2018 FIFA World Cup Group D

Last updated

2018 postage stamp from Russia depicting Group D of the 2018 FIFA World Cup group stage. Russia stamp 2018 No.  2348.jpg
2018 postage stamp from Russia depicting Group D of the 2018 FIFA World Cup group stage.

Group D of the 2018 FIFA World Cup took place from 16 to 26 June 2018. [1] The group consisted of Argentina, Iceland, Croatia, and Nigeria. The top two teams, Croatia and Argentina, advanced to the round of 16. [2]

Contents

Teams

Draw positionTeamPotConfederationMethod of
qualification
Date of
qualification
Finals
appearance
Last
appearance
Previous best
performance
FIFA Rankings
October 2017 [nb 1] June 2018
D1Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina 1 CONMEBOL CONMEBOL Round Robin third place10 October 201717th 2014 (runners-up)Winners (1978, 1986)45
D2Flag of Iceland.svg  Iceland 3 UEFA UEFA Group I winners9 October 20171st2122
D3Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia 2 UEFA UEFA second round winners12 November 20175th 2014 (group stage)Third place (1998)1820
D4Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria 4 CAF CAF third round Group B winners7 October 20176th 2014 (round of 16)Round of 16 (1994, 1998, 2014)4148
Notes
  1. The rankings of October 2017 were used for seeding for the final draw.

Standings

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia 330071+69Advance to knockout stage
2Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina 31113524
3Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria 31023413
4Flag of Iceland.svg  Iceland 30122531
Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers

In the round of 16:

Matches

All times listed are local time. [1]

Argentina vs Iceland

Lionel Messi missed a penalty kick FWC 2018 - Group D - ARG v ISL - Messi penalty kick.jpg
Lionel Messi missed a penalty kick

The two teams had never met before. [3]

Despite stamping their authority on the game's opening stages, Argentina struggled to find space against the Icelandic defence. Argentina then scored in the 19th minute, Sergio Agüero scoring with a powerful left foot shot to the top left corner of the net giving them a 1–0 lead. Alfreð Finnbogason made history by scoring his country's first World Cup goal just four minutes later when he slotted to the net from six yards out after the ball broke to him from six yards out. [4] Argentina then had the chance to go ahead again when Hörður Björgvin Magnússon pushed Maximiliano Meza inside the box after 64 minutes. Hannes Þór Halldórsson dove to his right to deny Lionel Messi a goal. [5] Although Argentina continued to press for a goal, but they were repeatedly denied by the Nordics' defense. [4]

Argentina failed to win their opening match at a World Cup tournament for the first time since losing to Cameroon in 1990, and it was the first time that they drew their opener in the competition. Argentina have missed their last two penalties taken at a World Cup finals (excluding shootouts), with Ariel Ortega failing to convert against Sweden in 2002 before Messi's effort against Iceland in 2018. The Iceland forward's goal after 23 minutes was the earliest scored for a nation playing in their first World Cup match since Rashidi Yekini netted after 21 minutes for Nigeria against Bulgaria on 21 June 1994. [6]

Argentina  Flag of Argentina.svg1–1Flag of Iceland.svg  Iceland
  • Agüero Soccerball shade.svg19'
Report
Otkritie Arena, Moscow
Attendance: 44,190 [7]
Referee: Szymon Marciniak (Poland)
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Argentina [8]
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Iceland [8]
GK23 Willy Caballero
RB18 Eduardo Salvio
CB17 Nicolás Otamendi
CB16 Marcos Rojo
LB3 Nicolás Tagliafico
CM14 Javier Mascherano
CM5 Lucas Biglia Sub off.svg 54'
RW13 Maximiliano Meza Sub off.svg 84'
AM10 Lionel Messi (c)
LW11 Ángel Di María Sub off.svg 75'
CF19 Sergio Agüero
Substitutions:
MF7 Éver Banega Sub on.svg 54'
MF22 Cristian Pavón Sub on.svg 75'
FW9 Gonzalo Higuaín Sub on.svg 84'
Manager:
Jorge Sampaoli
ARG-ISL 2018-06-16.svg
GK1 Hannes Þór Halldórsson
RB2 Birkir Már Sævarsson
CB14 Kári Árnason
CB6 Ragnar Sigurðsson
LB18 Hörður Björgvin Magnússon
DM10 Gylfi Sigurðsson
CM17 Aron Gunnarsson (c)Sub off.svg 76'
CM20 Emil Hallfreðsson
RW7 Jóhann Berg Guðmundsson Sub off.svg 63'
LW8 Birkir Bjarnason
CF11 Alfreð Finnbogason Sub off.svg 89'
Substitutions:
MF19 Rúrik Gíslason Sub on.svg 63'
DF23 Ari Freyr Skúlason Sub on.svg 76'
FW9 Björn Bergmann Sigurðarson Sub on.svg 89'
Manager:
Heimir Hallgrímsson

