Sunday 18 December 2022

Who would win Qatar 2022 World Cup? Messi or Mbappe

Lionel Messi of Argentina and Kylian Mbappe would face each other on behalf of their respective teams, for the Qatar 2022 World Cup final. Both Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe are joint highest goal scorers of the ongoing World Cup. They have both scored 5 goals each. Kylian Mbappe has been instumental to the success of the French team in Qatar 2022, as well as Lionel Messi for the Argentina team. The French team are defending the World Cup,being that they won the last edition of the World Cup held in 2018, which was hosted by Russia. Apart from Lionel Messi, the Argentina squad also have other important players like Julian Alvarez, who has scored 4 goals in the World Cup The French team also has a deadly striker in the person of Oliver Girould, who has also netted 4 goals in the World Cup. Both teams have 2 of the best Goal Keepers in the World Cup,the French Captain Hugo Iloris and Emilano Martinez of Argentina, who has been very instrumental to the success of the team. Today's final would be an entertaining match, because both teams are attacking teams. it is the best team, who can handle the pressure and become clinical in the finishing that would carry the day. Would it be the Argentina team led by Lionel Messi? or the French team with a mecurial player, like Kylian Mbappe?. This would be the last dance of Lionel Messi in the Argentina colours, would he come out victorious? or would he have another silver medal for Argentina, like he had in the Brazil 2014 World Cup ? Time would tell and answers would surely come.

Tuesday 13 December 2022

Will Messi win the Qatar 2022 World Cup for Argentina?

Lionel Messi is an Argentine forward and captain of the Argentina national team. He presently plays for Paris Saint-Germain in Paris, France. He started playing in the World Cup, since 2006 when Germany hosted the global competition. Lionel Messi has participated in the World Cup since 2006 up until 2022. Lionel Messi has scored 10 world cup goals in total, since he participated in the global mundial since 2006. The last time Lionel Messi, got close in winning the World Cup was in 2014, when their neighbours Brazil hosted the competition. The Argentina team got to the final and lost to Germany, by a lone goal. Lionel Messi has told journalists that he desires to win the World Cup for Argentina and for his hero, late Diego Armanda Maradona. Presently in Qatar, Lionel Messi has inspired the Argentine squad and got them to the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup. Lionel Messi and his Argentine team mates, faces an experienced Croatian team, that has improved in every game. The Croatioan team is also led by a veteran Midfielder, Luka Modric, who led Croatia to the finals in the Russia 2018 World Cup. Would Messi get to the finals of the World Cup, as he did in 2014? or he would be denied access by Modric and his Croatian team mates? This may be the last world Cup, Lionel Messi would participate in. Would he take the World Cup to Argentina,just like his hero late Diego Maradona who took the trophy to Argentina in 1986? Only time would answer all these questions.

Sunday 11 December 2022

Is this the end of Christiano Ronaldo?

Christiano Ronaldo is a Portuguese Player, and captain of the Portuguese national team. He is presently a free agent, after his contract got terminated from Manchester United. He was born on the 5th of February,1985(age, 37). He started his professional career as a footballer from Andorhina in 1992, till he left Manchester United in 2022.Ronaldo is a five time winner of the Ballon d'or and one of the Greatest of all Players in World Football. CR7 has scored more than 100 goals in his football career for both clubs and Country.He is a living legend of the game. Ronaldo has scored in every World Cup competition he has partcipated in, since 2006 till the present World Cup in Qatar. Christiano Ronaldo rejoined Manchester United from Juventus in 2021, and he scored 19 goals in 40 appearances. He couldnt replicate the same performance in the new season. He had challenges with the new Manchester United Manager, Eric Tang who wanted him to be part of the team and not the main forward. As a result of this, his form dipped and he developed an attitude, which affected his overall performance as a player. Furthermore, at the Qatar 2022 World Cup, he could only score one goal from the penalty spot and his overall performance at the ongoing world cup has not really being encouraging. On the 10th of December 2022, Portugal lost to Morrocco in the Quarter finals at the ongoing World Cup in Qatar. Christiano Ronaldo came in the second half of the game, but his efforts couldnt help the team. is this the end of Christiano Ronaldo? Time would tell, if we would see Christiano Ronaldo in the Euros, hosted by Germany in 2024 or the World Cup in 2026.

Saturday 10 August 2019

VAR: What is its impact on Football Games

VAR means Video Assistance Referee. It is a new technology that is meant to check some aspects in football. A) Goals- Var is used to check if a goal falls in an upside position or the position of a player in scoring a goal. For instance in the concluded Women's world cup, Helen White's goal was disqualified for upside position. A goal, she scored against Sweden in the third place match. It was cancelled. Car stated that she was ahead of the other player in the box 18. Another example, is the goal Raheem Sterling scored against West ham in the new premier League season. It was cancelled. VAR dissalowed it, that he was ahead of the opponent in the box. B) Penalty- Var is also used to check if a penalty given by the referee is justified. In the concluded African Cup of Nations, the match Nigeria played against Algeria. Var checked the foul against Ighalo in the box 18,and the penalty was given.Also Var can be used to check, if the keeper maintain his position in the box, when a penalty is taken. If the keeper brings out his leg, before the penalty was taken, the penalty would be retaken. This happened in the match Man City Syed against West ham, when Sergio Aguerro's penalty was stopped by the West ham goalie. The referee ruled, that the keeper stepped out, before the penalty was taken. He also checked Var and the penalty was retaken. This also happened in the concluded Women's world cup, the match France played against Nigeria in the second round. The referee ruled that the Nigerian goalie came out, before the kick was taken, and another spot kick was taken again. C)Red Cards- Var is also used to check if a player is justified for a red card. In the concluded Female world cup in France this year, England's central defender was given a red card against her attack on the Swedish attacker. The referee checked Var if the red card was justified, before the defender was booked. Impacts of VAR Var as a technology innovative approach is meant to check the irregularities in the field of play, which the referee is not sure of.Some of the actions could be right or wrong, but the Var has the final decision. Var is a good innovation to modern football, but the application can still be misunderstood, and can impact the game negatively, if not applied well.

