French players train in in Brasilia yesteday, ahead of their Last 16 game agianst Nigeria. (AFP)
AFP/Brasilia
After flashes of magnificent football in the group phase, France will look to confirm their World Cup credentials in today’s last-16 tie against Nigeria.
In previous World Cups, France have always reached at least the semi-finals after qualifying from the group phase, but circumspection has become the order of the day in the French camp this week. While Didier Deschamps’s side garnered plaudits by sweeping past Honduras 3-0 and crushing Switzerland 5-2, a much-changed team could only draw 0-0 in their final Group E fixture against Ecuador on Wednesday.
Both Bacary Sagna and Morgan Schneiderlin suggested that France were potential champions after the stalemate at the Maracana, but centre-back Laurent Koscielny has since introduced a note of caution as Les Bleus prepare for today’s game in Brasilia. It is only seven months since France had to overcome a 2-0 deficit to beat Ukraine in their qualifying play-off and the Arsenal defender says that it would be unwise to look too far ahead.
“The first objective was to get through the group phase. Now it’s to go as far as possible,” he said.
“We are competitors and we are ambitious, but we know that we have opponents against us and that we might lose. We’re aware of our qualities. Something changed after the Ukraine game, but anything is possible in a knockout match and for the moment we’re only focusing on the last 16.”
Koscielny could line up in central defence alongside Raphael Varane at the Mane Garrincha National Stadium as Mamadou Sakho is doubtful due to a thigh injury. The Liverpool centre-back, who avoided punishment from FIFA despite appearing to elbow Ecuador’s Oswaldo Minda, had to go off in the 61st minute of Wednesday’s game and trained on his own on Saturday.
Yohan Cabaye will come into the team in place of Schneiderlin after missing the Ecuador game due to suspension, but Paul Pogba’s place is under threat from Moussa Sissoko.
Having been rested against Ecuador, Mathieu Valbuena is also in line to return, while Deschamps must choose between Antoine Griezmann and Olivier Giroud to complete France’s front line alongside Karim Benzema. Nigeria’s preparations for the game were disrupted by a dispute over bonuses—an issue which delayed the squad’s arrival at last year’s Confederations Cup—but the matter was resolved following the reported intervention of Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan.
After a laborious 0-0 draw with Iran in their opening game, Stephen Keshi’s side booked their place in the last 16 by edging Bosnia-Hercegovina 1-0 and then impressed in a 3-2 loss to Argentina.
CSKA Moscow winger Ahmed Musa twice produced immediate replies to goals from Lionel Messi, only for Argentina left-back Marcos Rojo to net a 50th-minute winner.
“We need to defend well, take our chances up front and learn from the Argentina game,” Musa told BBC Sport. “In the second round, it’s winner takes all. I know with hard work and God’s support we shall make history. But prayers without hard work is nothing, so we need to be at our best against France to make it happen.” Chelsea forward Victor Moses missed the Argentina game due to a muscular complaint, but he trained with the squad in Brasilia on Saturday.
Winger Michael Babatunde is out after his wrist was fractured by a shot from team-mate Ogenyi Onazi during the match against Argentina, but Keshi has an otherwise fully fit squad to choose from. France will hope to get the better of a familiar foe in the shape of Nigeria goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama, who went 1,062 minutes without conceding a goal for Lille in Ligue 1 last season.
It will be Nigeria’s first World Cup knockout match since 1998 and victory would see the West African nation reach the quarter-finals for the first time in their history.
Factbox: France vs Nigeria
Where: The Brasilia national stadium.
Capacity: 69,349
Probable teams
France: 1-Hugo Lloris, 2-Mathieu Debuchy, 4-Raphael Varane, 5-Mamadou Sakho, 3-Patrice Evra; 6-Yohan Cabaye; 8-Mathieu Valbuena, 14-Blaise Matuidi, 18-Moussa Sissoko; 10-Karim Benzema, 9-Olivier Giroud
Nigeria: 1-Vincent Enyeama; 5-Efe Ambrose, 13-Juwon Oshaniwa, 22-Kenneth Omeruo, 2-Joseph Yobo; 10-John Obi Mikel, 17-Ogenyi Onazi, 7-Ahmed Musa; 8-Peter Odemwingie, 9-Emmanuel Emenike, 20-Michael Uchebo
Key stats
France, who won their World Cup at home in 1998 defeating Brazil 3-0 in final, have had more attempts at goal, 62, in their three matches than any other team at the World Cup.
Karim Benzema has scored all his three goals with his right foot.
Nigeria are aiming to reach their first World Cup quarter-final. They have twice made the last 16, in 1994 and 1998. On both occasions they were beaten in the second round by European opposition. Italy in 94 and Denmark in 98.
This is the first time two Africans nations (Nigeria and Algeria) have reached the knockout stages of a World Cup.
Previous meeting
The teams have met once before, Nigeria winning 1-0 in St Etienne in 2009 thanks to a goal by Joseph Akpala.