Man of the Match:
Hannes Þór Halldórsson (Iceland) [7]

Assistant referees: [8]
Paweł Sokolnicki (Poland)
Tomasz Listkiewicz (Poland)
Fourth official:
Wilmar Roldán (Colombia)
Reserve assistant referee:
Alexander Guzmán (Colombia)
Video assistant referee:
Mark Geiger (United States)
Assistant video assistant referees:
Paweł Gil (Poland)
Joe Fletcher (Canada)
Gery Vargas (Bolivia)

Croatia vs Nigeria

The two teams had never met before. [3]

Ivan Perišić went closest to hitting the target with an effort from 20 metres after a quarter of an hour, but in the end it was Nigeria's Oghenekaro Etebo who brought joy to the huge Croatian contingent in Kaliningrad, beating his own goalkeeper with the ball going into the left corner of the net following a Luka Modrić corner from the right which had been deflected off Perišić and Mario Mandžukić. [9] Alex Iwobi, after wriggling into space on the left side of the box, he hit a shot directly into a Croatia defender. Ante Rebić fired over from Perišić's left-wing centre, with Odion Ighalo's header recording the match's first shot on target in the 59th minute. William Troost-Ekong was penalised for holding Mandžukić in the penalty area, and Modrić sent Francis Uzoho the wrong way from 12 yards for his first World Cup goal, shooting low to the left corner. [10]

Croatia have won their opening game of a World Cup for the first time since their debut in the competition in 1998 (3–1 vs Jamaica). Nigeria became the first team in World Cup history to concede two consecutive own goals in the competition, with their last goal shipped in 2014, against France in the last 16, also coming in this manner. [9] [10] [11]

Croatia  Flag of Croatia.svg2–0Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria
Report
Kaliningrad Stadium, Kaliningrad
Attendance: 31,136 [12]
Referee: Sandro Ricci (Brazil)
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Croatia [13]
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Nigeria [13]
GK23 Danijel Subašić
RB2 Šime Vrsaljko
CB21 Domagoj Vida
CB6 Dejan Lovren
LB3 Ivan Strinić
CM7 Ivan Rakitić Yellow card.svg 30'
CM10 Luka Modrić (c)
RW18 Ante Rebić Sub off.svg 78'
AM9 Andrej Kramarić Sub off.svg 60'
LW4 Ivan Perišić
CF17 Mario Mandžukić Sub off.svg 86'
Substitutions:
MF11 Marcelo Brozović Yellow card.svg 89'Sub on.svg 60'
MF8 Mateo Kovačić Sub on.svg 78'
FW20 Marko Pjaca Sub on.svg 86'
Manager:
Zlatko Dalić
CRO-NGA 2018-06-16.svg
GK23 Francis Uzoho
RB12 Shehu Abdullahi
CB6 Leon Balogun
CB5 William Troost-Ekong Yellow card.svg 70'
LB2 Brian Idowu
CM4 Wilfred Ndidi
CM8 Oghenekaro Etebo
RW11 Victor Moses
AM10 John Obi Mikel (c)Sub off.svg 88'
LW18 Alex Iwobi Sub off.svg 62'
CF9 Odion Ighalo Sub off.svg 72'
Substitutions:
FW7 Ahmed Musa Sub on.svg 62'
FW14 Kelechi Iheanacho Sub on.svg 72'
FW13 Simeon Nwankwo Sub on.svg 88'
Manager:
Flag of Germany.svg Gernot Rohr

