International Football
SUPER EAGLES WILL FLY BEYOND IMAGINATION, SAYS TAYE IGE
Foremost sports marketer, Taye Ige, believes the time is ripe for the Nigerian football team, Super Eagles to soar high into global reckoning. No better platform exists to achieve the lofty ambition other than the Russia 2018 World Cup.
He was speaking as the chairman at the Nigeria Award for Sporting Excellence held at the weekend at Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja. To him, Nigeria could not have wished for a better draw.
Ige, who had covered the World Cup in the past at the France ’98 World Cup, is the Chairman/CEO of HS Media Group, owners of the HotSports brand.
He asserted that Nigeria’s Super Eagles will have their best FIFA World Cup outing yet in Russia next year and reckons the Super Eagles have the potentials to reach the semi-finals.
Incidentally, that is the target the team handler, Gernot Rohr has set for the team.
As it was at the last World Cup and also at the editions of 1994, 2002 and 2010, the Super Eagles are once again drawn in the same group with Argentina at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
The other hurdles the Nigerian side will have to scale are those presented by Iceland and Croatia.
“One must remark that God Almighty answered our prayers,” he began. “In my view, we had the luck of the draw and we have every reason to celebrate our World Cup grouping.
“Argentina cannot stop us. We beat them recently in Russia and, by the dint of dedication, focus, determination and the special grace of God, we will beat them again during the FIFA World Cup finals in Russia.
“Croatia, even by UEFA ratings, are a category ‘B’ team in Europe while debutants, Iceland are already content rubbing shoulders with the big boys.
“We will have more reason to celebrate as I foresee the Super Eagles going far at 2018 FIFA World Cup.
“To go far and be considered as having had a successful campaign, Nigeria should at least make it to the semi-finals. Is this possible? Yes, I do believe so.
“Without advocating complacency, all that needs to be done right now is for every stakeholder to continue to do their bit as diligently as they have done so far.
“This is the very first time we are heading to the World Cup with stability all around the Team: the technical crew; the Federation; the players. All this should combine to give us an unforgettable World Cup,” Ige concluded.
Except for France 1998, Nigeria have faced two-time world champions Argentina in all their previous World Cup campaigns.
Unfortunately, the Super Eagles have lost all their previous World Cup games against the South American but will be buoyed by a 4-2 thrashing handed down to the Argentines in a friendly match last month.
International Football
German Thomas Tuchel becomes 3rd foreign manager for England
Former Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel has been named the new head coach of the England national team, the country’s Football Association said in a statement on Wednesday.
The German, who is England’s third foreign manager, after Sweden’s Sven-Goran Eriksson and Italian Fabio Capello, will be assisted by Englishman Anthony Barry, the statement added.
“We are thrilled to have hired Thomas Tuchel, one of the best coaches in the world and Anthony Barry who is one of the best English coaches to support him,” FA CEO Mark Bullingham said.
Tuchel replaces Lee Carsley, England’s under-21 manager, who has been in temporary charge since the resignation of Gareth Southgate after England’s defeat by Spain in the Euro 2024 final in July.
-Reuters
International Football
Factbox on England head coach Thomas Tuchel
German Thomas Tuchel has been appointed head coach of the England national team on Wednesday.
Born: Aug. 29, 1973 in Krumbach, Germany.
PLAYING CAREER
* Tuchel played for his local club TSV Krumbach, before moving to FC Augsburg’s academy at the age of 15.
* He never played for Augsburg’s senior side and joined German second division team Stuttgarter Kickers in 1992.
* After eight league appearances for Kickers, Tuchel moved to fourth-tier SSV Ulm.
* Tuchel made 69 league appearances for Ulm as a central defender before he was forced to retire in 1998 at the age of 25 due to a knee injury.
COACHING CAREER
* Tuchel began his coaching career with a youth team role at VfB Stuttgart in 2000, working with future Germany internationals Mario Gomez and Holger Badstuber.
* He returned to Augsburg and took charge of their reserve team for the 2007-08 season.
* Tuchel was appointed Mainz 05 manager in 2009, replacing compatriot Juergen Klopp.
* He guided Mainz to Bundesliga stability during his five-year stint at the club, gaining plaudits for his team’s high energy, attacking style of play.
* Tuchel took over from Klopp as Borussia Dortmund coach in 2015.
* He led Dortmund to a 2-1 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt in the 2017 German Cup final. He was sacked by Dortmund three days later.
* Tuchel joined Paris St Germain in 2018 on a two-year contract, replacing Unai Emery.
* He won two Ligue 1 titles, including a domestic quadruple in his second season, and guided the club to their first Champions League final, where they lost 1-0 to Bayern Munich.
* Tuchel was sacked by PSG on Christmas Eve in 2020, despite the club finishing top of their Champions League group and sitting third in the Ligue 1 table.
* He was named Chelsea manager in January 2021 on an initial 18-month contract following the dismissal of Frank Lampard.
* Tuchel revived the team’s Premier League season and guided the London club to the Champions League final, where they beat Manchester City. Chelsea also won the Super Cup and Club World Cup.
* Chelsea sacked Tuchel in September 2022 following a shock 1-0 defeat at Dinamo Zagreb in their opening Champions League group game.
* Bayern Munich appointed Tuchel to succeed Julian Nagelsmann in March last year.
* Bayern decided to let Tuchel go at the end of the 2023-24 season despite a contract until 2025. Tuchel steered Bayern to the Bundesliga title in 2022-23, but they finished the last campaign without any silverware for the first time in more than a decade.
* Tuchel will become England’s third foreign manager after Sweden’s Sven-Goran Eriksson and Italian Fabio Capello.
* Tuchel will take over the team in January ahead of the qualification campaign for the 2026 World Cup.
-Reuters
International Football
Portugal call up same player named in England Under-18 squad
Wolverhampton Wanderers forward Mateus Mane has become hot property after Portugal named the 17-year-old in their Under-18 squad on Friday, one day after England included him in their squad.
Mane was called up for a second successive England youth camp by coach Liam Bramley before the team travel to Marbella for a four-team tournament this month.
Mane is eligible for both teams having played for the Portugal Under-17 side last season. As the Under-18 team is a non-UEFA age group, both nations are entitled to call the player up.
He made his England international debut last month against the Portugal Under-18 side who have named Mane in their squad for a four-nation tournament this month.
With both tournaments running concurrently, Mane can only play for one team and Wolves and England confirmed he would feature in Bramley’s side.
Reuters has contacted Portugal’s football association for clarification.
While players with multiple nationalities have played for more than one country if they are eligible, they are not allowed to switch allegiances at senior level – unless they have played only in friendly matches for the first country.
-Reuters
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