Group D of the 2018 FIFA World Cup will take place from 16 to 26 June 2018. The group consists of Argentina, Iceland, Croatia, and Nigeria. The top two teams will advance to the round of 16. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_FIFA_World_Cup_Group_D The 2018 FIFA World Cup will be the 21st FIFA World Cup, a quadrennial international football tournament contested by the men's national teams of the member associations of FIFA. It is scheduled to take place in Russia from 14 June to 15 July 2018, after the country was awarded the hosting rights on 2 December 2010. This will be the first World Cup held in Europe since the 2006 tournament in Germany; all but one of the stadium venues are in European Russia, west of the Ural Mountains, to keep travel time manageable. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_FIFA_World_Cup Argentina: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argentina_national_football_team Iceland: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iceland_national_football_team Croatia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Croatia_national_football_team Nigeria: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigeria_national_football_team
Iceland national team Coach(Heimir Hallgrímsson) has named the 23 man squad for Russia 2018: GoalKeepers Hannes Þór Halldórsson(34) Randers,GK-Rúnar Alex Rúnarsson(23) Nordsjælland, Frederik Schram(23) Roskilde Defenders- RB-Birkir Már Sævarsson(33) Valur, LB-Ari Freyr Skúlason(30) Lokeren CB-Ragnar Sigurðsson(31) Rostov, CB -Kári Árnason(35) Aberdeen, CB-Sverrir Ingi Ingason(24) Rostov,CB-Hörður Björgvin Magnússon(25) Bristol City,CB- Hólmar Örn Eyjólfsson(27) Levski Sofia Midfielders- DM -Ólafur Ingi Skúlason(35)Kardemir Karabükspor, DM-Samúel Friðjónsson(22)Vålerenga CM-Aron Gunnarsson(29)Cardiff City, CM-Birkir Bjarnason(29)Aston Villa, CM-Emil Hallfreðsson (33) Udinese Forwards and Attacking players- RW-Jóhann Berg Guðmundsson(27)Burnley AM -Gylfi Sigurðsson(28) Everton RW- Rúrik Gíslason(30)Sandhausen LW - Arnór Ingvi Traustason (25) Malmö CF -Alfreð Finnbogason (29)Augsburg CF -Jón Daði Böðvarsson(age 25)Reading CF -Björn Bergmann Sigurðarson(27)Rostov RW -Albert Guðmundsson(20)PSV Eindhoven Injury Report - Kolbeinn Sigthorsson(FC Nantes) - not named to squad as he has not played this season. Gylfi Sigurðsson - has been injured since the beginning of March. Is schedulded for return the beginning of June.Will not be match fit for the WC Aron Gunnarsson - is also supposedly injured again. As he had 1.5 months ago returned to the pitch after an ankle injury that kept him out of action for almost 3.5 months. Tactics - this team relies on set pieces because they basically cannot score any other way This team will also rely on the players that led them to U21 Euro's of 2011. So the lineup will definitely include players like Sigurdsson, Finnbogason, Gudmundsson, Gunnarsson and Bjarnason. As they all participated in that tournament and make up the spine of this team. How they Qualified for WC - They beat Croatia in Rejkavik, 1-0, which was instrumental in them finishing first in UEFA World Cup Qualifying Group I
Final 23 players for Argentina squad announced today: Goalkeepers: Sergio Romero (Manchester United), Willy Caballero (Chelsea), Franco Armani (River Plate). Defenders: Gabriel Mercado (Sevilla), Federico Fazio (Roma), Nicolas Otamendi (Manchester City), Marcos Rojo (Manchester United), Nicolas Taglafico (Ajax), Javier Mascherano (Hebei Fortune), Marcos Acuna (Sporting Lisbon), Cristian Ansaldi (Torino). Midfielders: Ever Banega (Sevilla), Lucas Biglia (AC Milan), Angel Di Maria, Giovani Lo Celso (both Paris St-Germain), Manuel Lanzini (West Ham), Cristian Pavon (Boca Juniors),Maximiliano Meza (Independiente), Eduardo Salvio (Benfica). Forwards: Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Gonzalo Higuain, Paulo Dybala (both Juventus),Sergio Aguero (Manchester City). Recently watched the Italy friendly(i know they were just smashed by Spain but the Spanish NT was playing most of their 1st choice starters, while Jorge Sampaoli is still experimenting some) and qualifying game against Peru. Sampaoli was in charge of both games. It was 3rd game in charge of Argentine when they played against Peru. 4-2-3-1 vs Italy with the starters being ----------Cabellero Bustos - Otamendi - Fazio - Tagliafico -----Paredes--- Biglia--- Di Maria --- Lo Celso -- Lanzini -------Higuain 4-2-3-1 vs Peru with starters being ----Romero -Bustos-Otamendi-Rojo-Tagliafico ----Biglia --- Mascherano -Lo Celso--Banega- Meza ----------Higuain Tactics. So defensively Sampaoli will press basically one-on-one all over the pitch. But he also presses in numbers when ball is near the touchline, when the pass is difficult to control and when the player receiving the ball is running towards his own goal. when his teams defend they will drop back and defend with 5 players at the back. Offensively Sampaoli uses a very varied system. he builds the play up with 4 in the back with his wingbacks being high up the pitch when they start the build up, with a midfielder many times dropping deep to receive the ball. After that they use rhombus on triangles on the side touch lines to create that combinational play to move the ball up the pitch. They will use diagonal runs to free space and confuse, with for example, one player moving diagonally while another player may come up short to receive that ball in space that was just vacated.He also like to play a lot of balls vertically instead of horizontally allowing his team to get into the opponents side quicker. This is a very dynamic coach, but the question will be how well can they defend when pressed? Player Omissions: Mauro Icardi Qualification route: qualified in the last game of the South American Qualifying campaign. They beat Ecuador away in Quito 0-3 to finish 3rd and qualify directly for the world cup.
Not sure, but he was mostly useless against Brazil. I doubt that Brazil invested more than 60-70% of their actual strength. In few moments I noticed that other attackers don't want to pass the ball to Kramaric. They are much more loyal to Mandzukic. Technical skills of Ante Rebic are really weak. He is good only when he doesn't have anyone around, strong sprint and that's all. Mostly invisible players: Perisic, Modric, Brozovic, Kovacic, etc. After few months, Croatia will have the new coach. Nothing new. Nice and green court at the Anfield. I noticed that.
Gernot Rohr has realeased Nigeria's his final squad for WC 2018: GK Daniel Akpeyi (31)South Africa Chippa United, Ikechukwu Ezenwa(29)Enyimba, Francis Uzoho(19)Deportivo Fabril CB:Chidozie Awaziem(21)Nantes,Leon Balogun(29)Mainz 05 Kenneth Omeruo(24) Kasımpaşa, William Troost-Ekong(24)Bursaspor RB: Brian Idowu(26)Amkar Perm LB: Tyronne Ebuehi(22)ADO Den Haag, Elderson Echiéjilé(30)Cercle Brugge DM: John Obi Mikel(31)Tianjin TEDA, Wilfred Ndidi(21)Leicester City Ogenyi Onazi(25)Trabzonspor, Shehu Abdullahi(25)Bursaspor CM:Joel Obi(27)Torino, John Ogu(30)Hapoel Be'er Sheva AM:Oghenekaro Etebo(22)Las Palmas RM Victor Moses(27) Chelsea LW Alex Iwobi(22) Arsenal CF: Odion Ighalo(28)Changchun Yatai, Kelechi Iheanacho(21)Leicester City, Ahmed Musa(25)CSKA Moscow, Simeon Nwankwo(26)FC Crotone Tactics: in the friendly against England(June 2,2018). the first half against England they were generally forced back with little momentum going forward. They started the game with a 4-4-1-1 formation. But were struggling in midfield As England played a 3-1-4-2 and thus controlled the midfield. In the second half they too switched to 3 in the back dropping their starting RB Shehu and CB Trost-Ekong and replacing them with Tyronne Ebuehi and Kenneth Omeruo. This team did not press really high and they only pressed when the ball started to get into dangerous areas on the field. They tended to play out of the back most of the time and would try to flick the ball down the sides on give and goes(especially the right side) .When they did play through the middle Ighalo would drop deep to pick the ball and move it either to the side or up through the channels that others were trying to get in to. They did not move the ball much over the top against England. Played better in the second half with 3 in the back, and scoring their only goal in the game, in the early stages of the second half, seemed to really give them confidence. Interesting fact:Argentina is the Oldest team in this tournament(avg age of 29.2) while Nigeria is the youngest with an avg age of 25.5. Injury Report/Omissions:Henry Onyekuru(LW)(injured), Moses Simon(injured) How They qualified: Finished first in an African group that consisted of Zambia, Algeria and Cameroon
They came through a very tough group...I worry about goalkeeping. Will the 19 year old be the starter?
