England 2-1 Nigeria
If it has, it’s with good reason.
For this was a colourful affair at Wembley – a friendly between two nations looking forward to a summer spectacle.
And maybe, just maybe, there is encouragement for England as this was – for the first hour – a largely positive display in a formation which led to some fluid spells of football and impressive movement on and off the ball.
Of course, the betting odds don’t lie – England will not win World Cup 2018 and can surely expect, at best, to not progress beyond the quarter-finals.
But this display, with Jesse Lingard a key figure, showed there is a real spirit in the camp, attributes which are valuable when a squad is together for a concentrated period of time.
Highlights of the game
I couldn’t understand at first why Dele Alli was being booed. Then it became apparent that the exciting young talent opted to play for England instead of Nigeria.
The Spurs man’s father is Nigerian but when faced with the choice, Ali pledged his allegiance to England.
The booing didn’t last for long – Gary Cahill powering home a header from a corner, reward for an impressive start inside seven minutes.
OgenyiOnazi gave an insight into the Super Eagles’ camp before the match and their preparations during down-time.
‘When we find a grand piano, we just sing and some people dance. We just have fun,’ he said.
For the first 20 minutes it looked like they were still around the ‘old Joanna’ as England cut through them at will.
Ali and Lingard were at the heart of their best moves and, even when Nigeria eased into the match and eventually halted some of the hosts’ momentum, their play was still too pedestrian and, friendly or not, four substitutions at the break reflected that.
By then Harry Kane had powerfully rifled home the second to give England the advantage their play merited, although the England skipper will know his shot should have been saved by Francis Uzoho.
Nigeria may be the second choice team of many fans, judging by queues in London to get the country’s snazzy new home kit.
And finally there were glimpses why as, within two minutes of the restart, Alex Iwobifired home impressively after former Watford man OdionIghalohad hit the post.
Suddenly, England seemed unsettled at the back as the Nigerian fans found their voice and there were some nervy moments which stronger opponents would have preyed on.
The pace picked up again, in bursts, but both nations were clearly not going all out with the start of the tournament just 12 days away.
As insights go this was promising but won’t have given too much away.
Key statistics
Was this selection an admission that Jordan Pickford is now England’s first choice goalkeeperand will get the nod for the World Cup?
Nigerian coach Gernot Rohr gave game time to all bar one of his players whose careers are in England – Victor Moses, Ahmed Musa, Iwobi and Kelechi Iheanacho. Wilfred Ndidi was the one to miss out.
Players were wearing black armbands in memory of the late Ray Wilkins, the former England midfielder who was acknowledged with a minute’s applause before kick-off.
What’s next?
England’s opening World Cup game is against Tunisia on June 18 but they will meet Costa Rica in their final friendly before that – Elland Road will host that game.
Nigeria, who were knocked out in the last 16 at the World Cup four years ago, play the Czech Republic in their final friendly in midweek.
They then face Croatia on June 16 before matches against Iceland and Argentina.
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