Wednesday 19 April 2017

Can Barcelona perform another Magic with Juventus tonite?

Barcelona football club is a common and popular club among football fanatics in the game of soccer. Barca has it is fondly called,parades some of the best players in the world. Their attacking trio which comprises Neymar jr(11),Leo Messi(10) and Louis Saurez(9) has been a threat to many opposing clubs in World football. The football community was thrown to a superlative mood when Barcelona overcame a four-nill defeat by Paris Saint Germaine in the secound leg of the Uefa Champions league Group of 16 by scoring 6 goals to 1. They overturned the defeat of the first leg and qualified for the quarter-finals. The Catalan giants are also in the same boat, they found themselves in the round of 16. They lost to the Old lady(Juventus) by 3 goals to nill in Turin, Italy. Incidentally,like the group of 16, the second leg of the Quarter-finals will take place at the Nou Camp. Will Barcelona perform another magic like they did against PSG in the second round and qualify for the Semi-finals? Will Neymar, Messi and Suarez batter the old lady with lot of goals? Or will Juventus even add more pain to the Catalanian giants in their dreadful Nou Camp? Time will tell, and all this questions will be answered soon.

Tuesday 18 April 2017

Is it time for Wenger to say Goodbye?

Arsene Wenger is the current and most successful manager of Arsenal football club. He has been at the helm of affairs,since 1996 which makes him,the oldest serving Manager in the English Premier league. Wenger known as"professeur" in football quarters is a grooming Manager, who breeds young talents and turn them to shining stars. Players like Kanu Nwankwo, Thierry Henry and current players like Cesc Fabregas and Theo Walcot are product of Wenger's tutoring. Arsene Wenger is also known for his possession style and entertaining flow he brings to the game, this makes him one of the most outstanding Managers in club football. Arsene has last won the Barcalay premier league in 2004 with his famous invincible squad. For the past 8 seasons,he has been in the top 4 and that makes the club to always qualify for the group stages of the UEFA champions league. The bashing of the club in this season's UEFA by Bayern Munich,as made the fans lost faith in Wenger's abilities. Arsenal has also lost some vital matches in the premier league, the recent was on the 10th of April to Crystal Palace by 3 unreplied goals. They also lost to Westbrom and Bournemouth. With the recent developments, Wenger is not clarified with his future at the club, some of the Fans want him out, and some players feel he has outlived his stay at the club. My own opinion for Wenger, is to groom a successor that will take over from him or leave the club in a celebrated manner like Alex Ferguson and allow the Board to make their decisions. He has spent over twenty years in the club and a Legend. I believe it is wise for Wenger to bid the club goodbye and allow fresh ideas. I would be open to your Comments on whether it is time for Wenger to say Gooodbye to the club, he has nurtured and built for so many years. Thank you.

Monday 12 September 2016

Can Gernot Rohr Take The Super Eagles of Nigeria to greater heights in Domestic and International Football?

Gernot Rohr is the new Technical Adviser of the Super Eagles. Rohr is a German Tactician, who has got experience from a lot of African Countries like Gabon, Tunisia and Burkina Faso. He was appointed on a two year contract to qualify the Super Eagles for the Russia 2018 World Cup.

The new Tactician has stated  that he will take his job seriously and give it a top priority. Rohr failed to convince Vincent Enyeama and Emmanuel Emenike from changing their minds after their resignation from the National team. That was the first blow, he received on his new assignment.
He has promised to re brand the team and add some radical elements to the team.

The Nigerian National team is blessed with a lot of talents from the International Clubs and domestic sides, so the new Coach has a lot of talents to choose from. His first match as Technical adviser was a victorious one,as his side edged out Tanzania in a lone goal at the  Akwa-ibom international stadium.

The Super Eagles will not be participating in AFCON 2017 in Gabon,after losing that place to the Pharoahs of Egypt. It is still a bitter pill for Nigerians to swallow, because they  have missed the Competition twice since 2013, when they lifted the trophy in South Africa.

Gernot Rohr has the onus to qualify the Super Eagles for the World Cup,and he must take the task seriously. He has the players who can execute that agenda for him. Nigerians are less concerned about whether the Coach is a home based or foreign one, what they want to see is a Coach that can deliver.

The Super Eagles has never gotten to the Quarter-finals of the World Cup. It is only Cameroun, Senegal and Ghana that is the only African Countries that has reached the last eight of the World Cup. It would be a great achievement for the Super Eagles, if Rohr can take them to that height.

In wrapping up, Nigeria is a football loving Country, and they desire that the Super Eagles is flying above board. The onus lies on Gernot Rohr to deliver and actualise their desires. Rohr has the opportunity to write his name on Gold in the minds of Nigerians. He can only fulfil this ambition, if he takes his job seriously and recruit the right squad that will execute his plans.
We at Segun Goke's Soccer wish the new Technical adviser success in his new role as the Super Eagle's Gaffer.