Man of the Match:
Luka Modrić (Croatia) [12]

Assistant referees: [13]
Emerson de Carvalho (Brazil)
Marcelo Van Gasse (Brazil)
Fourth official:
Antonio Mateu Lahoz (Spain)
Reserve assistant referee:
Pau Cebrián Devís (Spain)
Video assistant referee:
Daniele Orsato (Italy)
Assistant video assistant referees:
Wilton Sampaio (Brazil)
Carlos Astroza (Chile)
Artur Soares Dias (Portugal)

Argentina vs Croatia

Ivan Perisic followed by Gabriel Mercado Ivan Perisic - 2018 FIFA World Cup - full.jpg
Ivan Perišić followed by Gabriel Mercado

The two teams had met in four matches, including one game at the 1998 FIFA World Cup, an Argentina 1–0 victory. [14]

Ivan Perišić surged into space down the left and shot towards the bottom-right corner, which was tipped around the post by Willy Caballero. A Dejan Lovren block prevented Maximiliano Meza's low strike finding the net and then Marcos Acuña's cross clipped the top of Danijel Subašić's crossbar. Enzo Pérez struck wide from 15 yards. Three minutes later, Mario Mandžukić flashed a header wide of Caballero's right-hand post from six yards. Eight minutes into the second half, Ante Rebić shot a right foot volley past Caballero after the goalkeeper's mishit an attempted chip over his head. Subašić kept out Meza's close-range effort from substitute Gonzalo Higuaín's cutback. With ten minutes remaining Luka Modrić curled in from 20 yards with his right foot to the right corner of the net to score Croatia's second. Ivan Rakitić was fouled by Javier MascheranoNicolás Otamendi receiving a booking for appearing to kick the ball towards Rakitić's head as tempers flared – and crashed the resulting free-kick against the crossbar. Rakitić in the 91st minute, though, slotted home from the centre of the box after his initial shot deflected off Caballero and found Mateo Kovačić who passed it back to Rakitić from the left. [15] With their second win in a row, Croatia advanced to the round of 16 for the first time since 1998, having been eliminated in 2002, 2006 and 2014 editions.

This was Croatia's first victory in five attempts against a South American team at the World Cup, having lost the previous four. [16] This was Argentina's heaviest defeat in the first-round group stage of a World Cup since losing 6–1 to Czechoslovakia in 1958. Argentina failed to win either of their opening two group stage matches for the first time since 1974. [17]

Argentina  Flag of Argentina.svg0–3Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia
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Argentina [19]
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Croatia [19]
GK23 Willy Caballero
CB2 Gabriel Mercado Yellow card.svg 51'
CB17 Nicolás Otamendi Yellow card.svg 85'
CB3 Nicolás Tagliafico
RM18 Eduardo Salvio Sub off.svg 56'
CM14 Javier Mascherano
CM15 Enzo Pérez Sub off.svg 68'
LM8 Marcos Acuña Yellow card.svg 87'
RF10 Lionel Messi (c)
CF19 Sergio Agüero Sub off.svg 54'
LF13 Maximiliano Meza
Substitutions:
FW9 Gonzalo Higuaín Sub on.svg 54'
MF22 Cristian Pavón Sub on.svg 56'
FW21 Paulo Dybala Sub on.svg 68'
Manager:
Jorge Sampaoli
ARG-CRO 2018-06-21.svg
GK23 Danijel Subašić
RB2 Šime Vrsaljko Yellow card.svg 67'
CB6 Dejan Lovren
CB21 Domagoj Vida
LB3 Ivan Strinić
CM7 Ivan Rakitić
CM11 Marcelo Brozović
RW18 Ante Rebić Yellow card.svg 39'Sub off.svg 57'
AM10 Luka Modrić (c)
LW4 Ivan Perišić Sub off.svg 82'
CF17 Mario Mandžukić Yellow card.svg 58'Sub off.svg 90+3'
Substitutions:
FW9 Andrej Kramarić Sub on.svg 57'
MF8 Mateo Kovačić Sub on.svg 82'
DF5 Vedran Ćorluka Yellow card.svg 90+4'Sub on.svg 90+3'
Manager:
Zlatko Dalić

