2018 FIFA WORLD CUP GROUP D PREVIEW
FIFA World Cup Group D has plenty of mouth-watering matchups on tap. All eyes will be on favorites Argentina, but all the other teams come in with strong squads as well. This group could be the most wide-open of all, and several surprises may be in store.
ARGENTINA
Current FIFA World Ranking: 5
17th World Cup Finals
Best finish: 1978, 1986 champion
Ever since the triumph in 1986, Argentinian teams have come in with plenty of expectations that ultimately ended up unmet. Shockingly, they limped through qualifying this time and nearly missed out. With so much world-class talent at their disposal, this squad really has no excuses.
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All eyes will naturally be on Lionel Messi, who would surely like nothing more than to come out tops at an international tournament for once. If a rising star like Paulo Dybala can step up and help Messi shoulder the burden of expectations, they could go far.
Calling Argentina “enigmatic” in World Cup play is generous, since there is simply no telling which team will show up. On top form, they are capable of dismantling opposing teams. On their worst day, they will be on the receiving end of an embarrassment. Pencil them in for at least a quarterfinal slot with a big question mark.
ICELAND
Current FIFA World Ranking: 22
1st World Cup Finals
The darlings of Euro 2016 punched their ticket to Russia out of a tough qualifying group, proving they were no fluke. Since they are no longer an unknown quantity, can they build upon recent success and validate their rising stature?
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Battling fitness issues, several of their key players are rushing to be match-fit in time. Chief amongst them is Gylfi Sigurdsson, who dictates the attacking direction of this team. In spite of questions about who will play up top, he can be a game-changer.
Opponents will do well to not concede dead-ball opportunities to a team that relies on height to thrive. In fact, their best chance of advancing is taking advantage of opportunities they will get against three teams not always known for tactical discipline.
CROATIA
Current FIFA World Ranking: 18
5th World Cup Finals
Best finish: 1998 semifinals, 3rd place
When it comes to individual talent, Croatia actually looks like one of the most formidable lineups in Russia. The problem is that this team lacks leadership and cohesion. In the heat of a tournament, those could be death knells to any nation’s chances.
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Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitić may line up against each other in one of club soccer’s fiercest rivalries, but for country, they form the heart of what is truly a world-class midfield. Their playmaking ability should provide plenty of service to their attacking options.
The midfield will also need to provide protection for a questionable backline. This is a difficult unit to trust, but other than the Argentinians, they should hold their own in Group D. What happens from there on is anyone’s guess.
NIGERIA
Current FIFA World Ranking: 47
6th World Cup Finals
Best finish: 3x Round of 16
The Super Eagles have made qualifying for the second round a habit since they burst onto the scene in 1994. Well-known for an attacking enthusiasm, they are also unfortunately renowned for not being particularly tight on the defensive end.
Alex Iwobi is the brightest of a crop of rising stars, and could have a star turn in Russia. Coupled with the veteran experience of players like John Obi Mikel and Victor Moses, this is a team that is more than capable of holding their own in a tough group.
However, attacking verve alone will not be sufficient to make a deep run. The Achilles heel for this team continues to be on the defensive end, and their dependence on a rookie goalkeeper and middling talent at the back is potentially crippling. At least they’ll have the best jerseys of the tournament.
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