With a tantalising blend of style and substance on show, Group D promises to deliver some of the best entertainment at the World Cup. Talented but unpredictable Argentina will begin as heavy favourites, but the silky Croatia, powerful Nigeria and resolute Iceland are likely to make their path to the knockout stages a treacherous one.
TOP DOGS
Lionel Messi and his Argentina teammates are among the favourites to win the competition and a glance at their cast of forward players is enough to see why; Sergio Aguero, Paulo Dybala and Gonzalo Higuain will all be on hand to support the Barcelona maestro.
However, doubts remain over whether Jorge Sampaoli is the man to get the best out of the squad after a shaky start to his reign and a 6-1 hammering by Spain in March. The make-up of the defence remains a mystery and first-choice goalkeeper Sergio Romero has been ruled out with injury, leaving the former Chile boss with plenty to ponder.
DARK HORSES
Croatia’s squad contains more than enough talent to make an impact in Russia, with Real Madrid star Luka Modric pulling the strings alongside club teammate Mateo Kovacic, Barcelona’s Ivan Rakitic and Inter pair Marcelo Brozovic and Ivan Perisic in an eye-catching midfield.
With an average age of nearly 30, Croatia are one of the tournament’s older sides and they will need all their experience to paper over the cracks of a creaking defence that could suffer under pressure.
WOODEN SPOON CONTENDERS
Iceland stunned everyone with their run to the Euro 2016 quarter-finals and they will make history again this summer by being the smallest nation ever to feature at a World Cup. The team hasn’t changed much from two years ago and will rely on its defensive organisation for results, which much of their success at the other end of the park being pinned on the form of Everton’s Gylfi Sigurdsson. Nigeria will also rely on resilience at the back but could offer a greater threat on the counter, with Chelsea’s Victor Moses being looked to as the primary outlet. The class of Argentina and Croatia could prove to be too much.
CLASS ACTS
All eyes will be on Messi as the Argentina captain looks to inspire his country to the trophy four years on from their final heartache. Higuain, Aguero and Dybala will also be desperate to shine, while Croatia’s classy playmakers Modric and Rakitic could dominate in midfield.
YOUNG BUCKS
PSG midfielder Giovani Lo Celso will be tasked with protecting the defence and using his expansive passing range to get Argentina’s star-studded attack purring, including promising winger Cristian Pavon of Boca Juniors.
Nigeria’s 19-year-old goalkeeper Francis Uzoho is another to have been tipped to impress after recently breaking into the Super Eagles side.
SCOTTISH INTEREST
Kari Arnason is set to line up in defence for Iceland after spending the 2017/18 campaign with Aberdeen. The 35-year-old was released by the Dons at the end of his second spell at Pittodrie but can put himself in the shop window by impressing against some of the world’s greatest forward players.
CURIOSITY CORNER
The ‘thunderclap’ made popular by Iceland fans at Euro 2016 owes its origins to the Fir Park faithful. A small band of Stjarnan fans travelled to Motherwell for a Europa League qualifier in 2014 and were impressed by the home support performing the clap, so they brought it back home and propelled the chant to fame two years later.
SIGNIFICANT NUMBER
124: The number of goals Argentina’s four strikers Lionel Messi, Paulo Dybala, Gonzalo Higuain and Sergio Aguero scored during the 2017/18 season in the top-flights of Spain, Italy and England.
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