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Nigeria coach Randy Waldrum believes knocking European champions England out of the Girls’s World Cup could be “transformational” for the game within the nation as the perimeters put together to fulfill within the final 16 on Monday.
The Tremendous Falcons have appeared at each Girls’s World Cup going again to the inaugural version in 1991 however their build-up to this 12 months’s match was overshadowed by a row with their nationwide federation over bonuses.
They’d even threatened to boycott their opening recreation however put that behind them to attract with Olympic champions Canada after which beat co-hosts Australia.
A draw with the Republic of Eire then ensured that they certified for the final 16 on the expense of Canada and arrange a conflict with strongly-fancied England in Brisbane.
“It could be an enormous win, clearly,” Waldrum stated Sunday when requested about what knocking out England would signify.
“Already with what we’ve achieved Nigeria is buzzing once more, from what I perceive.
“I don’t assume individuals anticipated us to get out of the group and to get the outcomes we’ve acquired, so I feel it has already been an enormous success.
“However clearly if you can’t solely beat the Olympic gold medallists however flip round and beat the European champions then it could be one thing extraordinarily particular again house for all of the individuals in Nigeria, and extra importantly for this squad, for what they’ve labored so laborious to do.
“So it definitely could possibly be transformational in a variety of other ways.”
It’s the third time that Nigeria have made it out of their group on the World Cup however they’ve by no means gained a knockout tie.
Waldrum confirmed that star striker Asisat Oshoala is “match and wholesome” and stated fellow ahead Want Oparanozie might characteristic for the primary time since selecting up an harm earlier than the match.
He additionally stated he was making ready his group to face an England aspect with, or with out, Keira Walsh after the star midfielder missed the Lionesses’ final group recreation with a knee harm.
Walsh educated with the squad on Sunday for the primary time since being stretchered off in England’s 1-0 win over Denmark of their second group recreation.
However England coach Sarina Wiegman might choose to stay with the three-woman defence which helped them outclass China 6-1 with out Walsh, or revert to a again 4.
“Now we have to organize for each,” Waldrum stated of the totally different tactical prospects.
“As a coach, I might count on her to go along with a again three as a result of they performed ever so nicely within the final match with that and I don’t know why she would change.”
Of Walsh, he added: “Clearly she is a key participant of their midfield for them.”
“However England additionally has so many weapons. You go down the checklist and also you take a look at their gamers and all of them play in a high-profile setting so there are definitely extra that may do injury to us than simply her.
“They’ve given us a variety of challenges to organize for and that will likely be simply one other one if she comes in.”
AFP
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