Nigeria had complicated group indeed: Cameroon and Algeria. Not sure is Zambia great. Obviously, Samuel Eto'o could not make Cameroon great again. He is their real coach.
Many national teams had respectable and great individuals. But those generations couldn't take the titles or any medal. Especially, teams from 90's and early 2000's. Examples: Spain in 90's, always greatest players. Same was with talented Portugal, Netherlands, Argentina, Colombia in both decades. Belgium has great individuals now, Kompany injured, which destroys entire concept, he means a lot to this team. Ivory Coast was great, Senegal solid. Croatia had that one great flash in 1998, but 20 years after, not much for celebrate. They are still without any knock-out stage since 1998, if we observe only World Cups. Even at EURO's, which is easier competition, not many great things. EURO 2000 was without Croatia, in 2004, heavy defeat against England, draw with Switzerland, in 2008 strange defeat against Turkey, fear of Portugal at EURO 2016. Croatia always has some reputation, that they give the best against better teams. But they lose often against better teams: Portugal, France, England, against any South American team. They even say: Oh, we lost only 1-0 against Brazil in Germany 2006, now we can hope that we can win against Australia, Japan and improve through the knock out stage. Croatia is a strange team...before they could surprise someone strong, but I am already adapted on weaker performances against South American teams and several European. Maybe, Croatia could make something against Argentina, because their players are shaken mentally, three finals were lost. Croatia has weak defenders: Vida is very bad in my opinion...he isn't the brightest player. Lovren makes mistakes, Corluka is injured and old. Pivaric is terrible. Jedvaj - you saw his reaction during the second goal against Brazil. Player with lower height pushed him and stood like a skyscraper. I don't what to think about Duje Caleta Car. In Croatia, he is just popular just because of his name DUJE, which is the saint patron of Split. Croatian fans adore someone just if he carries the names like: Duje, Mate, Stipe, Jure, Josip, Domagoj, Zvonimir, Šime, Trpimir, Branimir because these names show Croatian purity. Saints, dukes and kings. I noticed this with Stipe Pletikosa, really average goalkeeper, but he had numerous standing ovations: Stipe, Stipe... If you have weaker defenders, goalkeeper also suffers. I don't understand why Marko Rog can't go in Russia, they invited Filip Bradaric who is 26 years old and he still plays in Croatian league. If someone is great, better European clubs buy him until he turns 22,23. Probably some deal between Dinamo Zagreb and NK Rijeka. Marko Rog isn't in the team, maybe because he is from northern Croatia. They are calmer than all others from south or from Bosnia-Herzegovina, who have different temperament. People from Croatian regions Zagorje, Prigorje, Podravina, Zagreb Capital are much more calmer, quite temperament. For sure, it's because of that. Croatian people are divided in regional and dialect sense. Shtokavian dialect rules compared with Kajkavian and Chakavian. I belong to Shtokavian dialect through roots, so I know what I am saying. I also notice that they avoid to invite some ex-players of Hajduk Split: Mario Pasalic, Franko Andrijasevic, Nikola Vlasic. I don't like this also. Some Hajduk Split players accepted Dinamo Zagreb ruling role. That's why they are in the national team. Interesting, several Dalmatians who are in national team, have never played for Hajduk Split: Caleta Car, Vrsaljko, Modric, Ante Rebic. But they invite Hajduk players Perisic, Lovre Kalinic, Nikola Kalinic, because they can't play without them, especially not without Perisic. Hajduk Split player needs to be 20x better than any Dinamo Zagreb player, if he wants to play for the NT. If they start to invite Hajduk Split players, these players could will value more and Hajduk Split will earn a lot. Dinamo Zagreb, Rijeka, Osijek don't want that. They will force always Mandzukic instead of Nikola Kalinic. I prefer more Kalinic, he has that positive football arrogance (cro. dispet) and "one move" quality. If they consolidate, Perisic and Pjaca could destroy any team on LAM and RAM positions with Kalinic as CF. Kovacic and Brozovic are not some great material, they have some talent, but not much. Kovacic is in Real Madrid mostly because of Luka Modric. Modric always plays better for Real Madrid. It's pretty boring to wait his 2-3 punctual passes in the national team. Entire atmosphere isn't so good, fans don't like Federation members, players and coaches are devoted much more to the Federation members. If they end in the next stage, quarter-finals could be their maximum achievement. Croatia might meet France in the knock-out stage. Only chance to avoid France is victory against Argentina and group victory, because France will win the group. Croatia has better chances against Denmark than against Peru, who will compete for that 2nd position behind France. After that, Croatia could have horror moments against Portugal, Spain, Uruguay. Heavy road for Croatia, if they end in the knock out stage. The bench isn't wide enough and coach can't compete with coaches of Portugal, Spain, Uruguay...
