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World Cup News :: Group D Preview : Argentina, Croatia, Nigeria, Iceland

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Posted on 2018-06-10 by Auls

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WORLD CUP 2018 : GROUP D PREVIEW

Ever since I can remember there has been a desperation for the members of the media to describe a Group as one 'of Death' but at the World Cup Finals in 2018 it feels like Group D has almost fallen into that category.

In recent years we have seen Groups containing teams like Chile, Spain and Holland, or Brazil, Portugal and Ivory Coast, which have deserved the 'Group of Death' tag, but in 2018 that has been missing and this just looks like one of the more competitive Groups out there.

In saying that there are two clear favourites to progress in Group D in Argentina and Croatia, like there is in almost every Group out there, and it will be up to the other two nations to try and upset the applecart.

Argentina

The leading team in the section are the two time World Cup winners Argentina who were also Runners Up in 1990 and 2014. A poor Qualifying campaign has quickly been forgotten when you see Argentina down as the fourth or fifth favourites to win the World Cup and the respect comes from a very strong array of attacking players that can carry any nation.

Lionel Messi is the leading name for Argentina as he tries to join Diego Maradona on a pedestal in his home nation. However there has long been a fraught relationship between Messi and the fans, one that resulted in a retirement in the wake of another Copa America Final defeat to Chile two years ago that was quickly overturned a few weeks later.

This is the last chance for Messi at the World Cup when you consider how old he will be next time around but Argentina need more than their talisman to fire if they are going to work their way into the latter stags of the tournament. While the attacking threat is there from other avenues, Argentina's manager Jorge Sampaoli demands have not really fit with the squad as a backline with little pace has been exposed.

With more time to work together that may be something Sampaoli can address, but Argentina look more vulnerable than many of the leading teams in the Group Stage simply because they have underperformed. A more confident Argentina won all three Group games in 2014, but all by one goal margins and it is not too hard to see it going wrong for them in this tournament.

The bigger question is whether the other three nations can expose the Argentina vulnerabilities.

Croatia

The top option to displace Argentina from winning the Group has to be Croatia but there are some serious worries around what looks a quality team on paper. For starters there was the inconsistent World Cup Qualifying Group which saw Croatia finish behind Iceland who are also a part of this Group and meant having to win a Play Off tie to reach the Finals.

The other issue has to be the way Croatia have flattered to deceive in major international tournaments since finishing third at the 1998 World Cup. Since then Croatia have reached seven major international tournaments and been beaten in the Group Stage five times including on each of their last three World Cup appearances.

But the biggest factor may be the scandal surrounding Zdravko Mamic which has become so big that the likes of Dejan Lovren and Luka Modric are in danger of being dragged down by it too. While that is still unlikely to be the case, during their playing days at least, Lovren and Modric won't have helped a traditionally uneasy alliance the players in the squad have with one another and there is every chance that both of the leading nations could be beaten in the Group Stage which would be a huge surprise.

Iceland

Iceland finished above Croatia in the World Cup Qualifying Group I winning 7 matches from 10 and topping the group, as I have mentioned, but it looks a big ask for them to come close to replicating the success had at Euro 2016 when they reached the Quarter Final. This is a golden time for Icelandic Football as their nation has reached the World Cup Finals for the first time, but they have looked a little suspect in friendlies played over the last six months.

The hard work being put in by Iceland will give them a chance against anyone on their day, but defensively they have looked vulnerable and it is a long road back if they are beaten in the first game with Argentina.

In saying that, Iceland will gain a lot of positivity if they can avoid a defeat to Argentina and Gylfi Sigurdsson's return is huge for a team that will look to set pieces to rattle opponents once they have frustrated them with strong defensive displays.

They may be one of the smallest nations to ever play at the World Cup Finals, but Iceland have shown a big heart and I think you can rule them out at your peril.

Nigeria

The enigmatic Nigeria make up the four in this Group and there are strong hopes that this current squad can match the achievements of the 1994 team which came close to beating Italy in the Second Round before Roberto Baggio saved the Europeans. The retro shirt being used at this year's event brings back memories of the 1994 team, but Nigeria have been a real mixed bag over the last eighteen months which makes them tough to read.

You have to like the way Nigeria have come into the tournament with the bonuses all decided and the off field issues that have blighted recent World Cup campaigns nowhere to be found. That will help a team that has some pace in the forward areas, but I do worry about the goalkeeping situation as Nigeria use an inexperienced group and that was an issue in the recent friendly defeat to England with mistakes made that led to goals conceded.

However Nigeria have found a way to get out of their Group in three of their five World Cup appearances beginning in 1994 and that includes four years ago when joining Argentina out of their Group. The last game is against Argentina this year, but Nigeria's mindset may be much better going into it when considering their 4-2 friendly win over them in November which could help this current crop ignore the poor World Cup record when facing Argentina in the Finals.

GROUP OF DEATH?

I may have this completely wrong but I can't have Argentina down as fifth favourites to win the World Cup with all the problems they have in defensive areas.

Qualification doesn't mean a lot once you get to the World Cup Finals, but it is hard to ignore the fact that Argentina only scored 19 goals in 18 Qualifiers while they have looked very short in defensive areas and have lost first choice keeper, Sergio Romero, to injury.

Jorge Sampaoli is under pressure to deliver, but Argentina look like a big name nation that could easily exit in the Group Stage if they continue to look vulnerable defensively and Lionel Messi does not produce the magic he did in the Groups four years ago.

Even Croatia look like they could come up short in this Group with their off field issues coupled with a poor major international tournament record since the 1998 World Cup. In three consecutive World Cup Finals they have exited in the Group Stage and I do think there is some mileage in backing both favourites to exit in the Group Stage with only one doing that being enough to produce a profit.

Neither Nigeria or Iceland look like world beaters, but both have their qualities which could help them through to the Last 16 if the two favourites fail to produce their best consistently as both did in Qualification.

It may help that Nigeria have beaten Argentina (friendly) and Iceland have beaten Croatia (World Cup Qualifier) in recent memory and I will look for Group D to provide some upsets.

The opening games are key for both underdogs to not have to play catch up early in the tournament, but I don't think Argentina or Croatia deserve to be clear favourites for the Last 16 with the issues around the teams and so backing each to fail to Qualify in singles will hopefully help us lock in a profit.

Betting Options

Consider Argentina NOT to Qualify @ 6.50 with Ladbrokes (1 Unit)
Also consider Croatia NOT to Qualify @ 2.62with Bet Fred (1 Unit)

 

Sourced From : GoonersGuide to World Cup Betting

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