FRANCE 98 – Match preview n°10
It looms as one of the most compelling encounters of the first round of the World Cup-a fascinating contrast in styles. Spain, massively talented but perennial under-achievers, take on unpredictable Nigeria, the Olympic champions and Africa’s great hopes at France 98, in their opening Group D match at the La Beaujoire Stadium here on Saturday afternoon.
Spain have a team chock-a-block with talent but have often stumbled on the World Cup stage. A fourth-place finish in 1950 remains the best Spanish performance in nine previous appearances in the finals, although they were quarter-finalists in both 1986 and 1994. There is a feeling in the Spanish camp, though, that this may be their year, despite the fact they have been drawn into a tough group that also features 1994 semi-finalists Bulgaria and enigmatic Paraguay.
Coach Javier Clemente’s record with the Spaniards in remarkable. Since he took over in 1992, the Spaniards have lost only three times in 54 matches. They qualified unbeaten for their sixth straight appearance in the finals. Clemente has worked hard to establish a sense of unity in a squad that contains many individual stars. ” I’ve always wanted to put a real team together and I think I’ve got that right now, “ said Clemente. I have the feeling that we have strength in numbers. Individuals are important in certain situations, but what is important is that every player knows what is necessary for the good of the team. ” The current side have a winning mentality; it’s one of their primary characteristics. They are born winners. “
Striker Raul, a 20-year-old prodigy, the prolific Alfonso and the tenacious Luis Enrique give the Spaniards plenty of attacking flair but the backbone of the team will be goalkeeper Andoni Zubizarretta, who is making his fourth finals appearance, and the superbly-composed defender Fernando Hierro. ” We have absolute confidence in our abilities and our results have shown over time that we are one of the best teams in the world, “ said Luis Enrique.
But while Spaniards are confident, they are also guarding against over-confidence. ” We are good, “ said defender Miguel Angel Nadal. ” But there are many other teams as good as us. “ One of those teams may just be the enigmatic Nigerians, who love the big stage and have vowed to fight back after a series of disappointing warm-up results, in which they conceded 12 goals in three matches. Those losses left the future of coach Bora Miltutinovic resting on a knife edge. ” I know it is difficult to accpt defeat in whatever form, but it is better to lose friendlies than World Cup matches, “ he said. ” I still believe in this team and people should not write us off. “ Milutinovic has tried desperately to play down talk that he faces the sack. ” I’m only concerned with what happens on the pitch, “ he said. I have no influence over the Nigerian Federation. “
The Nigerians have been stunned, too, by the death earlier in the week of President Suni Abacha, something Milutinovic hopes they can put to the back of their minds. Striker Daniel Amokachi, though, was a close friend of the late president. ” We are all shocked and saddened, but we have our own mission, “ Milutinovic said. To add to the Nigerian troubles, defender Jero Shakpore is out for the tournament with a broken collarbone. He is replaced by Mobi Oparaku.
Prior to their warm-up woes, the Nigerians were seen as the one African side capable of mounting a challenge for the title at France 98. ” Nobody expected us to do well in America four years ago or to win the Olympics. Now the pressure is on us to perform. It’s not the same situation, “ said striker Viktor Ipkbeba.
One factor in Nigeria’s favour is their ability to produce the unexpected. European sides can often be caught out by the unorthodox. ” As Nigerians we have an instinctive style of play, “ said midfielder Jay-Jay Okocha. ” As people say, anything can happen with Nigeria. “ The Nigerians certainly want to play their own, expressive game, rather than thinking about stopping the technically-skilled Spaniards.
” Spain are very strong, but we are not thinking about Spain, “ said Italian-based striker Nwankwo Kanu. ” We have to be thinking about ourselves. “