By Paul Bassey

As at Saturday evening when I sent in this piece, the World Cup was on its head.

Twenty eight goals in eight matches with thirteen of them scored in four matches on Saturday.

Then there is the scary story of the under dogs upsetting form books and messing up FIFA Rankings. Start with the Netherlands thumping of defending world champions Spain. Roll on to the unbelievable and emphatic 3-1 defeat of Uruguay by Costa Rica.

When the World Cup draw was made, the world heralded Group D as the Group of death because of the presence of three former Champions in Italy, England and Uruguay. They forgot Costa Rica existed. Today with a match played each, Cosata Rica is on top of the Group!

According to FIFA Statistics, Cosata Rica is the 28th best playing football playing country in the world. Uruguay is 7th, Italy 9th and England 10!

In summary, more shocks expected on the cards. But God let it not be Iran against Nigeria. Despite the superior placing of Iran over Nigeria in the FIFA Ranking, there is no doubt on the global stage that Nigeria is considered a superior soccer playing nation.

The popular Brazilian newspaper Folha de Sao Paulo last month requested I do a preview of the Nigeria-Iran match for their publication today. As member of the Technical committee of the NFF they were very convinced I will do an ‘accurate’ preview especially as regards the starting eleven of the Nigerian team.

My preview was straight to the point. That no one except the coach can sometimes explain why certain players are used and others dropped. I said going by the not too impressive friendly matches that we had going into the competition, the task of picking a starting eleven becomes even more difficult.

But that with about ten days to perfect strategy after the USA friendly, only the coach and his assistants can come out today to explain the starting eleven.

The task becomes even more worrisome given some knocks here and there, malaria, match fitness and psychological readiness for the big stage……

However, since the paper insisted that I should try my hand and brains at being Keshi, I replied that ‘……Nothing in the world, not even injury (don’t laugh 0) will stop Vincent Enyeama from lining out today between the sticks.

I wrote that the full recovery from injury of Chelsea youngster Keneth Omeruo may determine the starting role of aging skipper Joseph Yobo, but that I can see Keshi lining out Omeruo, Egwuekwe, Obaobona and Efe Ambrose in a solid 4-4-2 formation where the midfield will benefit Moses and Ahmed Musa as wingers while Mikel Obi and Onazi Ogenyi will be required to hold.

If I were Keshi, I will take a chance on Osaze and start him on a striking role with Emmanuel Emenike.

Interestingly, this line up does not have any respect for the Iranians. No it does not. Nigerians, the world expects the Super Eagles to win. Anything less will be a disappointment to a team, a country that has gone to the world cup four times previously and expects to do better than the round of sixteen record.

It is the belief of Nigerians that if there is any team to beat the quarter final record of Cameroon, Senegal and Ghana, then that country is Nigeria and that 2014 is the year.

Where does the confidence come from? In this team, you may not count stars on the fingers of one hand, but you will do well to listen to a lucky Coach who says the discipline and the determination, the camaraderie and unity in the present squad is a plus going forward.

That is why he did not hesitate to diffuse the tension between Emenike and Mikel, that is why Nigerians are disgusted to still hear about distractions called ‘bonuses’, ‘appearance fees’ and ‘allowances’. I share the view of the Senate President who strongly wonders why the issues were not settled before now.

As a departure from the past, the NFF did get the Eagles coach fully involved in the choosing of the Base camp and other training facilities, and it is not too pleasant to hear the players now wanting to move hotels……because it is too isolated………pray are they in Brazil for a party? Ominous signs that helped to derail our plans in South Africa.

Moving forward, no excuses will be entertained if we do not trash Iran today. Iran was heralded as the luck of the draw, one that was expected as a pedestal to greater things against Bosnia and Argentina who played yesterday affording us a glimpse of what to expect.

The question is, “if we no beat Iran today, na Argentina we go beat? Abeg”

Good luck Nigeria.

See you next week.