Former Super Eagles technical adviser, Bora Milutinovic has tipped the Nigerian team to do better at Russia 2018 than Mexico and Costa Rica, two other countries he had previously coach at past editions of the World Cup.
Milutinovic, who handled Nigeria to a round of 16 finish at France ’98, but scandalously lost 4-1 to Denmark in Toulouse, said the Eagles have a better chance of advancing from their group than Mexico and Costa Rica have in Russia.
Though Nigeria are the least ranked team in FIFA World Cup Group D, Bora feels the three-time African champions have a great chance of qualifying.
Making their sixth appearance at the quadrennial football showpiece, Gernot Rohr’s men must bypass Argentina, Iceland and Croatia in the ‘Group of Death’ to reach the knockout stages, but Bora is tipping them to make it.
The 73-old-year old Serbian, who has also coached China and Peru at the World Cup, said: “It’s easy to talk about it, but there will be truth in the field and it may be different.
“There is Mexico, which is a team of qualities, and certainly has chances to pass. It will be played on small things. Compared to the calendar, they are not really advantaged.
“They play their first match against Germany. It is a difficult group, especially since there is Sweden, whose style of play is totally different.
“Regarding Costa Rica, they fell in the group of Serbia. And I am Serbian and I, therefore, remain above all to support my country.
“In any case, their task will be complicated because they are with Brazil. And there is also with them the Switzerland of Vladimir Petkovic, who is also from the Yugoslav school.
“Finally, you have Nigeria, which will play in the group of Argentina, Croatia and Iceland. I think that of my three former teams, this is the one that has the best chance of advancing.”
