Greece v Nigeria: match preview

Group B

Greece v Nigeria
Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
Kick-off: Thur June 17, 3pm BST

Both teams lost their opening Group B games with poor performances, so both need a massive improvement to stand any chance of challenging Argentina and South Korea for the two qualifying places.

Otto Rehhagel caused a surprise by leaving out imposing Liverpool central defender Sotirios Kyrgiakos in the 2-0 defeat by South Korea, and he could be recalled.

Lars Lagerback may consider replacing Chinedu Obasi with Peter Odemwingie.

Touchline duel

Otto Rehhagel v Lars Lagerback: Two hugely experienced coaches will treat this one like a chess match. A German faces a Swede but it is the latter who boasts the World Cup experience and that could work in his favour. However, Rehhagel has the experience of more than 1,000 Bundesliga games, so this offers a fascinating clash.

And both have to win; the losers go home.


Talking tactics

Lagerback will probably ask Fulham’s Dickson Etuhu to drop back to a holding role and that could help negate a three-man attack which was so disappointing last time out.

What they say

Otto Rehhagel: "We still have an opportunity and can recover after losing the first game. First of all we have to keep our mistakes to a minimum. We have to play to our full potential and give everything.

Lars Lagerback: "I know that my Super Eagles players will handle this situation very well so from my point of view I am very positive going into the next game. It doesn't matter if Greece had lost or won."

Key clash

Sotorios Kyrgiakos v Aiyegbeni Yakubu: A Merseyside clash like no other. Liverpool meets Everton with Kyrgiakos likely to be the man charged with keeping Yakubu quiet.

But when their club teams last met Kyrgiakos had been sent-off by the time Yakubu came on, at Anfield in February. Liverpool won that game 1-0.

Previous meetings

Played 2 Greece 1, Draws 0, Nigeria 1

1994 (Boston, WC): Greece 0 Nigeria 1
1999 (Kirkis, friendly): Greece 2 Nigeria 0

Fact: Nigeria are seeking their first win in the finals since they beat Bulgaria in 1998.

Prediction: Nigeria only lost 1-0 to Argentina and with the Greeks so poor against South Korea expect another African success.

Teams

Greece (4-3-3): Tzorvas; Vyntra, Seitaridis, Kyrgiakos, Torosidis; Patsatzoglu, Karagounis, Katsouranis; Samaras, Salpingidis, Gekas
Nigeria (4-4-2): Enyeama; Odiah, Shittu, Yobo, Taiwo; Kaita, Etuhu, Lukman, Odemwingie; Yakubu, Obinna
Referee: Oscar Ruiz (Colombia).

Previous meetings

Played 2: Greece 1, Draws 0, Nigeria 1

1994: (Boston, WC): Greece 0 Nigeria 1
1999: (Kirkis, friendly): Greece 2 Nigeria 0

Fact: Nigeria are seeking their first win in the finals since they beat Bulgaria in 1998.

Prediction: Nigeria only lost 1-0 to Argentina and with the Greeks so poor against South Korea expect another African success.