Super Eagles media officer, Toyin Ibitoye has called for patience from Nigeria soccer fans over the team’s recent chain of defeats, as he says the coach, Gernot Rohr is still trying out tactics to master before the World Cup.
The midweek loss against Czech Republic came just ten days before the Eagles open their Russia 2018 account against Croatia, but Ibitoye insists Rohr used the recent friendlies to try out varying formations ahead of all three group matches in Russia.
Consequently Ibitoye assured Nigerians that they will see a better Eag;les, starting against Croatia next Saturday, especially as all the players are determined to do better at the Mundial.
He disclosed that all the players were disappointed in the wake of their 1-0 loss to Czech Republic on Wednesday afternoon as a win would have given them confidence ahead of their World Cup opener next week.
Nigeria won their first two pre-World Cup friendlies against Argentina and Poland but failed to win their next four with Serbia, Democratic Republic of Congo, England and Czech Republic.
However, while admitting that the Eagles were not at their best on Wednesday, Ibitoye said it was another experimental match, as the team played with so many formations in their pre-World Cup friendlies in order to get things right at the main event.
He expatiated: ”We didn’t play our best, that was obvious for everyone to see. Friendly games are, as the coach will also say, like a scientist in the lab, try a few things and see what other options you can have.
”That’s how we have to take this game, the boys are not happy they didn’t win because a victory would have given us some boost going into the World Cup but we see beyond the result.
”We are trying a few things and coach Gernot Rohr told the press at the post-match press conference that in our group Iceland, Croatia and Argentina are teams that play different patterns, different formation.
“What he wants to do is to try to make his team as flexible as possible so that they can match-up with the demands of having to change from one style to the other.
”What he wants to see is how we can adapt and play many styles during the World Cup. We have the next days to put ourselves in good shape, mentally, physically and boost our own morale and go into the World Cup. ”
