The contrasting form shown by Nigeria and Spain yesterday underlines one more time just how important it is to start the World Cup well. Nigeria, boosted by that 3-2 win over Spain, continued with the champagne soccer in their win over Bulgaria while the hapless Spaniards struggled miserably in a scoreless draw with Paraguay.
Coming into these finals, many people would have named Spain as one of the strongest contenders. After yesterday's result, they now find themselves with just one point after two games and in desperate need of a win in their last game of the first round against Bulgaria. Whatever happens in that game, given the way things have gone in their opening two games, it is now difficult to imagine Spain doing great things further along the way.
Nigeria, on the other hand, remain a side of huge potential. Now clearly the people's choice and second only in popularity to Brazil amongst neutrals, they were at times breathtaking yesterday.
Nigeria do many, many good things. For example, as soon as they take possession at least two players immediately go out to the touchline to give the side the full width of the pitch to attack.
Their movement out of defence and into attack is flawless and then when they get forward, the player in possession seems to have plenty of options available because not only the front men (Victor Ikpeba and Daniel Amokachi), but also all the midfielders (Finidi George, Jay-Jay Okocha, Garba Lawal and Sunday Oliseh) have strength, pace and terrific skills. On top of that, all the midfielders want to get forward.
Having said all of this, you may be waiting for me to now nominate Nigeria as World Cup winners. For the time being, the jury is out. I know they were impressive yesterday and also in their opening 3-2 win against Spain, but I would still like to see them against more serious, battle-hardened opponents before being entirely convinced.
I continue to have my reservations about their defence but yesterday's game provided no definitive answers on that subject, since the defence really only came under pressure in the final 10 minutes when the Bulgarians threw more people forward. Also, I would have liked to see them finish off the game much earlier yesterday, rather than find themselves having to defend desperately in the closing minutes. As for Bulgaria, they seem to me an uneven side. Three players - Kostadinov, Hristo Stoichkov and Krassimir Balakov - are clearly outstanding footballers and they showed that yesterday, but many of their team-mates look very ordinary. For example, the two full backs, Ivaylo Petkov and Radostin Kischischev, had very poor games.
I have two other thoughts as we get to the halfway point in this first round. Firstly, France and Italy remain two of the big name teams that still do not convince me. Despite the scoreline, France's 4-0 win agains Saudi Arabia served only to underline the fact that they have a serious problem. French coach Aimee Jacquet really has to make up his mind; pick a striker (David Trezeguet or Stephance Guivarc'h) and stick with him. Italy, too, might have won 3-0 against Cameroon, but they do not entirely impress. Above all, they lack real class in midfield.
Finally, the refereeing has suddenly and dramatically gone downhill. It seems that because the Moroccan Said Chiba was not sent off for a crude tackle on Brazilian star Ronaldo the other night, FIFA authorities, including President-elect Sepp Blatter, got anxious and called on the referees to take a tougher line. The result was five sendings-off in the Denmark-South Africa and FranceSaudi Arabia games. Whatever about Zinedine Zidane, the sendings off of the Dane Miklos Molnar, the South African Alfred Phiri and the Saudi Al Khlaioui were just nonsensical. Furthermore, I thought both referees, Tojo Rendon of Colombia and Brizio Carter of Mexico, were simply out of their depth. It is just as well FIFA summoned all the referees for yet a further briefing yesterday. Let's hope something good comes out of that.
(In an interview with Paddy Agnew)
