Nigeria go into Friday's match with Iceland in need of points. The Nigerians lost their opening match of the tournament to Croatia in decisive fashion. Now, the team needs points by any means necessary.
Iceland also need points to keep pace with the Argentina and Croatia, who meet on Thursday night. Iceland got a hard fought and deserved draw against Argentina in match one. A win for the Nordic country would almost put them into the next round. A draw would certainly keep hope alive, but Iceland would need three points against a tough Croatian team in match three.
NIgeria were as bad as the 2-0 score line loss to Croatia indicates. The team managed just as many shots on target (two) as the Croatians but created little. The biggest difference was the clinical finishing that Nigeria lacked. The team is young and exciting with Alex Iwobi and Victor Moses in the midfield. Yet, those players struggled to produce.
Manager Gernot Rohr may choose to play either Ahmed Musa or Kelechi Iheanacho from the start. The two strikers came on for Nigeria in game one as the team attempted a comeback. Odion Ighalo started as Nigeria's No. 9 against Croatia. It is difficult to believe Rohr would start Ighalo again after being so ineffective. Mixing up the starting XI could give Nigeria a better chance of snatching all three points.
Iceland, on the other hand, will feel good about their draw with Argentina. Unlike Rohr, Iceland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson doesn't need to make changes to his starting XI. The team is hard working and any lack of talent is made up for by the determination of the players on the pitch. Iceland's defence was solid against Argentina, who was only able to find one goal from open play. With Nigeria's lack of creativity and poor performance in front of goal, their chances of getting through Iceland's defence is slim.
Hallgrimsson's team managed just two shots on goal against Argentina, but it was always going to be a game with backs to the wall. Against Nigeria, Iceland could come out and attack their opponents. Iceland had just 22 percent of ball possession in game one. That shouldn't be the case against Nigeria.
Not only are Iceland playing well, but the national team is now the envy of lesser football nations around the world. Many will be taking notes from the Nordic country's rise to football glory.
Although Iceland do pose a threat to take all three points, Nigeria will get one to goal to keep this match a draw and both teams within touching distance of the next round.