World Cup 2018: A guide to Nigeria’s Group D opponents and chances

World Cup 2018: A guide to Nigeria’s Group D opponents and chances

World cup 2018: Group D review Nigeria Argentina Iceland Croatia

Football fans all over the world have been reacting to the Russia 2018 World Cup draw with some juicy group and some rivalry re-ignited, Spain and Portugal will face each other in Group B, while Belgium and England will battle it out in Group G, the most interesting draw was in Group D, with Argentina and Nigeria facing each other for the fifth time in a World cup, other Nations in group D are Croatia and Iceland.

Nigerians are hoping the Super Eagles will have a good showing at the World Cup.

Let's take a look at Nigeria's Group D opponents and their chances of reaching the knock out stages:

Croatia players during the world cup qualifier

CROATIA:

Croatia vs Nigeria
8:00PM (GMT) Saturday June 16th, 2018
Kaliningrad Stadium

Currently Ranked 17th in the World, the European side qualified through the World Cup playoff defeating Greece 4-1 on Aggregate.

Coached by Zlatko Dalic who came in for last match away at Ukraine and their two playoff matches after Cacic was sacked ahead of the match, Croatia will look to earn all maximum point in the first game against the Super Eagles as they will be playing Argentina in their second game.

This will be Croatia's fifth appearance at the World Cup, they shocked the world in their first participation at France 98 with a third place finish with star player Davor suker leading the team.

Preferred formation: 4-2-3-1

Star player: Luka Modric (Real Madrid)

Croatia is a very strong side with some technically gifted player, this will be a very tricky game for the Super Eagles, Luka Modric is one of the most gifted midfielder in the World, he controls the game and dominates the midfield at his own pace. They have Barcelona's Ivan Rakitic too, who is very efficient.

Most of their regulars are very experienced, Ivan Perisic was one of the hotest players during the last transfer window as clubs like Manchester United tried to sign him from Inter Milan. Mario Mandzukic is a good and versatile forward, a striker that gives his all physically but can lose control when things are not going his way.

Nigeria should get a victory or at least a draw from this match, despite having enough individual talents, the Croatian National team struggled through their qualifying campaign which led to the sacking of their Coach.

Media reports suggest this was due to their country's internal conflicts within their federation, media, politics and fans, which makes it hard for the players to concentrate. They qualified through the playoffs with a new coach who would be hoping to have enough time and friendly matches to familiarise with the team.

Iceland players celebrate world cup

ICELAND:

Iceland vs Nigeria
4:00pm (GMT) Friday 22nd June 2018
Volgograd Arena


Currently ranked 22nd, the smallest Nation ever to qualify for the World Cup, Iceland boast of great football fans, their supporters got all the attention at the last European tournament in France. Almost 10% of the country traveled to France and there could be a similar movement heading to Russia in 2018.

Iceland continued their amazing form after Euro 2016 by finishing on top of their group in the World Cup qualifiers with 22 points, it was another shocker as they had Croatia, Turkey, Ukraine in the same group.

This is their first appearance at the World Cup.

They are coached by Heimir Hallgrimsson who took over from former Super Eagles coach, Lagerback.

Preferred formation: 4-4-2

Star player: Gylfi Sigurdsson (Everton)

Coach Gernot Rohr and his boys have to go all out for the 3 points in this match. Iceland will be stubborn, they tend to soak up all the pressure in games and break on the counter, they are also very good at set pieces with the deadly Sigurdsson, though the Everton midfielder is currently struggling with form at the moment.

Iceland will be playing with no pressure at all, this match has all the potential to be entertaining.

Lionel Messi celebrates goal during world cup qualifier

ARGENTINA:

Nigeria vs Argentina
7:00pm (GMT) Tuesday 26th June
Krestovsky Stadium 

Most likely the last World cup for a lot of senior players, Argentina will be hoping to go one step further after losing 1-0 to eventual champions Germany in the final at the 2014 World Cup. They struggled to qualify for the World cup, Lionel Messi scored a record 21 goals during the qualifiers with a hat-trick in the last match away at Ecuador.