Man of the Match:
Luka Modrić (Croatia) [18]

Assistant referees: [19]
Abdukhamidullo Rasulov (Uzbekistan)
Jakhongir Saidov (Uzbekistan)
Fourth official:
Norbert Hauata (Tahiti)
Reserve assistant referee:
Bertrand Brial (New Caledonia)
Video assistant referee:
Felix Zwayer (Germany)
Assistant video assistant referees:
Bastian Dankert (Germany)
Corey Rockwell (United States)
Danny Makkelie (Netherlands)

Nigeria vs Iceland

Pre-match FWC 2018 - Group D - NGA v ISL - Photo 77.jpg
Pre-match

The two teams had met only once, in a friendly game in 1981, won by Iceland 3–0. [14]

Gylfi Sigurðsson shot a sixth-minute chance straight at Francis Uzoho. In the last minute of the first half, Alfreð Finnbogason was unable to get a decisive touch on Sigurðsson's free-kick delivered from the right wing. In the 49th minute, Victor Moses' cross was collected by Ahmed Musa, who first controlled it in the air with his right foot before scoring on the half-volley powerfully to the net. Hannes Þór Halldórsson tipped over a deflected drive from Wilfred Ndidi. In the 75th minute, fed by Kenneth Omeruo, Musa burst clear in the left channel, cut inside and rounded Halldórsson before scoring with his right foot. A late VAR review spotted that substitute Tyronne Ebuehi had tripped Finnbogason, with Sigurðsson's spot-kick effort clearing the crossbar. [20]

Iceland are the third World Cup debutants from Europe to have faced Nigeria at the tournament, and on every occasion Nigeria have emerged victorious, following victories against Greece (2–0) in 1994 and Bosnia and Herzegovina (1–0) in 2014. [21] Uzoho is the second youngest goalkeeper to keep a clean sheet in a World Cup match (19 years, 237 days), behind only Li Chan-myung in North Korea's 1–0 win over Italy in July 1966 (19 years, 198 days). This is Nigeria's first victory in a World Cup game by a margin of more than one goal since they beat Greece 2–0 in 1994 at their first World Cup tournament. [22] This was Iceland's first group stage's defeat in any big tournament.

Nigeria  Flag of Nigeria.svg2–0Flag of Iceland.svg  Iceland
Report
Volgograd Arena, Volgograd
Attendance: 40,904 [23]
Referee: Matthew Conger (New Zealand)
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Nigeria [24]
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Iceland [24]
GK23 Francis Uzoho
CB22 Kenneth Omeruo
CB5 William Troost-Ekong
CB6 Leon Balogun
DM10 John Obi Mikel (c)
CM8 Oghenekaro Etebo Sub off.svg 90'
CM4 Wilfred Ndidi
RW11 Victor Moses
LW2 Brian Idowu Yellow card.svg 44'Sub off.svg 46'
CF7 Ahmed Musa
CF14 Kelechi Iheanacho Sub off.svg 85'
Substitutions:
DF21 Tyronne Ebuehi Sub on.svg 46'
FW9 Odion Ighalo Sub on.svg 85'
FW18 Alex Iwobi Sub on.svg 90'
Manager:
Flag of Germany.svg Gernot Rohr
NGA-ISL 2018-06-22.svg
GK1 Hannes Þór Halldórsson
RB2 Birkir Már Sævarsson
CB14 Kári Árnason
CB6 Ragnar Sigurðsson Sub off.svg 65'
LB18 Hörður Björgvin Magnússon
RM19 Rúrik Gíslason
CM17 Aron Gunnarsson (c)Sub off.svg 87'
CM10 Gylfi Sigurðsson
LM8 Birkir Bjarnason
CF22 Jón Daði Böðvarsson Sub off.svg 71'
CF11 Alfreð Finnbogason
Substitutions:
DF5 Sverrir Ingi Ingason Sub on.svg 65'
FW9 Björn Bergmann Sigurðarson Sub on.svg 71'
DF23 Ari Freyr Skúlason Sub on.svg 87'
Manager:
Heimir Hallgrímsson

