Coach Garba Manu has given the Golden Eaglets above average mark after they salvaged a 3-3 draw against a ‘stubborn, tactical Swedish side’ on Tuesday at the Khalifa Bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain.
“We did well against Mexico and I scored the players 90 percent,” Manu said at the post match conference.”But today, I can only give them 60 percent because all the three goals we conceded were due to lack of concentration.”
The Golden Eaglets failed to rise up to the pre-match expectations as they struggled at some point to the sturdy Scandinavians who defended in numbers but Manu said all that would have been inconsequential if the Golden Eaglets had paid attention to
instructions.
“We knew that the Swede would play a direct kind of game which is typical of their style and we told the players but it was unfortunate that we conceded those goals through lack of concentration.
“Of course, came out to win but we are happy with the draw and I believe this is how God wanted it to be,” he added, dismissing the impression that his players failed to cope with the size of the opposition.
“We knew how they were going to play and I don’t think it was the size, that mattered rather the timing of our defence was poor today,” he noted.
“In fact, we knew it was going to be difficult especially after we lost Isaac Success due to injury but the most important thing is that we salvaged a point and I thank the players for their fighting spirit.”
Responding to Iraq’s coach Muwafaq Adlool t assertion’s that the Golden Eaglets play an individualistic style which they hope to exploit in Friday’s final Group F Game in Dubai, Manu said matter-of-factly:“ The Iraqs would live to tell the story.
“What we play is total football and everyone can see from our two matches that we dominated the match by gaining better possession and we shall continue to do our best,” he added.