Coached by Jorge Sampaoli, a great tactician, Argentine players must put their poor performances during the qualifiers behind as the former Chile coach would hope to win the next World cup, Argentina finished third behind Brazil and Uruguay in the South America qualifying campaign.

Preferred formation: 3-4-3

Star player: Lionel Messi (Barcelona).

The Super Eagles last friendly match was against Argentina in Russia, Nigeria came back from 2 goals down to beat the former World Champions 4-2. Though Argentina was without Messi, it was still a shocking victory, Jorge Sampaoli's teams no matter who is playing are always organized and hard to beat, this could give the Super Eagles a psychological edge when they play Argentina at the 2018 World Cup.

Watch coach Gernot Rohr's reaction to the World cup draw below.


This is a very tricky draw for the Super Eagles of Nigeria, looks easy and difficult at the same time.

To stand a chance of making it to the knockout stages, Gernot Rohr must target at least four points from our first two games before the Super Eagles face Argentina. Messi and his teammates won't underrate the young Eagles.

The NFF must arrange grade A friendlies that can help the coach figure out his best starting 11 and solve the Goal keeper problem as soon as possible.

No matter the outcome, this will be another exciting experience for football fans all over the World.
Name

Aaron Ramsey,5,Ac Milan,76,Adam Llana,1,Ademola Lookman,8,Adnan Januzaj,3,AFCON,39,AFCON 2021,10,AFCON.Super Eagles,1,Aguero,8,Ajax,8,Alex Iwobi,26,Alexis Mac Allister,2,Alexis Sanchez,4,Algeria,2,Alvaro Morata,4,Ander Herrera,1,andre ayew,1,Andre Onana,1,Andre schurrle,2,Andrea Pirlo,3,Andrey Arshavin,1,Ange Postecoglou,17,Angel Di Maria,6,anthony martial,5,antonio conte,36,arda turan,4,Argentina,44,Arjen Robben,2,Arne Slot,16,Arsenal,797,Arsene Wenger,22,Arteta,21,arturo vidal,2,AS Roma,19,Asamoah Gyan,2,Aston Villa,89,Atalanta,5,Atletico,2,Atletico Madird,1,Atletico Madrid,47,Atsu,1,Aubameyang,7,Bacary Sagna,1,Bale,2,Ballon d'or,13,Balotelli,3,Banyana Banyana,1,Barcelona,268,Bastian Schweinsteiger,2,Bayer Leverkusen,8,Bayern munich,128,begovic,1,belgium,23,Bellingham,1,Benfica,4,Benin Republic,1,Benitez,3,Benjamin Mendy,1,benteke,1,Benzema,10,Bertrand Traore,1,betting,309,betting tips,251,Birmingham,2,blog post,27,blog spot,1,blogpost,5,blow,1,Bologna,3,Borrusia Dortmund,8,Borussia Dortmund,32,Bournemouth,31,Brazil,45,Brazil 2014,6,brazil match highlights,1,Brazuca,1,Breaking news,32,Brendan Rodgers,2,brentford,22,Brighton,70,bruno fernandes,68,Bryan Mbeumo,1,Bukayo Saka,110,Bundesliga,18,Burkina faso,3,Burnley,25,CAF,1,CAF Awards,1,cameroon,20,Cancelo,3,Capital one cup,15,Carabao cup,23,cardiff,4,Cardiff city,2,Carlo Ancelotti,6,Carlos Marchena,1,Carlos