England vs Nigeria
The Super Eagles fly into Wembley on Saturday to take on England in Gareth Southgate’s last home match, before he takes his team to Russia.
This is an important game for Southgate and his squad, who could take the chance to send a positive message to their supporters, and a warning to their World Cup rivals. But it’s a big test against a powerful side, which features some very familiar names to England fans.
Talking Points
The Three Lions’ best player and captain, Harry Kane, has said that England can go all the way at Russia World Cup 2018. And while that may be a lot to ask, you have to admire his optimism. Manager Gareth Southgate has plenty of confidence in the Spurs striker but the prolific scorer surely can’t carry the hopes of a whole nation on his own shoulders.
So who can step up to lighten the load of King Harry? Well, Raheem Sterling has had a superb season at Manchester City in the champions’ record breaking year, though Kane’s club team-mate Dele Alli has been rather less impressive. Meanwhile, the goals could well come from arch sniffer Jamie Vardy, his pace and ability to niggle defenders, able to wreak havoc and win penalties, which could prove vital.
Southgate has shown he is no pushover and won’t pick players based on past reputation, leaving goalkeeper Joe Hart out of his World Cup 2018 squad. That suggests, as he is planning to take all three of Jordan Pickford, Jack Butland and Nick Pope, he hasn’t quite decided who his numbers 1 and 2 are.
While Burnley’s Pope has had the most successful season in terms of shutouts and shot stopping, and commands his area with authority, his distribution isn’t always up to the mark and Southgate wants his defenders to play out from the back and find a man. Both Pickford and Butland have a mistake in them, but are better ball players and I suspect he may go for Stoke City’s Butland, despite his club’s relegation to the Championship.
Whoever plays against Nigeria won’t get an easy ride as Premier League football betting fans will recognise some big names in the Eagles squad, with Chelsea’s Victor Moses the most exciting talent. The attacking wing-back has enjoyed an impressive season while a few around him, at Stamford Bridge, haven’t. His pace and quick footwork could trouble an England back-line which is still finding its feet. And he can play on either flank, which has helped him to cause panic in Premier League defences up and down the country.
In Kelechi Iheanacho Coach Gernot Rohr has an unpredictable goal threat, as Leicester City fans would testify. And his club team-mate Wilfred Ndidi is a commanding midfielder, growing in stature in the Premier League, and sure to test England’s central ball players. Liverpool’s Jordan Henderson will have the task of controlling the central zone and his performances could well be pivotal to England’s chances in Russia.
William Troost-Ekong scored his first international goal for Nigeria in a disappointing home draw with the Democratic Republic of Congo last week. It was a game where Rohr took the chance to test out some new attacking options, giving debuts to Crotone’s Simeon Nwankwo and Junior Lokosa, Nwanko looking lively, and smashing the woodwork early in the game.
So, if you’re expecting a nice quiet evening and a comfortable England win in the Wembley sunshine…then you may just be in for a surprise.
History
This is only the third meeting of England and Nigeria, the most memorable (in a sense) previous encounter being at the 2002 World Cup, when the Super Eagles snuffed out England in a group stage 0-0 stalemate. It was a result which underwhelmed England fans, who crawled out of their beds as dawn broke in the UK, hoping to see a young Michael Owen run Nigeria ragged. But he didn’t and that may serve as a warning to the Wembley faithful.
In the other previous encounter, the Three Lions won a friendly back in 1994.
What are the Odds?
The best betting odds with SBOBET have England as clear favourites to light up Wembley Stadium with a victory.
Asian Handicap odds offer a home send-off -1.25 @ 2.11 with Nigeria + 1.00 @ 2.16.
How about a hatful of goals to send English spirits soaring. Total goal 4-6 is priced at 3.80.
●●●
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG FOR MORE FOOTBALL STORIES & ODDS
Stay updated with everything sports and betting.
Follow us on social Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
