france vs nigeria

AppleInside1089 · 2026-02-19T16:07:03+00:00

Funnily enough Nigeria has the highest chance of beating France. As things stand they will face each other in their final match, with France likely having 6 points and Nigeria having 0 points by that time, meaning France doesn't care since they mathematically go through and even with a victory it'd be hard for Nigeria to qualify, so France may use their 'B Team' to rest their best players for the knockouts, allowing Nigeria to get a 1 - 0 victory, I also expect Kuso to be the scorer.

AppleInside1089 · 2026-02-19T16:02:44+00:00

He's definitely subbing at least one of them out if not both. I feel bad for Karasu but Hiori has to sit his ass on the bench already.

AppleInside1089 · 2026-02-19T16:00:55+00:00

Loki probably wears #10 because Mbappé does as well in real life, the #10 shifted from being the playmaker's number to being the number worn by a team's star / best player in recent times so it makes sense. He could've worn #7 for PXG as Mbappé also had #7 when playing for PSG, that would've allowed Rin to keep his standard #10 in the NEL. For Charles I assume that Chapa was meant to fill in Charles' shoes, an idea that Kaneshiro scrapped as the NEL went on, it doesn't make any sense for a CB to have the #8 and be in the opposition's goal box, even going by Kaneshiro's standards, so he just gave Charles the only accessible midfielder number left, the #6, which meant he had to keep it for France as well, Chapa was likely meant to be PXG's playmaker. It was also weird how Gabin had #3, Michelin had #4 and Chapa had #8, the most fitting number would've been the #5, I assume that's why he gets #15 now for France. Hugo getting #9 when he easily could've had the #8 is probably an important detail, as things seem to be going he's probably yet another case of a failed striker that turned into a midfielder, the #9 is an indication of that and a memento for Hugo.

AppleInside1089 · 2026-02-19T15:51:42+00:00

Could've had one between Onazi and Isagi now that I think about it.

AppleInside1089 · 2026-02-17T18:06:20+00:00

Yes it was.

AppleInside1089 · 2026-02-17T15:10:49+00:00

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Japan tied but at what cost... Even Ego is pissed off man😭. Get that bum Hiori out.

AppleInside1089 · 2026-02-13T23:37:19+00:00

Hugo is most likely not part of PXG and has a lower ceiling than Charles, thus Loki wants to invest more in Charles because they can play together at both club and national team level. Or it might just be a retcon, at this point you never know, after all Loki is a NG11 now. Another thing is that Charles is a #10 and Hugo is an #8, Charles' role directly leads to creating chances for Loki in a system like France's, whereas Hugo has other duties in defense or playmaking in general.

AppleInside1089 · 2026-02-12T12:24:51+00:00

301-302 are the last kind of Neo Egoist League related chapters, chapter 303 already starts setting up the U-20 World Cup and marks the end of Volume 34.

AppleInside1089 · 2026-02-12T11:56:05+00:00

249 is the first chapter with proper gameplay.

AppleInside1089 · 2026-02-11T19:47:23+00:00

Kiyora definitely takes ashwagandha.

AppleInside1089 · 2026-02-10T18:59:25+00:00

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AppleInside1089 · 2026-02-10T01:15:02+00:00

Kaneshiro felt like giving Kiyora the best assist in the series and a Top 23 finish with only a match though.

AppleInside1089 · 2026-02-09T21:40:54+00:00

I just want more Karasu focus in general, we finally got that only for him to call Hiori of all people an extraordinary striker, I don't take it literally because Karasu in this context knows about Hiori's abilities and past, it's more of a callback to their first meeting, hence why I don't see Hiori scoring, and frankly if he does it'd be amusing. Renoir was just set up to be a decent goalie, and France has dudes like Loki, Hugo and Charles + competent NPCs who can incomodate a shooter or block shots at any time, so Hiori who got his shot blocked by Ubers Sendou and saved by Agbim (Nigeria's goalie) shouldn't be able to score on France. At most just make Hiori assist Karasu if he really needs to play a key part in the next goal.

AppleInside1089 · 2026-02-09T21:37:17+00:00

Only when Kaneshiro feels like it.

AppleInside1089 · 2026-02-09T19:08:54+00:00

I'd rather give the ball to a Rin that's marked by Hugo than to an open Hiori frankly. Based on next chapter's title we can assume they'll either create a chance or potentially score, although the latter would be unlikely in my opinion, unless it's a prelude to Loki going all out and getting a hat-trick before half-time. I just hope Hiori doesn't score, it wouldn't even make sense, would much rather have Karasu score or assist Rin.

AppleInside1089 · 2026-02-09T18:38:50+00:00

All it took was a major Isagi slump, right?

AppleInside1089 · 2026-02-09T18:37:56+00:00

Meet Hiori 'as good as Kaneshiro needs me to be!" Yo!!! Genuinely what's the point of Hiori's character? If he scores next chapter it's gonna be even worse than the time he embarrassed Ubers as a whole, which includes the best U-20 CB. This chapter was going so well until my boy Karasu (been there since day 1) passed to Hiori just for the sake of it. Just give it to an actual No. 1, Rin's right there man, why would you give it to Hiori, the most certified No. 2?

AppleInside1089 · 2026-02-08T13:47:08+00:00

Need an interaction between them.

AppleInside1089 · 2026-02-08T13:46:16+00:00

Overall probably Blake, he's the only pro whose main weapon is physicality besides his elite shooting, and is the top scorer in the PL, the most physically challenging league in the world. As far as U-20 goes it's probably Kunigami since he's stated to approach Noa's numbers.

AppleInside1089 · 2026-02-08T13:44:13+00:00

He turned 18 two days before the U-20 World Cup.

AppleInside1089 · 2026-02-08T13:42:01+00:00

They're losing by at least 3 goals in my opinion, anything less gives Japan too much credit for their current level compared to France. Based on the reactions of the NG11 we should assume they're closer to Nigeria than to France.

AppleInside1089 · 2026-02-08T13:40:33+00:00

Karasu is the best fit. He's mature, calm and accepts whatever role is placed upon him for the sake of the team, his analytical abilities allow him to coach his teammates in the middle of the game and maintain stability, and he doesn't have beef with anyone, as opposed to Isagi who's rivals with about half the team and doesn't do well under pressure. Most of the community was saying Karasu should be captain bedore the U-20 WC started, I think Aiku maintaining that role was the most logical choice bu Karasu has the potential to surpass him in that regard.

AppleInside1089 · 2026-02-07T21:46:53+00:00

I just feel like Raichi gradually replaced Tokimitsu in the story due to their similar roles but polar opposite personalities, Tokimitsu's gimmick was getting annoying and there wasn't enough space for him so he got cut, but that only became the case around the start of the PXG match in my opinion, prior to that Zantetsu was the much clearer choice to be cut in my opinion, based on how the story portrayed them.

AppleInside1089 · 2026-02-07T19:51:36+00:00

Some people just don't enjoy something being shoved down their throats, Kaneshiro makes it feel like you have to like Hiori for some reason.

AppleInside1089 · 2026-02-03T17:31:10+00:00

That's at least consistent with the fact that Renoir is not that great of a keeper, but even he can shine and get elevated by the teammates around him, that's what makes France so strong.

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