Match Preview: Nigeria vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina

Hello good people.

The day is upon us. The Super Eagles will file out tonight against Bosnia-Herzegovina in Cuiaba. Considering the situation of the group, we were always going to have to win this game in order to progress, so in that sense nothing really changed. No calculators required, just good old-fashioned dedication and hard work.

I wrote a scouting report on Bosnia last year, which you can read here: wp.me/p470Fd-R

In truth though, the system as analysed then has undergone a few seismic changes.

First off, veteran Elvir Rahimic has retired from international football. More importantly though, having insisted on his unwillingness to get his team playing in a pragmatic manner, Safet Susic seemed to totally lose his gumption at the turn of the year. German-born defender Muhamed Besic was brought into the holding midfield role to offer physicality and defensive nous.

Susic has Zmajevi now playing in a 4–2–3–1, with Miralem Pjanic alongside Besic deep in midfield, and Galatasaray’s Izet Hajrovic now commands a place on the right wing. This shuffling has led to the dropping of Vedad Ibisevic from the frontline, where Edin Dzeko is now the lone ranger. Not that he’s complaining though.

A major cause for frustration stems from the knowledge that while Bosnia spent their preparatory period addressing their areas of weakness, the Super Eagles were trialling new players in unfamiliar systems. It is hard not to feel a little left behind by this.

Well, let us not stare at our neighbours’ baubles. What do we have in the locker and how will we approach this?

[caption id=”attachment_119" align=”aligncenter” width=”300"]

should probably get a shave, son…[/caption]

Recognise this fella?

Well, according to reports from the camp, he may well be in line for a start tonight. Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction.

The reliable Muyiwa Lawal (@MuyiwaLawal on Twitter) also hints at a start for Osaze Odemwingie, with Victor Moses dropping to the bench in the wake of his forgettable performance in the first game. Godfrey Oboabona’s injury will see him also miss out on this clash.

In the end, the team is set to line up this way.

With Babatunde Michael, usually a winger, in the hole behind Emmanuel Emenike, there is an indication the Super Eagles’ strategy will be based on quick transitions, rather than careful build-up. Look for the team to allow Bosnia’s centre-backs, who are limited technically, have the ball before pressing the pass into midfield aggressively.

The Bosnian centre-backs are susceptible to pace: Emir Spahic is a feisty captain who is no stranger to disciplinary problems, while Ermin Bicakcic is not overly mobile. If the pressing is properly executed, the Super Eagles may have joy running at that defence.

A possible danger area is in our left-back zone, where Juwon Oshaniwa holds sway. He did well against Iran, who showed very little ambition with the ball. Izet Hajrovic is another kettle of fish though, hopefully Juwon is up to the challenge. I shudder to think what it would mean if he isn’t.

There will surely be no repeat of the snooze-fest in Curitiba on Monday here. Both sides simply have to win, but the Super Eagles must be wary of losing their composure. Bosnia are yet to get off the mark points-wise, surely they will feel the onus is on them to push for the result. The key will be to be patient without the ball, but attack directly with it.

If ever we needed Osaze Odemwingie to have a good game, this surely is the time. It is expected that he will play the role of an inside-forward, making diagonal runs in behind the defensive line to latch on to through balls. His pace should stretch the pitch vertically, allowing our transitions to pick up speed and giving Besic more ground to cover on his own.

Final note: this Bosnian team has the second-highest average in terms of height at this World Cup, so it is vital that the Super Eagles get their organisation in set-piece situations right. Hopefully this has been worked on in training and our lads do not go in unprepared.

That’s the preview done. Many thanks for reading, and your comments are appreciated, so be sure to leave them below. There will be a tactical review tomorrow. Cheers!