Group D is expected to get a ton of attention simply because it is where Argentina and Lionel Messi are clustered with Iceland, Croatia, and Nigeria. Will Messi and Argentina deliver on their lofty projections? Or will another team pull the rug underneath them?
Lionel Messi is an Argentinian. That’s practically what everyone needs to know about Argentina, but we’re wasting some space here if we’re just going to ignore the other pieces and facets that make Argentina an extremely dangerous squad. Head coach Jorge Sampaoli will be at the helm of a crop of players including Mauro Icardi, Sergio Aguero, Angel di Maria, and Gonzalo Higuain. Paulo Dybala and Sergio Aguero should be able to be perfect sources of offense for Argentina outside of Messi. Dybala is the next most dangerous player for Argentina, and him on the attack alongside Messi should be a crippling sight for opposing goalies. Argentina is -175 to top the group and +1,000 to win the World Cup.
The Chequered Ones, who are +250 to reign supreme in Group D, are the closest threat to Argentina in the group. The team is going to be spearheaded by Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric, who maybe 32, but there’s still enough juice in his legs to make things happen for Croatia at the World Cup. The Croatians have enough experience to battle the nerves in Russia. Outside of Modric, who has a 104-cap count, Croatia also have Ivan Rakitić (90 caps), and 32-year-old Juventus forward Mario Mandžukić. Still, it’s Modric who’s going to act as the glue that holds the team together and the engine that runs them.
Listed just 47th in the world, Nigeria will have to prove they’re a lot better than what their rankings suggests at the World Cup. The Super Eagles are the benchmark of success in the realm of African football, but whether they could get out of their group is something that remains to be seen. At +1,000 to do just that, Nigeria will parade a solid midfield fronted by captain and former Chelsea man John Obi Mike. He’ll have a talented cast of forwards to feed the ball too in the forms of Alex Iwobi (Arsenal), Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester), and Ahmed Musa (Leicester).
It seems that a preview of the Iceland team is not complete without mentioning that their country is home to only 330,000 people. with that bit of trivia unrelated to football out of the way, let’s now take a look at what makes Iceland a special team. That they are making their first World Cup appearance is special enough, thanks to their Cinderella run in the Euro 16 where they reached the quarterfinals. The question is whether they could do such a run in Russia. The World Cup is a different animal. The key for Iceland is for their best players to function and their system to work because this is a team that does not have much depth. Everton’s Gylfi Sigurdsson will be crucial in developing opportunities from the midfield along with Aron Gunnarsson of Cardiff City, while 20-year-old Albert Gudmundsson, who has scored three goals in four caps. Iceland is +1,200 to finish on top of Group D.
Key Game – Croatia vs Nigeria
We’d be kidding ourselves if we’re going to say we’re not expecting Argentina go through to the next round. Whether it’s by topping the group or finishing second, Argentina is going to advance. If so, then this match.
Writer’s Prediction
Don’t cry for Argentina at this stage, as they finish at No. 1, followed by Nigeria, Croatia, Iceland.
