NIGERIA vs. BOSNIA/HERZEGOVINA
Date: June 21, 2014
Time: 6:00 p.m. EDT
Venue: Arena Pantanal, Cuiaba
Overall Head-to-Head Record (W-L-T): N/A
Last Match: N/A
Line: Bosnia -120
Group F Preview here.
Starting Lineups posted separately once they're announced.
Team Profiles
World Ranking: Nigeria (44th), Bosnia (21st)
Managers: Stephen Keshi (NGA), Safet Susic (BIH)
Captains: Vincent Enyeama (NGA), Emir Spahic (BIH)
World Cup Appearances: 5 (NGA), 1 (BIH)
Best Finish: Nigeria (Round of 16, Last in 1998), Bosnia (N/A)
Qualifying Records: Nigeria (5-0-3, GF: 11, GA: 4), Bosnia (8-1-1, GF: 30, GA: 6)
Previous Game Results
Nigeria
Bosnia
June 15th - Argentina def. Bosnia 2-1
Rosters
Injuries/Discipline
Nigeria: Godfrey Oboabona (Out - Ankle)
Bosnia: Emir Spahic (Yellow Card)
Overview
A hugely important contest in the battle for second-place in Group F with both teams in contention to make a run at the knockout round. Despite having lost their first game to Argentina, Bosnia were impressive in their World Cup debut and will like their chances against a Nigerian squad that has scored just 4 goals in their last 7 matches.
While Bosnia have a clean bill of health, Nigeria come in hurting. Low on defence numbers to begin with, Nigeria will be without defender Godfrey Oboabona in this game who has been ruled out with an ankle injury picked up against Iran. No less then 3 other Nigerian players were questionable in the buildup to this game but manager Stephen Keshi said they are all fit now.
Bosnia should come out in their typical 4-2-3-1 formation against Nigeria. Largely ineffective in their first match, Bosnia need to get more production out of Edin Dzeko up front. Their midfield play should cause problems for the makeshift Nigerian defence though.
Nigeria employed a 4-5-1 variation in their first match which can turn to a 4-3-3 if they need more attacking presence. Would anticipate Nigeria playing more of a defensive game then against Iran though to hopefully prevent the Bosnian midfield from taking this game over.
Personnel
In the Nigerian Third: Nigeria have some holes defensively that can be exploited and are a very inexperienced group as a whole. The central defenders will have their hands full with Dzeko up top and that isn't accounting for the midfielders making runs in to their area and shooting from range. Advantage: Bosnia
In the Midfield: Both teams like to attack quickly and use their midfielders to get pressure flowing forward. Bosnia with the advantage here though in my opinion. Stronger on the ball in possession, and can change the pace of their attack whereas Nigeria tend to be go, go, go...Bosnia also found ways to hold Argentina up in midfield for spurts, something few teams are capable of. Advantage: Bosnia
In the Bosnian Third: The sticking point for Bosnia as they survived Argentina mostly on adrenaline and poor Argentine finishing. Nigeria without the same immediate scoring threat but Nigeria are versatile up front. They can attack you with their size in the centre of the field or take balls outside to win with speed. Will be a stiff test for Bosnia in the back. Advantage: Nigeria
Goalkeeping: 2 elite world goalkeepers playing for top European leagues. Enyeama has been here before though and is the leader on this squad. Advantage: Nigeria, slightly.
While Bosnia have a clean bill of health, Nigeria come in hurting. Low on defence numbers to begin with, Nigeria will be without defender Godfrey Oboabona in this game who has been ruled out with an ankle injury picked up against Iran. No less then 3 other Nigerian players were questionable in the buildup to this game but manager Stephen Keshi said they are all fit now.
Bosnia should come out in their typical 4-2-3-1 formation against Nigeria. Largely ineffective in their first match, Bosnia need to get more production out of Edin Dzeko up front. Their midfield play should cause problems for the makeshift Nigerian defence though.
Nigeria employed a 4-5-1 variation in their first match which can turn to a 4-3-3 if they need more attacking presence. Would anticipate Nigeria playing more of a defensive game then against Iran though to hopefully prevent the Bosnian midfield from taking this game over.
Personnel
In the Nigerian Third: Nigeria have some holes defensively that can be exploited and are a very inexperienced group as a whole. The central defenders will have their hands full with Dzeko up top and that isn't accounting for the midfielders making runs in to their area and shooting from range. Advantage: Bosnia
In the Midfield: Both teams like to attack quickly and use their midfielders to get pressure flowing forward. Bosnia with the advantage here though in my opinion. Stronger on the ball in possession, and can change the pace of their attack whereas Nigeria tend to be go, go, go...Bosnia also found ways to hold Argentina up in midfield for spurts, something few teams are capable of. Advantage: Bosnia
In the Bosnian Third: The sticking point for Bosnia as they survived Argentina mostly on adrenaline and poor Argentine finishing. Nigeria without the same immediate scoring threat but Nigeria are versatile up front. They can attack you with their size in the centre of the field or take balls outside to win with speed. Will be a stiff test for Bosnia in the back. Advantage: Nigeria
Goalkeeping: 2 elite world goalkeepers playing for top European leagues. Enyeama has been here before though and is the leader on this squad. Advantage: Nigeria, slightly.
Nigeria will win if:
Control the midfield, particularly in your half so Bosnia can't open up shooting lanes. Dzeko is anightmare to handle as a defender but where Bosnia's chances come from are the midfielders getting space in front of the penalty area for shots or through balls. Nigeria have some talented defensive midfielders in Ogenyi Onazi and John Obi Mikel, they need to be in absolute control of the centre of the field, to win possession and keep Bosnia from getting in to there shooting area.
Bosnia will win if:
Counter-attack quickly when Nigeria turns the ball over and involve Edin Dzeko in the offence. Bosnia did a good job of punishing Argentina for coughing the ball up, they just couldn't finish off their chances for the most part. They'll force turnovers in this game, have to turn the pressure up when they do. And Dzeko needs to have a role up front. Nigeria's options in central defence are either young and inexperienced or old and slow. Either way, Dzeko should be able to get room to finish off balls in the Nigerian penalty area.
Both teams will attack, it's a matter of which defence holds up better. Bosnia looked fairly stout in the back against Argentina, conceding only on a freak own goal and Messi being Messi. I trust Bosnia's back line to be able to counter what Nigeria throws at them. That feeling isn't mutual for Nigeria.
Bosnia 2-0 Nigeria
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