Man of the Match:
Ahmed Musa (Nigeria) [23]

Assistant referees: [24]
Simon Lount (New Zealand)
Tevita Makasini (Tonga)
Fourth official:
Ricardo Montero (Costa Rica)
Reserve assistant referee:
Hiroshi Yamauchi (Japan)
Video assistant referee:
Massimiliano Irrati (Italy)
Assistant video assistant referees:
Paweł Gil (Poland)
Elenito Di Liberatore (Italy)
Gianluca Rocchi (Italy)

Nigeria vs Argentina

The Argentines celebrating Rojo's goal Rojo after scoring against Nigeria.jpg
The Argentines celebrating Rojo's goal

The two teams had met in eight matches, including four games at FIFA World Cup group stages, in 1994, 2002, 2010 and 2014, all won by Argentina. [14]

Ahmed Musa narrowly cleared the crossbar in the early minutes of the game. In the 14th minute, Lionel Messi controlled the ball from a pass over the top from Éver Banega on his thigh and his left boot before shooting a right-footed drive past Francis Uzoho from the right. Leon Balogun brought Ángel Di María down 25 yards from goal, but Uzoho tipped Messi's free kick to his left-hand post. In the second half, Leon Balogun was held in the penalty area by Javier Mascherano after a corner form the left, and Victor Moses scored from the resulting penalty to equalize for Nigeria, shooting low to the right with the goalkeeper diving the other way. After a series of defensive fouls in each penalty area that went uncalled despite a VAR check for a handball by Marcos Rojo, Oghenekaro Etebo narrowly missed from a long-range free kick. Gabriel Mercado raided down the right and bent a cross into the penalty area, with Marcos Rojo, who scored the decisive goal against Nigeria four years ago in Brazil, once again converting, as he tucked home a low right-footed volley to give Argentina the win and see them advance to the knockout stage. [25] [26]

Messi's strike brought up the century for goals at Russia 2018. He also joined Diego Maradona and Gabriel Batistuta in becoming the third Argentina player to score in three World Cups. [27]

Nigeria  Flag of Nigeria.svg1–2Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina
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Nigeria [29]
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Argentina [29]
GK23 Francis Uzoho
CB6 Leon Balogun Yellow card.svg 32'
CB5 William Troost-Ekong
CB22 Kenneth Omeruo Sub off.svg 90'
DM10 John Obi Mikel (c)Yellow card.svg 90+1'
CM8 Oghenekaro Etebo
CM4 Wilfred Ndidi
RW11 Victor Moses
LW2 Brian Idowu
CF7 Ahmed Musa Sub off.svg 90+2'
CF14 Kelechi Iheanacho Sub off.svg 46'
Substitutions:
FW9 Odion Ighalo Sub on.svg 46'
FW18 Alex Iwobi Sub on.svg 90'
FW13 Simeon Nwankwo Sub on.svg 90+2'
Manager:
Flag of Germany.svg Gernot Rohr
NGA-ARG 2018-06-26.svg
GK12 Franco Armani
RB2 Gabriel Mercado
CB17 Nicolás Otamendi
CB16 Marcos Rojo
LB3 Nicolás Tagliafico Sub off.svg 80'
RM15 Enzo Pérez Sub off.svg 61'
CM14 Javier Mascherano Yellow card.svg 49'
CM7 Éver Banega Yellow card.svg 64'
LM11 Ángel Di María Sub off.svg 72'
CF10 Lionel Messi (c)Yellow card.svg 90+4'
CF9 Gonzalo Higuaín
Substitutions:
MF22 Cristian Pavón Sub on.svg 61'
MF13 Maximiliano Meza Sub on.svg 72'
FW19 Sergio Agüero Sub on.svg 80'
Manager:
Jorge Sampaoli

Man of the Match:
Lionel Messi (Argentina) [28]

Assistant referees: [29]
Bahattin Duran (Turkey)
Tarık Ongun (Turkey)
Fourth official:
Björn Kuipers (Netherlands)
Reserve assistant referee:
Sander van Roekel (Netherlands)
Video assistant referee:
Daniele Orsato (Italy)
Assistant video assistant referees:
Paweł Gil (Poland)
Paweł Sokolnicki (Poland)
Massimiliano Irrati (Italy)

