Lagerbacks Starting XI Against Argentina Ready

Nigeria’s Lars Lagerback says, barring anything major, his starting team for Saturday’s  opening match against Argentina is set.

The Swede has seen his team improve from the scraggly bunch that underwhelmed against Saudi Arabia, to a more confident, if slowed down, group of confident passers in a 3-1 win against North Korea on Sunday.

“I know already the eleven players to start the game, unless something happens to bring a change,” Lagerback said on Monday at Richard’s Bay.

Current World Player of the Year Lionel Messi has been singled out as one of the biggest threats to Nigeria’s hope of advancement, but Lagerback says he will not be giving him any special treatment.

“We are playing Argentina, not Messi. So there will be no player given the special job to mark him.”

Sunday’s win over North Korea was Lagerback’s first since taking over, making it three games without a loss, and the Swede was keen to put emphasis on the football.

“It was a good performance, I was very impressed.

“There was a lot of improvement and I believe that as the tournament goes on, the players will keep improving.”

Nigeria play Argentina at Ellis Park on June 12.