Tevez,2,Carlton Cole,1,Casemiro,10,cavani,1,Cazorla,1,CECH,3,Celta vigo,2,Celtic,3,Cesar Azpilicueta,3,Cesc Fabregas,6,Champions League,147,championship,4,CHAN,1,Charly Musonda,1,chelsea,799,Cheslea,6,Chile,1,Christian Benteke,2,Club world cup,2,Cole Palmer,18,colombia,3,Community Shield,1,Como,1,conte,2,Copa America,6,Copa Lagos 2013,1,Costa Rica,3,Coutinho,2,Cristiano Ronaldo,198,croatia,14,Crystal Palace,41,Crystal Palce,1,Dani Alves,4,Dani Carvajal,1,Daniel Sturridge,1,Danny Welbeck,4,David Alaba,1,David Beckham,3,David de gea,10,David Luiz,6,David Moyes,11,David Raya,1,David Silva,4,de jong,1,Declan Rice,24,Dele Alli,1,Demba Ba,2,Denmark,10,Di Maria,5,dider drogba,1,Didier Drogba,5,Diego Costa,10,Diogo Jota,3,Donnaruma,1,Dortmund,3,Douglas Costa,2,drake,1,Dzeko,1,Eboue,1,eden hazard,19,Ederson,3,edgar davids,1,Edin Dzeko,1,Egypt,12,El Classico,10,El Shaarawy,2,elche,1,Elderson Echiejile,1,Emmanuel Emenike,1,emre can,1,england,99,English premier league,204,Enyimba FC,2,Enzo,3,Enzo Fernandes,2,Enzo Maresca,22,EPL,193,Eric de Oliveira,1,Eric Ten Hag,3,Erik Lamela,1,Erik Ten Hag,80,Erling Haaland,123,ESL,1,Ethiopia,1,Eto'o,2,Euro,2,Euro 2020,73,Euro 2024,27,europ,1,Europa Conference league,2,Europa League,35,Europe,8,Everton,99,FA,6,FA Cup,47,FA Cup final,6,Fabian Hurzelar,5,Fabio,1,Fabio Borini,1,Fabregas,1,Falcao,9,fans,1,Feature,2,feature dpost,1,featured,2622,Featured news,2,Featured post,702,featured postSource: Alex Livesey/Getty Images Europe,1,Federico Chiesa,1,fernado llorente,1,fernandinho,1,Fernando Torres,3,Fernerbahce,1,Fetaured,1,FIFA,25,fifa 16,4,FIFA Ballon d'or,2,fifth round draw,1,Fiorentina,7,Football,67,Football news,15,football wags,1,footballer's girlfriend,1,FPL,3,france,44,Franck Ribery,3,Frank Lampard,26,French Cup,1,French Ligue 1,18,Fulham,43,Fulham Liverpool,3,gabriel Jesus,32,Galatasaray,1,Gareth Bale,13,Gareth Southgate,10,Gary Neville,1,George Finidi,4,German Bundesliga,17,German cup,2,Germany,44,Gernot Rohr,2,Gervinho,1,getafe,1,Ghana,19,Gianluigi Buffon,1,gibbs,1,gif,123,Giorgio Chiellini,1,Giroud,2,goal,66,Goals,2,Golazo,74,gold cup,1,Golden eaglets,2,Gonzalo Higuain,1,Gossip,91,Graham Potter,6,Granit Xhaka,5,graphic,4,Grealish,3,guedes,1,Guiseppe Rossi,1,Haaland,2,Hakim Ziyech,1,Halloween,1,Hamburger,1,Harry Kane,63,Harry Maguire,10,hazard,3,Hernanes,1,Hertha Berlin,1,Heung Min Son,39,history,1,Holland,22,huddersfield,2,Hulk,1,Hull city,3,Ibrahimovic,1,iceland,2,iheanacho,1,IK Uche,2,Iker Casillas,2,Ilkay Gundogan,7,Individual Highlights,20,Iniesta,5,inler,1,Inter,1,Inter Miami,3,Inter Milan,59,International friendly,18,Interview,18,Ipswich Town,10,Isco,2,Italian Serie A,40,Italy,35,Ivan Toney,8,ivica Olic,1,Ivory coast,10,Iwobi,1,Jack Wilshere,1,Jadon Sancho,13,Jamaal Musiala,2,James Maddison,12,James