Iceland vs Croatia

The two teams had met in six matches, most recently in 2017 for the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification, which ended in a 1–0 Iceland victory. [14]

Hörður Magnússon headed wide from Jóhann Guðmundsson's outswinging corner. Alfreð Finnbogason shot wide from the edge of the area. Birkir Bjarnason pounced from a corner, but Lovre Kalinić made a save from Aron Gunnarsson's curling effort. At the restart, Milan Badelj's strike clattered off the crossbar. Badelj got his goal when he reacted to a loose ball in the Iceland box and hammered home from close range. Sverrir Ingason's header rebounded back off the bar. Dejan Lovren's handball though enabled Gylfi Sigurðsson to score from the spot in the 76th minute. Badelj provided a throughball and, having outpaced his marker, Ivan Perišić lashed home to score the winner. [30] [31]

Croatia topped a world finals group for the first time in their history, and because of Croatia's victory, Argentina also qualified. [32] With the defeat, Iceland stood bottom in the group with a single point and were eliminated.

Iceland  Flag of Iceland.svg1–2Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia
Report
Rostov Arena, Rostov-on-Don
Attendance: 43,472 [33]
Referee: Antonio Mateu Lahoz (Spain)
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Iceland [34]
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Croatia [34]
GK1 Hannes Þór Halldórsson
RB2 Birkir Már Sævarsson Yellow card.svg 84'
CB5 Sverrir Ingi Ingason
CB6 Ragnar Sigurðsson Sub off.svg 70'
LB18 Hörður Björgvin Magnússon
CM17 Aron Gunnarsson (c)
CM20 Emil Hallfreðsson Yellow card.svg 59'
RW7 Jóhann Berg Guðmundsson
AM10 Gylfi Sigurðsson
LW8 Birkir Bjarnason Sub off.svg 90'
CF11 Alfreð Finnbogason Yellow card.svg 64'Sub off.svg 85'
Substitutions:
FW9 Björn Bergmann Sigurðarson Sub on.svg 70'
MF4 Albert Guðmundsson Sub on.svg 85'
MF21 Arnór Ingvi Traustason Sub on.svg 90'
Manager:
Heimir Hallgrímsson
ISL-CRO 2018-06-26.svg
GK12 Lovre Kalinić
RB13 Tin Jedvaj Yellow card.svg 83'
CB5 Vedran Ćorluka
CB15 Duje Ćaleta-Car
LB22 Josip Pivarić
CM10 Luka Modrić (c)Sub off.svg 65'
CM19 Milan Badelj
RW20 Marko Pjaca Yellow card.svg 14'Sub off.svg 70'
AM8 Mateo Kovačić Sub off.svg 81'
LW4 Ivan Perišić
CF9 Andrej Kramarić
Substitutions:
MF14 Filip Bradarić Sub on.svg 65'
DF6 Dejan Lovren Sub on.svg 70'
MF7 Ivan Rakitić Sub on.svg 81'
Manager:
Zlatko Dalić

Man of the Match:
Milan Badelj (Croatia) [33]

Assistant referees: [34]
Pau Cebrián Devís (Spain)
Roberto Díaz Pérez (Spain)
Fourth official:
John Pitti (Panama)
Reserve assistant referee:
Gabriel Victoria (Panama)
Video assistant referee:
Paolo Valeri (Italy)
Assistant video assistant referees:
Gery Vargas (Bolivia)
Elenito Di Liberatore (Italy)
Felix Zwayer (Germany)

Discipline

Fair play points would have been used as tiebreakers if the overall and head-to-head records of teams were tied. These were calculated based on yellow and red cards received in all group matches as follows: [2]

Only one of the above deductions were applied to a player in a single match.