Zlatko Dalic called up his final squad on June 4 : GK - Dominik Livaković(23)Dinamo Zagreb, Lovre Kalinić(28)Gent, Danijel Subašić(33)Monaco RB - Šime Vrsaljko(26)Atlético Madrid LB - Ivan Strinić(30)Sampdoria, Josip Pivarić(29)Dynamo Kiev CB - Vedran Ćorluka(32)Lokomotiv Moscow, Dejan Lovren(28)Liverpool Tin Jedvaj(22)Bayer Leverkusen, Duje Ćaleta-Car(aged 21)Red Bull Salzburg, Domagoj Vida(29)Beşiktaş CM - Ivan Rakitić(30)Spain Barcelona, Mateo Kovačić(24)Real Madrid Luka Modrić(32)Real Madrid, Marcelo Brozović(25)Inter Milan DM - Filip Bradarić(26)Rijeka, Milan Badelj(29)Fiorentina LW - Ivan Perišić(29)Inter Milan, Ante Rebić(24)Eintracht Frankfurt Marko Pjaca(23)Schalke 04 CF Andrej Kramarić(26)1899 Hoffenheim, Nikola Kalinić(30)Milan, Mario Mandžukić(aged 32)Juventus Only surprise exclusion was was that of Marco Rog. Rog is a player that really brings something unique to the game. A mistake by the manager IMO. Tactics: that is a bit hard to judge, as the manager has only been in charge 6 games now. but watching the Brazil game i think Croatia will be looking to pounce on errors up the field. Looking to take advantage of their pressing game to create turnovers that will lead to goals. I think you will see plenty of overloads at times on that right side where you will see Vrsaljko press forward from his RB position to create opportunities for whomever is on the RW there.It was obvious during the Brazil game that Vida will give us nothing going forward so it is only natural that we will we see a more natural LB(probably Ivan Strinic) deployed there during the first game of the WC. Croatia will probably play a 4-2-3-1 formation with it skewing towards the right side of the pitch. I think Mandzukic will start on one of the wings and Kramaric will probably be upfront(and no he no false 9, he is a striker and will play probably be there to start the game), with Rebic starting off on the bench. Modric has been pushed forward to provide a thrust as neither Brozovic or Rakitic can play in that number 10 position. Omissions: Marco Rog(Napoli), Matej Mitrovic(Club Brugge) How they qualified: Qualified 2nd from their UEFA group. Where they needed to beat Ukraine, away in Kiev,to go into a playoff. Where they then easily dispatched Greece 4-1 in a 2 games.
There are so many similar questions. When did Tin Jedvaj, Duje Caleta Car, Josip Pivaric, Domagoj Vida, Mateo Kovacic, Filip Bradaric, Ante Rebic become footballers? We all still wait the wakening moment of Mateo Kovacic and his number 10 leadership when Modric retires. I rather wait for Ante Coric of AS Roma. He is better than Modric and Kovacic together. Modric always plays better in Real Madrid. In Croatia, he needs to rest, because of long La Liga season. It's enough to see his 3 passes, his right leg - outside - pass, which is not always punctual. Imagine that reporters say that Ronaldo, Kroos, Benzema, Marcelo need to rest in their national teams, because of long La Liga season. And Croatian people accept this Modric excuse. No one asks, why Modrid has scored only 12 goals for Croatia since 2006 year and why he has scored 9 goals for Real Madrid since 2012. Croatia had many easy matches in different qualifications. In Tottenham he had 13 goals. Both leagues are very hard to play. He will vanish against Argentina completely, excuses how he is tired. Otamendi, Mascherano, Banega, di Maria will hide Modric completely. On the other hand, we never hear such words about Rakitic, he also plays in strong club, long La Liga season, but reporters are more critical to him. Because he is a Croat of diaspora, he was never protected in Croatian team. He didn't play in Croatian national league (GNK Dinamo Zagreb) like Modric, Kovacic, Brozovic, