Only one more tune-up game is left, and then the USMNT is off to Brazil to take on some very big opponents. That first game, and probably the most important in terms of getting off on the right foot, is against Ghana. The dreaded Black Stars have had the Americans number for a while, and Jurgen Klinsmann knows that getting a win against them is going to be a key to getting out of group G.
So what can this matchup against Nigeria show Klinsmann in regards to how this team is shaping up? Let’s be honest, the match against Azerbaijan wasn’t exactly a great test game. The game against Turkey was a little better, but it still was against a team that wasn’t going to the World Cup, but Nigeria is. Their on-again, off-again head coach Stephen Keshi has put together a strong squad to go to Brazil and shake things up. But this team has been shrouded in controversy for the last few years.
In 2010, after bombing out of the group stage with losses against Argentina and Greece, and a tie against South Korea, their president “Good Luck” Jonathan banned the team from international competition for two years. Unfortunately for the Nigerian Football team, FIFA threatened to impose a ban for political interference. The President of a nation, turns out, doesn’t really have that power. And after winning the African Cup of Nations in 2013 against Burkina Faso, Keshi handed in his resignation, only to take it right back the next day. Apparently he didn’t like the idea of the Nigerian Football Federation booking their flight home after the quarter-finals, but the wrinkles were apparently ironed out.
Putting all of the extra-curricula aside, Nigeria is still a strong team. They’ve got fast forwards in Ahmed Musa, Emmanuel Emenike and Victor Moses of Premier League fame. But look for them to test out Peter Odemwingie of Stoke City, the 32-year-old veteran who was a surprising call up. Nigeria most likely will line-up in a 4-3-3, and use their speed up top to probe the American fullbacks constantly. This is the perfect game for an inexperienced backline, and although it may not be as pretty as fans would like, it’s a good test for a team looking to shock the world by getting out of the “group of death.”
However, Nigeria’s defense has been called into question recently. Godfrey Oboabona and Kenneth Omeruo are young and relatively inexperienced and this will give the Americans a chance to face a team that presents some of the same issues that Ghana does; a struggling defense.
Ghana has the Juventus standout Kwadwo Asamoah who will most likely be slotted in on the wing and Kevin-Prince Boateng up top. But their defense is notoriously weak. They may have quite a few Champions League players in the midfield and forward positions, but they are still taking 16 players to their first World Cup. Although Ghana has been known to play a 4-5-1 formation as of late, the resemblance to Ghana’s playing style is uncanny. Both teams love to use their speed on the counter when not trying to dominate possession of the ball. No team can emulate Ghana completely, but Nigeria is about as close as you can get.
This match will probably be the most competitive one all year for the USMNT and will serve as a benchmark for the June 16th match against Ghana. We should see the U.S. really press hard against a weakened defense, and also a backline that will be constantly tested by the counter. If you’re going to watch one friendly this weekend, make it this one. Either the Americans will come out of this with a win and a clear view on what we will see in Brazil, or they’ll leave us all pondering if they can really take on Ghana and live to tell the tale.
U.S.A. vs. Nigeria – ESPN – 6:00 PM ET – Saturday, June 7th, 2014
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