International Football
AMERICA’S CBS LISTS NIGERIA-ARGENTINA MATCH AMONG TOP 10 WORLD CUP GROUP STAGE GAMES
With no clear ‘Group of Death’ in the FIFA World Cup 2018, even though the Group B that pitches Portugal and Spain together looks like one, analysts now look out for individual group games to create some excitements.
One of such is that of America’s commercial broadcast television network, CBS which has listed 10 matches the sporting world should watch out for at the group stage of Russia 2018.
One of the listed matches is the Argentina versus Nigeria Group D match slated for June 26 in Saint Petersburg. Incidentally, World Cup fixtures of Argentina and Nigeria have become a recurring feature. The June 26 match comes a day after the 24th anniversary of their first encounter in Boston at the USA ’94.
According to the analysis by the CBS the Super Eagles just crushed Argentina 4-2 in a friendly last month, “but that wasn’t a game that tells us much. It’s still fun when they get together”.
Their match will be fifth time out of six World Cups that they have been in the same group. Vengeance, on both sides, will no doubt be the recurring thought.
For Nigeria, it will be an occasion to avenge the earlier four defeats inflicted on previous squads of the Super Eagles who lost all the encounters by the odd goal.
For Argentina, it will also be a time to revenge on the humiliating 4-2 defeat of last month in a friendly tie in Krasnodar, Russia.
The other nine matches listed by the CBS as top group games are:
Russia vs. Saudi Arabia, June 14
It’s the opening game at the cup, and you can’t miss it. The openers are always fun because the host is playing and it’s a chance for them to get off to a flying start or for the sky to start falling.
Portugal vs. Spain, June 15
Arguably the tastiest match of the group stage, both teams feel that they can win the whole cup. You’ve got the 2010 World Cup champs in Spain and the reigning Euro 2016 winners with Cristiano Ronaldo. A lot of these players know each other so well, and it’s always fun when neighbouring countries and rivals get together.
Argentina vs. Iceland, June 16
This could be Lionel Messi’s last chance at winning the World Cup, and Argentina opens with tiny but fierce Iceland. Argentina should win, but they were also 0-0 against Iran in 2014 until Messi’s late magic. Iceland has chance to pull off a shocker, though it isn’t expected.
Mexico vs. Germany, June 17
Probably the second best match-up of the group stage. If either team loses this one, pressure is on big time the rest of the group stage. A lot at stake.
Belgium vs. Panama, June 18
Belgium is, again, a dark horse, but this is also Panama’s first ever World Cup. It’s always amazing to see the faces of the fans of such a small nation as they experience this for the first time. Panama probably won’t do much, but they are just happy to be there.
France vs. Peru, June 21
Peru has shown as much heart as any team in qualifying and have tons of speed in attack. They’ve gutted out some good results, like 0-0 at Argentina late in qualifying, and will be looking to do something similar here.
Uruguay vs. Russia, June 25
Uruguay seems to almost always get drawn with the hosts, and they usually do a good job against them (2011 Copa America in Argentina and 2010 World Cup in South Africa come to mind). This could be the match Russia needs to win to get through.
Mexico vs. Sweden, June 27
Assuming El Tri doesn’t beat Germany in the first game, this would be the one Juan Carlos Osorio’s team has to have to get through. Mexico and Sweden will likely be fighting for second place, with this one the decider.
England vs. Belgium, June 28
Both teams may have their fate sealed by this time, but they are going to want to try and avoid likely Poland or Colombia in the next round (I’d rather play Poland). These are two talented teams that haven’t lived up to expectations, so they’ll want to enter the knockout stage with momentum
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
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
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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