TeamMatch 1Match 2Match 3Points
Yellow card.svgYellow card.svg Yellow-red card.svgRed card.svgYellow card.svg Red card.svgYellow card.svgYellow card.svg Yellow-red card.svgRed card.svgYellow card.svg Red card.svgYellow card.svgYellow card.svg Yellow-red card.svgRed card.svgYellow card.svg Red card.svg
Flag of Iceland.svg  Iceland 3−3
Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria 112−4
Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina 33−6
Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia 242−8

See also

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The Argentina national football team, nicknamed La Albiceleste, represents Argentina in men's international football and is administered by the Argentine Football Association, the governing body for football in Argentina.

The Croatia national football team represents Croatia in international football matches. It is governed by the Croatian Football Federation (HNS), the governing body for football in Croatia. It is a member of UEFA in Europe and FIFA in global competitions. The team's colours reference two national symbols: the Croatian checkerboard and the country's tricolour. They are colloquially referred to as the Vatreni (Blazers) and Kockasti.

The Nigeria national football team represents Nigeria in men's international football. Governed by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), they are three-time Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) winners, with their most recent title in 2013. In February 2024, the Nigerian national football team was ranked 28th in the FIFA rankings. The team has qualified for six of the last eight FIFA World Cups, missing only the 2006 and 2022 editions. They have reached the round of 16 on three occasions. Their first World Cup appearance was the 1994 edition. The team is a member of FIFA and Confederation of African Football (CAF).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Iceland national football team</span> Mens association football team

The Iceland national football team represents Iceland in men's international football. The team is controlled by the Football Association of Iceland, and have been a FIFA member since 1947 and a UEFA member since 1957. The team's nickname is Strákarnir okkar, which means Our Boys in Icelandic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 FIFA World Cup</span> Association football tournament in Russia

The 2018 FIFA World Cup was the 21st FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial world championship for national football teams organized by FIFA. It took place in Russia from 14 June to 15 July 2018, after the country was awarded the hosting rights in late 2010. It was the eleventh time the championships had been held in Europe, the first time they were held in Eastern Europe, and the first time they were held across two continents. At an estimated cost of over $14.2 billion, it was the most expensive World Cup ever held until it was surpassed by the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Croatia at the FIFA World Cup</span> Participation of Croatias national football team in the FIFA World Cup

The national team of Croatia has competed in the FIFA World Cup six times, finishing on podium on three occasions. Since gaining independence in 1991, Croatia has appeared in and qualified for the 1998, 2002, 2006, 2014, 2018 and 2022 editions of the tournament. Croatia's best result since gaining admission into FIFA in 1992, was securing second place against France in the 2018 World Cup Final, where they lost 4–2. The national side has collected three World Cup medals, two bronze and one silver (2018). Due to its small geography and populace, Croatia is often one of the smallest countries competing in the tournament. They are second-smallest country by population and land mass to reach a World Cup Final.

Group B of the 2010 FIFA World Cup began on 12 June and ended on 22 June 2010. The group consisted of Argentina, Nigeria, South Korea and Greece. It was the third time that Argentina and Nigeria had been drawn together in the same World Cup group, after 1994 and 2002. Argentina had also been paired with South Korea in 1986.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019 FIFA Women's World Cup</span> 2019 edition of the FIFA Womens World Cup

The 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup was the eighth edition of the FIFA Women's World Cup, the quadrennial international Women's football championship contested by 24 women's national teams representing member associations of FIFA. It took place between 7 June and 7 July 2019, with 52 matches staged in nine cities in France, which was awarded the right to host the event in March 2015, the first time the country hosted the tournament. The tournament was the first Women's World Cup to use the video assistant referee (VAR) system. This was the second and last edition with 24 teams before expanding to 32 teams for the 2023 tournament in Australia and New Zealand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 FIFA World Cup final</span> World Cup final, held in Brazil

The 2014 FIFA World Cup final was the final match of the 2014 World Cup, the 20th edition of FIFA's competition for national football teams. The match was played at the Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on 13 July 2014, and was contested by Germany and Argentina. The event comprised hosts Brazil and 31 other teams who emerged from the qualification phase, organised by the six FIFA confederations. The 32 teams competed in a group stage, from which 16 teams qualified for the knockout stage. En route to the final, Germany finished first in Group G, with two wins and a draw, after which they defeated Algeria in the round of 16, France in the quarter-final and Brazil, by a score of 7–1, in the semi-final. Argentina finished first in Group F with three wins, before defeating Switzerland in the round of 16, Belgium in the quarter-final and the Netherlands in a penalty shoot-out in the semi-final. The final was witnessed by 74,738 spectators in the stadium, as well as over a billion watching on television, with the referee for the match being Nicola Rizzoli from Italy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup</span> International football competition

The 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup was the 21st edition of the FIFA U-20 World Cup, the biennial international men's youth football championship contested by the under-20 national teams of the member associations of FIFA, since its inception in 1977 as the FIFA World Youth Championship. The tournament was hosted by South Korea from 20 May to 11 June 2017.

