After flashes of magnificent soccer in the group phase, France will look to confirm their FIFA World Cup credentials in today’s last-16 tie against Nigeria.
In previous World Cups, France have always reached at least the semi-finals after qualifying from the group phase, but circumspection became the order of the day in the French camp last week.
While Didier Deschamps’ side garnered plaudits by sweeping past Honduras 3-0 and crushing Switzerland 5-2, a highly altered lineup could only draw 0-0 against Ecuador in their final Group E fixture on Wednesday.
Photo: Reuters
France’s Bacary Sagna and Morgan Schneiderlin both suggested that Les Blues were potential champions after the stalemate at the Estadio Maracana, but centerback Laurent Koscielny has since introduced a note of caution as they prepare for today’s game in Brasilia.
It is only seven months since France had to overcome a 2-0 deficit to beat Ukraine in their qualifying playoff and Arsenal defender Sagna said it would be unwise to look too far ahead.
“The first objective was to get through the group phase. Now it’s to go as far as possible,” he said. “We are competitors and we are ambitious, but we know that we have opponents against us and that we might lose.”
Aresenal’s Koscielny could line up in central defense alongside Raphael Varane of Real Madrid at the Estadio Nacional Mane Garrincha since Mamadou Sakho is doubtful due to a thigh injury.
The Liverpool centerback, who avoided punishment from FIFA despite appearing to elbow Ecuador’s Oswaldo Minda, had to go off in the 61st minute of Wednesday’s game and trained on his own on Saturday.
Yohan Cabaye will come into the team in place of Schneiderlin after missing the Ecuador game due to suspension, but Paul Pogba’s place is under threat from Moussa Sissoko.
Having been rested against Ecuador, Mathieu Valbuena is also in line to return, while Deschamps must choose between Aresenal’s Antoine Griezmann and Olivier Giroud of Real Sociedad to complete France’s front line alongside Real Madrid star Karim Benzema.
Nigeria’s preparations for the game were disrupted by a dispute over bonuses — an issue which delayed the squad’s arrival at last year’s Confederations Cup — but the matter was resolved following the reported intervention of Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan.
After a laborious 0-0 draw with Iran in their opening game, Stephen Keshi’s side booked their place in the last 16 by edging Bosnia-Herzegovina 1-0 and then impressed in a 3-2 loss to Argentina.
CSKA Moscow winger Ahmed Musa twice produced immediate replies to goals from Lionel Messi, only for Argentina leftback Marcos Rojo to net a 50th-minute winner.
“We need to defend well, take our chances up front and learn from the Argentina game,” Musa told BBC Sport. “In the second round, it’s winner-takes-all. I know with hard work and God’s support we shall make history, but prayers without hard work is nothing, so we need to be at our best against France to make it happen.”
Chelsea forward Victor Moses missed the Argentina game due to a muscle complaint, but trained with the squad in Brasilia on Saturday.
Winger Michael Babatunde is out after his wrist was fractured by a shot from teammate Ogenyi Onazi during the match against Argentina, but Keshi has an otherwise fully fit squad to choose from.
France will hope to best a familiar foe in the shape of Super Eagles goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama, who went 1,062 minutes without conceding a goal for Lille LOSC Metropole in Ligue 1 last season.
It will be Nigeria’s first World Cup knockout match since the 1998 tournament and victory would see the West African side reach the quarter-finals for the first time.
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