Rodriguez,1,Japan,5,Javi Martinez,1,Javier Hernandez,1,Jesus navas,1,Joao Felix,3,Joe Hart,1,Joel Campbell,1,John Obi Mikel,3,John Terry,5,Johnny Evans,1,Jordan,1,jordon ibe,1,Jorginho,7,jose callejon,1,Jose Mourinho,78,Joshua Zirkzee,1,Juan Mata,20,Jude Bellingham,9,Julien Lopetegui,4,Jurgen Klopp,60,Juventus,106,Kagawa,2,Kai Havertz,18,Kaka,2,Kante,13,Kaoru Mitoma,1,Karim Benzema,29,Kelechi Iheanacho,18,Kenneth Omeruo,4,Kenya,1,Kevin De Bruyne,87,Klopp,42,koke,1,kolarov,1,Kyle walker,4,Kylian Mbappe,24,LA Galaxy,2,La liga,100,Lamela,1,Lamine Yamal,4,Lates news,2,latest,2,latest news,7,latest news,1613,latest news news,1,latest news world cup,1,latest news. video,2,latest post,1,Laurent Koscielny,1,Lautaro Martinez,1,Lavezzi,1,Lazio,7,Leandro Bacuna,1,Leeds,5,Leeds United,2,leicester,8,Leicester city,63,Leroy Sane,2,Lewandoski,2,Libya,2,Ligue 1,12,lille,4,Lionel Messi,87,Lionel Messi. Argentina,2,Live stream,73,liverpool,463,liverpool.Arne Slot,1,Loic Remy,2,louis van gaal,9,Lucas Moura,1,Luis Dias,4,Luis suarez,20,Luka Modric,11,Lukaku,5,Luke Shaw,1,Luton Town,16,Lyon,6,Man city,93,Man United,29,Man utd,4,Mancheste City,1,manchester city,496,manchester united,660,Manchetser city,2,manchetser united,4,Mandela,1,Maradona,9,Marco Reus,4,Mario Balotelli,12,Mario Gotze,1,Marseille,6,Martin Odegaard,12,Mason Mount,5,match,1,Match fixing,1,Match highlights,403,match highlights manchester city,1,match highliths,1,match higlights,1,Match Preview,39,match report,309,matci,1,Mauricio Pochettino,50,Maurizio Sarri,4,Mbappe,28,Memphis Depay,5,Mertesacker,1,mess,1,Messi,57,mesut ozil,11,mews,1,Mexico,13,Michael Carrick,1,Michel Platini,1,mikel,2,Mikel Arteta,154,Mikel Merino,4,Mikel Obi,1,miranda,1,MLS,8,Mohammed Salah,71,Moises Caicedo,11,Monaco,5,Morocco,2,Mourinho,5,mum,1,Mykhailo Mudryk,2,Nadal,1,Nani,3,Napoli,48,nathan,1,neews,1,new,4,New Zealand,1,newcastel,1,Newcastle,104,Newcastle united,15,news,3824,news latest news,1,news manchester united,1,news Obi Mikel,1,news. opinion,1,news. video,1,newst chelsea,1,Neymar,41,Nice,1,Nicolas Jackson,1,Nigeria,328,Nigeria premier League,2,Norwich,8,Nottingham Forest,19,Novak Djokovic,1,NPFL,6,Obi Mikel,1,ochoa,1,odion ighalo,3,olic,1,Oliver Giroud,3,Olivier Giroud,8,Olly Murs,1,Olympique Marseille,6,Opinion,970,Opinion champions league,1,oscar,3,Ozil,6,Pandurii,1,Paris Olypics,1,Patrick Vieira,7,Paul Pogba,22,Pedro,9,Pedro Neto,2,Pele,1,Pemier League,1,Pep Guardiola,157,Per Mertesacker,1,peru,1,Petr Cech,8,Phillipe Coutinho,6,Picture,172,picture. Arsenal,1,Pictures,18,pictures news,1,pictures real madrid,1,Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang,31,Piers Morgan,4,pinto,1,pique,5,Pirlo,1,Player and Manager of the month,1,playoffs,1,Pochettino,7,Pogba,1,POLAND,1,porto,10,portugal,27,post-match