Group F of the 2014 FIFA World Cup consisted of Argentina, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iran and Nigeria. Play began on 15 June and ended on 25 June 2014. The top two teams, Argentina and Nigeria, advanced to the round of 16.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">France at the FIFA World Cup</span> Overview of France at the FIFA World Cup

This is a record of France's results at the FIFA World Cup. France was one of the four European teams that participated at the inaugural World Cup in 1930 and have appeared in 16 FIFA World Cups, tied for the sixth most of any country. The national team is one of eight to have won the FIFA World Cup title and one of only six to have done so more than once.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup</span> International football competition

The 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup was the 22nd edition of the FIFA U-20 World Cup, the biennial international men's youth football championship contested by the under-20 national teams of the member associations of FIFA, since its inception in 1977 as the FIFA World Youth Championship. The tournament was hosted by Poland between 23 May and 15 June 2019. This was the first FIFA tournament hosted by Poland; the country had hosted UEFA international football events in the past including the UEFA Euro 2012 with Ukraine and the 2017 UEFA European Under-21 Championship.

The 2018 FIFA World Cup was an international football tournament held in Russia from 14 June to 15 July 2018. The 32 national teams involved in the tournament were required to register a squad of 23 players, including three goalkeepers. Only players in these squads were eligible to take part in the tournament.

The knockout stage of the 2018 FIFA World Cup was the second and final stage of the competition, following the group stage. It began on 30 June with the round of 16 and ended on 15 July with the final match, held at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow. The top two teams from each group advanced to the knockout stage to compete in a single-elimination style tournament. A third place play-off was also played between the two losing teams of the semi-finals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Iceland at the FIFA World Cup</span> Participation of Icelands national football team in the FIFA World Cup

The FIFA World Cup, sometimes called the Football World Cup or the Soccer World Cup, but usually referred to simply as the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), the sport's global governing body. The championship has been awarded every four years since the first tournament in 1930, except in 1942 and 1946, due to World War II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 FIFA World Cup Group E</span> Football tournament

Group E of the 2018 FIFA World Cup took place from 17 to 27 June 2018. The group consisted of Brazil, Switzerland, Costa Rica, and Serbia. The top two teams, Brazil and Switzerland, advanced to the round of 16.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 FIFA World Cup final</span> World Cup final, held in Russia

The 2018 FIFA World Cup final was the final match of the 2018 World Cup, the 21st edition of FIFA's competition for national football teams. The match was played at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, Russia, on 15 July 2018, and was contested by France and Croatia. The tournament comprised hosts Russia and 31 other teams who emerged from the qualification phase, organised by the six FIFA confederations. The 32 teams competed in a group stage, from which 16 teams qualified for the knockout stage. En route to the final, France finished first in Group C, with two wins and a draw, after which they defeated Argentina in the round of 16, Uruguay in the quarter-final and Belgium in the semi-final. Croatia finished first in Group D with three wins, before defeating Denmark in the round of 16 and Russia in the quarter-final – both through a penalty shoot-out – and then England in the semi-final. The final took place in front of 78,011 supporters, with more than 1.1 billion watching on television, and was refereed by Néstor Pitana from Argentina.

Croatia participated in the 2018 FIFA World Cup. This was their fifth appearance. Croatia managed to reach the final where they lost to France and finished second in the tournament.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">England at the FIFA Women's World Cup</span> Performance of England in football tournament

England have participated six times at the FIFA Women's World Cup: in 1995, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019, and 2023. They have reached the quarter-finals in each of their participation and the semi-finals three times, reaching the final in 2023.

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