Eaglets Unleash ‘Total Football’ At FIFA U-17 World Cup
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| VICTORIOUS – Bello and Musa Yahaya of Nigeria celebrate their teams win at the end of the round of 16 match between Nigeria and Iran at Khalifa Bin Zayed Stadium yesterday. Nigeria won 4 -1.Photo FIFA |
In their first match, the Eaglets put up a commanding display in their 6-1 battering of 2011 champions Mexico at the Khalifa Bin Zayed Stadium and they followed that up with a 3-3 thrilling draw with debutants Sweden at the same stadium before dismantling Iraq 5-0 in their final Group F match at the Rashid Stadium in Dubai.
Having racked up an amazing 14 goals in just three matches, the Eaglets qualified for the round of 16 as winners and were paired to play against Iran, who they whipped 4-1 in Al Ain on Tuesday.
In the four matches stated above, the Eaglets played different tactics, with emphasis on attacking through the middle and flanks.
They were so apt in this art that their Coach, Manu Garba, during a conference with reporters said that they were the new exponents of modern day total football.
“When we started picking players for this team, we renamed it the new Golden Eaglets. In the past, we used to play the normal kick and follow but because of the way football was evolving, we wanted to try new styles and that is what we have been doing here.
“Yes, we are the new exponents of total football and we nicknamed the team the new Golden Eaglets because of the philosophy total football.
This is the concept of total football and we are happy with the way that the boys have adopted it and mastered it.
“Even before the match against Iran, we showed the boys clips of the matches of Iran and asked them to tell how they played and they told us and we asked how do we counter them and they told us. It was what they said that they used in beating the Iranians”, added Garba.
====Vanguard
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