Super Eagles head coach, Berti Vogts is apparently living up to his creed as no-nonsense defender during his playing days, and has openly declared that his main tactical approach at the Nations Cup would be to prevent opposing teams scoring against his side.
Speaking just 12 hours to departure from Malaga, Spain for the African soccer showpiece in Ghana, Vogts declared that that defending will be key to the team’s chances of winning the trophy.
“To do well we must fight for each ball, dominate the centre of the field and keep the defence tight. If we do this we will have chances to score goals and win games.
“For me defensive strength is fundamental in a team. To face Cote d’Ivoire with Drogba and the others, Mali with Kanoute and Diarra and Benin with the tremendous rivalry as a neighbouring country makes things very difficult.
“From three potential winners, only two teams qualify for the quarter-finals. That’s why we need to be very careful and watch how we hold the ball, and stop our opponents from getting anywhere close to our goal,” he said.
Although the German coach admitted that the Eagles are currently going through a transition, he said he is confident of leading his team to success in Ghana and then gain qualification to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
Vogts also noted that the Black Stars of Ghana is the team he feels could pose a threat to Nigeria’s chances at the championship, saying the hosts would be the team to beat.
“Ghana, as the hosts, have great advantages without discarding the chances of Cote d’Ivoire, Egypt, Cameroon, Senegal or Nigeria.
“The top teams will all do well, and I do not believe there will be many surprises in the competition,” the former coach of Germany and Scotland reasoned
No comments:
Post a Comment