World Cup 2018 Group D- ARG/ICE/CRO/NIG

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    With a month to go and squads starting to be announced I
thought it would be an idea to start threads for the World Cup. I've put
together a guide to all the teams and these threads can then be used to discuss
any further developments and of course the games:

Group D
ARGENTINA
ICELAND
CROATIA
NIGERIA
Schedule
16th June 14:00        Argentina v Iceland
16th June 20:00        Croatia  v  Nigeria

21st June 19:00        Argentina v Croatia
22nd June 16:00        Nigeria v Iceland

26th June 19:00        Nigeria v Argentina
26th June 19:00        Iceland v Croatia
Team Overviews

Argentina

FIFA ranking: 5th

Star Player: Just like Portugal there is one man for who
Argentina will look to Lionel Messi, practically dragged them to the last final
can he drag them one step further?

WC History: Two time winners in 78 at home and Maradona
inspired in 86. Beaten finalists at the last World cup

Odds: 9-1

Synopsis: Made tough work of qualifying but after Messi
unretired he dragged them there. On paper they have a forward line which can
destroy any defence but it rarely clicks and defensive wise they are very
suspect but never rule out a team with Messi in it. I say a quarter final exit
to Spain though will be their fate.

Squad: 

Goalkeepers: Nahuel Guzmán( Tigres UANL) , Wilfredo Caballero (Chelsea), Franco Armani (River Plate).
Defenders: Gabriel Mercado (Sevilla), Cristian Ansaldi (Torino), Nicolas Otamendi (Manchester City), Federico Fazio (Roma), Marcos Rojo (Manchester United), Nicolas Tagliafico (Ajax), Marcos Acuna (Sporting Lisbon).
Midfielders: Javier Mascherano (Hebei China Fortune), Eduardo Salvio (Benfica), Lucas Biglia (AC Milan), Giovani Lo Celso (Paris Saint-Germain), Ever Banega (Sevilla),Maximiliano Meza (Independiente), Angel di Maria (Paris Saint-Germain), Cristian Pavon (Boca Juniors), Enzo Perez (River Plate)
Forwards: Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Paulo Dybala (Juventus), Gonzalo Higuain (Juventus), Sergio Aguero (Manchester City).

Iceland

FIFA ranking: 22nd

Star Player: Gylfi Sigurdsson is their most creative player
but you’d have to say the star of this team is the team spirit as a whole, a
real workmanlike attitude has been key to their recent success.

WC History: Debutants 

Odds: 200-1

Synopsis: That workmanlike attitude seen them top their
group two points ahead of a dangerous Croatian team. Similar to their
expectations to the Euros getting to the tournament was a massive success anything
more than that is a bonus. A tough group but you never know they could well
make the last 16.

Squad: 

Goalkeepers: Hannes Halldorsson (Randers), Runar Runarsson (Nordsjaelland), Frederik Schram (Roskilde)
Defenders: Kari Arnason (Aberdeen), Holmar Eyjolfsson (Levski Sofia), Rurik Gislason (Sandhausen), Sverrir Ingason (Rostov), Hordur Magnusson (Bristol City), Birkir Saevarsson (Valur), Ragnar Sigurdsson (Rostov), Ari Skulason (Lokeren)
Midfielders: Birkir Bjarnason (Aston Villa), Samuel Fridjonsson (Valerenga), Johann Gudmundsson (Burnley), Aron Gunnarsson (Cardiff City), Emil Hallfredsson (Udinese), Gylfi Sigurdsson (Everton), Olafur Skulason (Karabukspor), Arnor Traustason (Malmo)
Forwards: Jon Bodvarsson (Reading), Alfred Finnbogason (Augsburg), Albert Gudmundsson (PSV), Bjorn Sigurdarson (Rostov)

Croatia

FIFA ranking: 18th

Star Player: Luka Modric- the Real Madrid man is their main focal
point most of their play goes through him.

WC History: 3rd place in their debut tournament is their
best showing they haven’t gone past the group stage since though.

Odds: 33-1

Synopsis: initially looked like they would qualify with ease but
then losses to Iceland, Croatia and a draw at home to Finland seen the coach
replaced for a must win game away to Ukraine. Two Kramaric goals seen them
through to the playoffs were they dismantled Greece 4-1 in Zagreb to qualify.
On paper they have one of the best technical teams in Europe, if it clicks for
them then I expect them to be the one everyone tips could go far.

Squad: 
Goalkeepers: Danijel Subasic (Monaco), Lovre Kalinic (Gent), Dominik Livakovic (Dinamo).

Defenders: Vedran Corluka (Lokomotiv Moscow), Domagoj Vida (Besiktas), Ivan Strinic (Sampdoria), Dejan Lovren (Liverpool), Sime Vrsaljko (Atletico Madrid), Josip Pivaric (Dynamo Kiev), Tin Jedvaj (Bayer Leverkusen), Duje Caleta-Car (Red Bull Salzburg).

Midfielders: Luka Modric (Real Madrid), Ivan Rakitic (Barcelona), Mateo Kovacic (Real Madrid), Milan Badelj (Fiorentina), Marcelo Brozovic (Inter), Filip Bradaric (Rijeka).

Forwards: Mario Mandzukic (Juventus), Ivan Perisic (Inter), Nikola Kalinic (Milan), Andrej Kramaric (Hoffenheim), Marko Pjaca (Schalke), Ante Rebic (Eintracht).

Nigeria

FIFA ranking: 47^th 

Star Player: Victor Moses- the Chelsea man would be man
Nigeria look to create things, former Chelsea player John Obi Mikel captains
the side and is an important cog in their machine. 

WC History: round of 16 is the furthest they have gotten 

Odds: 200-1

Synopsis: Finished top of their group technically undefeated
(their last game was awarded to Algeria 3-0 having finished 1-1 due to them
playing an ineligible player. In terms of what they
can do at the World Cup they do have a pacy team which can cause teams problems
as seen in their 4-2 victory over Argentina in November.

Squad: 
Goalkeepers: Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Enyimba), Daniel Akpeyi (Chippa United), Francis Uzoho (Deportivo La Coruna)
Defenders: William Troost-Ekong, Shehu Abdullahi (Bursaspor), Leon Balogun (Brighton) Kenneth Omeruo (Chelsea), Bryan Idowu (Amkar Perm), Chidozie Awaziem (FC Porto), Elderson Echiejile (Cercle Brugge), Tyronne Ebuehi (Benfica)
Midfielders: Mikel Obi (Tianjin Teda), Ogenyi Onazi (Trabzonspor), John Ogu (Hapoel Be'er Sheva), Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City),Oghenekaro Etebo (CD Feirense), Joel Obi (Torino)
Forwards: Odion Ighalo (Changchun Yatai), Ahmed Musa, Kelechi Iheanacho(Leicester City), Alex Iwobi (Arsenal), Simeon Nwankwo (FC Crotone), Victor Moses (Chelsea)

Edited by lassassinblanc - 09 Jun 2018 at 3:14pm