Rohr: First Game Vs Croatia Crucial; Eagles Will Make Nigerians Happy

Technical Adiviser of the Super Eagles Gernot Rohr has run the rule over Nigeria’s Group D opponents at next year’s FIFA World Cup in Russia and revealed that the team will have a good start to the competition if they get a favourable result against Croatia in the opening match on June 16, 2018.

Speaking moments after the draw were conducted at the Kremlin Palace here in Moscow on Friday, Rohr also said he is wary of ‘dark-horses’ Iceland and South American powerhouse Argentina but will pay special attention to the Europeans.

“The first game (against Croatia) is the most important because you need to start well for your confidence,” Rohr said.
“Croatia are better ranked than us by FIFA so we are supposed to be the weakest team in the group. If we win the first game, it will help us against Iceland in the second game because we will not be under pressure.”

The German also called for quick and efficient planning and preparation as the Super Eagles will be playing their three games in different parts of the Russian Federation which are very far from each other.

He said: “Our first game is in Kaliningrad which is in the western part of the country. Then we travel to Volgograd in Central Russia to face Iceland before goint to St Petersburg for the final game against Argentina. All of these require planning and preparations.”

Rorh was also full of praises for his young team which he said was getting better with each passing game.

“We have a young team. We are getting better so we will be humble and continue to work hard in other to bring happiness to the Nigerian people,” he added.