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Nigeria would take to the Kaliningrad Stadium in less than 30 days time to face off against their first Group D opponents, Croatia.
After failing to win any of their last three opening games at the tournament, the sickening trend is becoming too mainstream and things could be all about to change.
Much of that could be down to structure, the level of the mentality and cheer hunger to give their all for the players who would get the nod of the manager to execute that vital task of negotiating the first game.
In a tricky tournament, like a World Cup is, winning one's first game is always more than imperative, no surprises the Super Eagles have always struggled after failing to pick up maximum points during their first run-out there.
Rohr is not particularly known for tinkering, and an average fan could decipher what the German's team would always look like.
During the course of the African qualifying series we witnessed, the 64-year old kept faith with most of his seasoned players of who were included in his preliminary roster — Elderson Echiejile, Wilfred Ndidi, Leon Balogun, William Troost-Ekong, Mikel Obi, Victor Moses, Shehu Abdullahi, Kelechi Iheanacho, Ogenyi Onazi among a host of others were ever present figures during that run.
From his 30-man roster, one can pick who and who he is sure to start against the Blazers baring any development(s), or who he was likely to swap for another in the course of the grueling ninety, all things been equal.
In terms of experience and mentality, he might decide to go for Chippa United man, Daniel Akpeyi in goal over the other of his goalkeeping options.
Balogun and Troost-Ekong would possibly be flanked by Shehu and Echiejile in the defensive ranks, bearing in mind these ones would come face up with Mario Mandzukic, Ivan Perisic or Andrej Kramaric.
Onazi and Ndidi would be charged with safeguarding the backline against Ivan Rakitic, Mateo Kovacic, Luka Modric while team's skipper, Mikel wouldbe trying to pick out the attackers.
Most probably, Victor Moses and Alex Iwobi would try to penetrate through the wings to feed the out-and-out striker most likely to be Odion Ighalo due to his ability to fend off any sort of hostility he would come up against Dejan Lovren and co.
Kelechi Iheanacho, Ahmed Musa, John Ogu, Joel Obi and every other Eagle would be waiting in the line to take in some action when called up from the bench.
And so, we have our likely starting XI for the World Cup opener thus :
1.Daniel Akpeyi
2.William Troost-Ekong
3.Leon Balogun
4.Abdullahi Shehu
5.Elderson Echiejile
6.Wilfred Ndidi
7.Ogenyi Onazi
8.Mikel Obi
9.Victor Moses
10.Alex Iwobi
11.Odion Ighalo
Emmanuel Chinaza
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