With the 2014 World Cup into the knockout stages, Passnownow will be providing you with all you need to know about every fixture in Brazil especially matches involving the Super Eagles… here is all the information you need for the second round game between Nigeria and France.
Last 16: France v Nigeria
Venue: Estadio Nacional, Brasilia
Kick-off: 5pm (1pm, Brazil time)
Referee: Mark Geiger, USA
Managers: Didier Deschamps (France)
Stephen Keshi (Nigeria)
Key clash: Antoine Griezmann v Efe Ambrose
The diminutive Frenchman has the pace and tricks to run Ambrose ragged, so the Celtic full-back will need to be at his best to stop the Real Sociedad schemer.
One to watch: John Obi Mikel (Nigeria)
Nigeria will need their experience midfielder to be at his best, plus a little bit more, if he is to match the likes of Paul Pogba, Yohan Cabaye and Blaise Matuidi in the central areas.
Head-to-head record: Played 1 Nigeria Wins 1 Draws 0 Losses 0
Opta stats:
• This will be only the second international meeting between France and Nigeria. The Super Eagles won the previous meeting 1-0 in Saint-Etienne back in June 2009.
• Les Blues have lost two of their last three World Cup matches against African nations (2002 v Senegal and 2010 v South Africa). They beat Togo between these two defeats, in 2006.
• Nigeria have scored a goal in all but one of their previous 10 World Cup finals matches against European sides.
• The Super Eagles are aiming to become just the fourth African side to make the quarter finals of a World Cup tournament (after Cameroon in 1990, Senegal in 2002 and Ghana in 2010).
• Nigeria have only won one of their last 11 World Cup matches.
• Nigeria have lost both of their previous World Cup second round ties – 1-2 v Italy in 1994 and 1-4 v Denmark in 1998.
• All of France’s goals during this World Cup have come from inside the box.
• France have won all three of their previous second round ties at the World Cup (2-0 v Italy in 1986, 1-0 v Paraguay in 1998 and 3-1 v Spain in 2006).
• Les Blues attempted more shots at goal (50; excl. blocked) than any other side during the 2014 World Cup group stages.
• Nigerian goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama kept more clean sheets than any other goalkeeper during the 2013-14 French Ligue 1 season for Lille.
• On the last five occasions that France have progressed past round 1 in the World Cup, they have reached the semi-final stage (1958, 1982, 1986, 1998 and 2006).
• Karim Benzema has scored nine goals in his last nine appearances for France, including three goals in his three appearances at this World Cup.
