Javier Mascherano, the coach of the Argentine team, has admonished his players to put their best foot forward as they take on their Nigerian counterparts, the Flying Eagles, in the ongoing FIFA U-20 World Cup in San Juan. The match is scheduled for Wednesday, and both teams will compete in a round of 16 contest.
Les Albiceleste has been victorious in all their group games, making them a favourite in the forthcoming match. However, Mascherano is well aware of the potential challenge of their counterparts, describing them as a “strong rival.”
The former Liverpool and Barcelona midfielder stressed the vital need to analyse the Nigerian team, which has done impressively in past tournaments. He cites the strength of the Flying Eagles in physical confrontations, and the ease and effectiveness of their transitions as reasons why his team must remain vigilant.
In his words: “We have analysed them, you have to be very careful with your direct play, with your players in the middle forward and above all, in their transitions because they can do a lot of damage.”
The winner of the match between Argentina and Nigeria will advance to the quarter-finals, where they will meet either Ecuador or South Korea.
