw with the United States on Sunday evening, admitting they have too many problems.
The Seleccao are still in with a chance of making the last 16 but even if they were to beat Ghana in their final match a draw between Germany and the United States would see those two sides advance from Group G.
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