interview,2,predictions,441,Premier League,774,Premier Legaue,1,Preview,3,PSG,137,Pulisic,1,Qatar,1,Qatar 2022,39,Rafael Nada,1,raheem sterling,37,Ramires,2,Raphinha,1,Rashford,56,Real Betis,2,Real Madrid,258,real marid,1,Real Sociedad,4,reece oxford,1,Ricardo Calafiori,4,Richarlison,6,Rio Ferdinand,4,Robert Lewandoski,4,Robert Lewandowski,10,Robert Snodgrass,1,Robin Van persie,7,Robinho,1,Rodri,13,Rodrygo,1,Roma,4,Romelu Lukaku,23,Ronaldinho,3,Ronaldo,1,Rooney,3,Ruben Amorim,7,rumour,9,Ruud Van Nistelrooy,5,Ryan giggs,2,Sadio Mane,17,salah,58,Sam Sodje,1,Sami Khedira,1,sampdoria,1,Samsung,1,Samuel Chukwueze,2,Samuel Eto'o,3,San Siro,1,Sancho,2,Sandro Tonali,1,Santi Cazorla,1,sarri,1,Saudi,1,Saudi Arabia,10,scary,1,Schalke,9,Scotland,4,senegal,15,Sepp Blatter,1,sergio aguero,9,Sergio Ramos,9,Serie A,46,Sevilla,19,Sir Alex Ferguson,2,Sky sports,1,Sofyan Amrabat,2,Song,1,South Africa,5,Southampton,41,Spain,75,Spanis La liga,4,Spanish La Liga,27,Sporting Lisbon,2,Starting XI,2,Steven Gerrard,18,Stoke,3,Stoke city,5,Suarez,2,suicide bomber,1,sunday oliseh,2,Sunderland,6,super eagles,65,Super Falcons,4,Super League,5,Swansea,6,SWEDEN,3,Taiye Taiwo,1,Team news,46,team news. Liverpool,1,team of the week,2,terrorist,1,the fa cup,3,thibaut courtois,4,Thiery Henry,14,Thomas Partey,12,Thomas Tuchel,39,Timo Werner,6,Todd Boehly,1,toni kroos,4,tor,1,Tottenahm,2,Tottenham,216,Tottenham hotspur,73,Transfe,1,Transfer,705,Transfer news,137,transfer news latest news,1,Transfer rumour,2,Transfers,1,transfers news,1,trasnfer,1,Trent Alexander Arnold,3,Tunisia,4,Turkey,3,U-17 World cup,5,uchebo,1,UCL,42,UEFA,17,UEFA Champions League,38,UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE,3,UEFA Nations League,1,Ukraine,2,Unai Emery,25,Uruguay,5,USA,5,Valencia,4,van gaal,2,Van persie,2,VAR,4,Victor Moses,7,Victor Osimhen,43,Vidal,1,Video,891,Video falcao,1,video match highlights,1,video world cup,1,video. barcelona. neymar,1,video. goal,1,videos,14,Vieo,1,Villareal,6,Villarreal,6,Vincent Enyeama,3,Vincent Kompany,5,Vinicius Jr,8,viswo,1,WAG,1,WAGS,3,Watford,15,Wayen Rooney,1,Wayne Rooney,15,Welbeck,1,Werder Bremen,2,West brom,5,West Ham,83,Wilfred Zaha,1,William Saliba,4,Willian,7,Wolfsburg,4,Wolves,45,women,2,Women World Cup,7,World cup,439,World cup qualifier,30,Xabi Alonso,5,Xavi,4,Yaya Toure,7,Yoan Gouffran,1,Yohan Cabaye,2,Zambia,2,Zidane,8,Zlatan Ibrahimovic,12,
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Footballnus | Stay updated on the latest football news, analysis and betting predictions: World Cup 2018: A guide to Nigeria’s Group D opponents and chances
World Cup 2018: A guide to Nigeria’s Group D opponents and chances
World Cup 2018: A guide to Nigeria’s Group D opponents and chances
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