Teams are currently involving themselves in friendly games to prepare their players and get them blend together and play as a team.
And the Super Eagles of Nigeria are not left out of this preparation, and to that respect the Eagles will be taking on the Catalonia Football National team in Spain tonight, 7pm Nigerian Time.
The Catalonia national football team is the official football team of the Spanish autonomous community of Catalonia. It is organised by the Catalonia Football Federation. The team has been referred to by various names including Selecció Catalana, Selecció de Barcelona and the Catalan XI. Catalonia is not affiliated to either FIFA or UEFA and is therefore not allowed to participate in either the FIFA World Cup or the European Championship because the Spanish region of Catalonia is not a state. Catalan players are full Spanish citizens who are eligible to play for Spain. However since 1904, the team has played nearly 200 games against various national, regional and club teams. Since 1997 they have played international friendly games more regularly. Among the teams they have played are Nigeria, Brazil and Argentina. Their most recent friendly games were a 4–2 win over Argentina at Camp Nou in December 2009, and a 4–0 win over Honduras in December 2010.
The Super Eagles of Nigeria have lined up a total of three friendly games in order to prepare themselves for the African cup of Nation which they failed to qualify for in the previous edition which the Zambian National team won after defeating Ivory Coast on penalties.
And this is the first of the three friendly games lined up, The Super Eagles players will have to be prepared to chase after the ball and when they get it they must be patient in trying to play their own game.
The Catalonia side that they will come up against will be laden with players from Barcelona and joined by some Espanyol players. Barcelona and the Catalonia coach, Johann Cryuff are the real exponents of tiki-taka, with Xavi Hernandez, expected to lead the display.
The first and last time that the Super Eagles played this team was in December 1998 and they were hammered 5-0 but no one expects a repeat of that score line.
TACTICS
Nigerian coach Stephen Keshi has largely used the 4-3-3 formation but this may be changed to a 4-5-1 to try and negate the passing strength of the Catalonia side by flooding the midfield with more players.
Catalonia, under Cryuff will stick to their tried and tested 4-3-3 formation of which they are the greatest exponents although the Eagles will be glad that Lionel Messi will not play for Catalonia.
Emmanuel Emenike or Brown Ideye could be placed at the focal point of the attack supported by Ikechukwu Uche and Ahmed Musa.
Xavi Hernendez will lead the midfield supported by Sergio Busquets while Carles Puyol will lead the team.
Anyone chosen by Coach Keshi to play on the left side of defence will be tested thoroughly by Cristian Tello, who is very fast and also has an eye for goal. Juwon Oshinawa, now in Israel may get that unenviable job and his three months in Israel will definitely be put to the test.
Reuben Gabriel should make his return to the Super Eagles team and there will be a lot of pressure on him to perform to be part of the 23-man squad. But he would be better advised to pace himself against the clockwork passing of the Catalonia team.
The presence of Nosa Igiebor in the squad will mean that he will be expected to be the play maker of the team supported by either tough tackling Ogenyi Onazi or Raheem Lawal, who will then be tasked with keeping the ball when the Eagles are in possession – this will be hard as the Barcelona are trained to win back the ball within six (6) seconds of losing it.
And for the Nigerian strikers, they have to utilise every chance that is created because the Super Eagles are not expected to create much against a Puyol-led defence.
But overall it will be interesting to see the defensive formation that Coach Keshi will use against these astute passers of the ball.
The Catalonia province has played 43 friendly matches since 1912, winning 17, with the 5-0 over Nigeria the highest recorded victory. It will be a good test for Stephen Keshi and his boys.
"This match is another crucial step in our preparations for the Nations Cup in South Africa,"said Ademola Olajire last week.
"The players and officials are all looking forward to another opportunity to continue building momentum after the victory against Venezuela in Miami. The Catalonia side will provide a tough test at the right time for us," he added.
According to most Nigerians, the chances of the Super Eagles getting anything from this game in terms of a victory is very slim, but no matter what the outcome of the game is, it doesn't really matter, what's important is that the coaching crew watch and learn from the mistakes which will definitely be there.
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The possible Line up for both teams include:
Nigeria: Enyeama Kwambe, Egwueke, Ambrose, Oshaniwa, Musa, Onazi, Reuben, Igiebor, I. Uche Emenike
Catalonia : Valdes, Amat, Puyol, Pique, Alba, Busquets, Xavi, Tejera, Tello, Krkic, Garcia.
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