Preparations for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Origin go into overdrive when FIFA 13th ranked England take on the 47th ranked Nigeria at Wembley Stadium. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 2:15am (AEST).
There’s something nostalgic about international football at Wembley Stadium on a summer’s afternoon. It’s enough to make an English fan’s blood flow just that bit faster.
On a summer’s afternoon in 1966 at this same venue, England scored their one and only World Cup final win, defeating West Germany 4-2 after extra time.
Although the atmosphere for this friendly is sure to be relaxed, the crowd should be mightily entertained in a game between two 2018 World Cup qualifiers.
England manager Gareth Southgate has already picked his 23-man squad for Russia but the battle for starting spots is well and truly on.
One of the biggest selection conundrums is in the midfield between Tottenham’s Dele Alli and Manchester United’s Jesse Lingard. Southgate has indicated Lingard will start and expect him to put in a good showing.
Although Southgate has kept most of his selections for this game close to his chest, any one of Harry Kane, Jamie Vardy or Marcus Rashford would trouble the Nigerian defence.
The England squad is more youthful than at previous World Cups. Their average age is the 3rd youngest in England’s World Cup history.
One of those young players, Manchester City ace Raheem Stirling, has recently been in the news for more than just his footballing prowess.
A tattoo of a gun on his leg had raised a few eyebrows but the English team management has been quick to support Stirling’s personal choices.
Who starts in goals for England’s World Cup Group G opener against Tunisia in Volgograd is still up for grabs.
Joe Hart has been left out of the squad and Southgate has to choose between Jack Butland, Jordan Pickford and Nick Pope. It will be interesting to see who starts against Nigeria.
The Nigerians will take the field in their new World Cup strip that has turned heads around the world. There were over three million pre-orders for the distinctive green and white kit.
People were queing at the Nike store in London for hours on the day of release. In the Nigerian capital, Lagos, fakes have been flooding the market.
Nigeria, who open their World Cup campaign against Croatia in Kaliningrad, will be led out by ex-Chelsea midfielder Jon Obi Mikel, currently playing with Tianjin in the Chinese Super League. Another player worth keeping an eye on will be Leicester City’s Kelechi Iheanacho.
Prediction
England will be looking to get their World Cup preparations off to a good start and with players out to impress manager Gareth Southgate, a big performance from the home team is to be expected. However, given the occasion, and with decent support from people wearing the new kits, I’m sure Nigeria will spoil the party.
Draw 2-2.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of this World Cup warm up fixture from 2:15am (AEST) and don’t forget to add in a few thoughts in the comments section below.
Paul Nicholls
Roar Guru
Match result: England have won this friendly match at Wembley Stadium by 2 goals to 1. They started off the match in great touch with some neat work from Dele Alli, Sterling, Harry Kane and Young. England went ahead through a long range header from a corner in the 7th minute by Cahill. England dominated most of the first half and although Sterling got into some great positions, there would be some concerns about his finishing. No such concerns for Harry Kane, who capped off a neat move that he was also also involved in, by firing a low hard shot The keeper might have been slightly at fault as it passed under his body, however he was possibly unsighted by the defender. England led 2-0 at the break The game changed completely after half-time, no doubt helped by the three substitutions for Nigeria. After a good lead up a shot hit the post and rebounded to Iwobi who hit the ball first time into the back of the net. For the rest of the match Nigeria played assured football and almost forced the equaliser. England only had a few moments towards the end of the second half with some of their replacements putting in good performances. Final score England 2 Nigeria 1 Match preview:
Paul Nicholls
Roar Guru
Full Time 92' - Full time. And England have won 2 goals to 1.
ENGLAND: 2 NIGERIA: 1
Paul Nicholls
Roar Guru
92' - Offside against England as a good move almost gets them a third
ENGLAND: 2 NIGERIA: 1
Paul Nicholls
Roar Guru
90' - 4 minutes added time to be played
ENGLAND: 2 NIGERIA: 1
Paul Nicholls
Roar Guru
87' - England keeper Pickford punches clear and gets fouled in the process. Cahill is the on ground man of the match
ENGLAND: 2 NIGERIA: 1
Paul Nicholls
Roar Guru
86' - Nice move for England. Delph can't get the header on target from Rashford's cross
ENGLAND: 2 NIGERIA: 1
Paul Nicholls
Roar Guru
84' - Some of the sting coming out of the game now. Both sides looking towards the final whistle perhaps?.
ENGLAND: 2 NIGERIA: 1
Paul Nicholls
Roar Guru
81' - Replacement for England. Delph on and Dele Alli off. All has played a good game today.
ENGLAND: 2 NIGERIA: 1
Paul Nicholls
Roar Guru
79' - Wellbeck is through but a nice sliding tackle stops the attack. England corner but nothing from it
ENGLAND: 2 NIGERIA: 1
Paul Nicholls
Roar Guru
77' - Yellow card for Musa for a tackle from behind
ENGLAND: 2 NIGERIA: 1
Paul Nicholls
Roar Guru
76' - Replacement for Nigeria. Ihalo on and Iheanacho off.
ENGLAND: 2 NIGERIA: 1
Paul Nicholls
Roar Guru
74' - Oh dear, another clash of heads between two Nigerian players. Both KOd and lying prone on the canvas...err.. pitch
ENGLAND: 2 NIGERIA: 1
Paul Nicholls
Roar Guru
73' - Kane off. Wellbeck on.
ENGLAND: 2 NIGERIA: 1
Paul Nicholls
Roar Guru
Yellow Card 71' - Yellow card to Cahill after shoulder barging an opponent off the ball. This comes after a good move by England with Loftus-Cheek's cross going past on open goal
ENGLAND: 2 NIGERIA: 1
Paul Nicholls
Roar Guru
69' - Some more great play by Nigeria. Another shot on target. They are edging closer to a second goal. Really tightly contested game - feels more like a World Cup game than a friendly
ENGLAND: 2 NIGERIA: 1
Paul Nicholls
Roar Guru
68' - England replacement. Lingard off. Loftus-Cheek on. Young off and Danny Rose on.
ENGLAND: 2 NIGERIA: 1
Paul Nicholls
Roar Guru
66' - A great move by Nigeria. A sprint down the right wing but cross doesn't find anyone
ENGLAND: 2 NIGERIA: 1
Paul Nicholls
Roar Guru
Free-Kick 65' - A foul by Ali in a good position for Nigeria. Tebow takes it but nothing comes from it.
ENGLAND: 2 NIGERIA: 1
Paul Nicholls
Roar Guru
59' - A header by Dier off a corner just goes wide! Crowd of 70,025
ENGLAND: 2 NIGERIA: 1
Paul Nicholls
Roar Guru
59' - Corner for Nigeria. An England counter attack is halted mid pitch
ENGLAND: 2 NIGERIA: 1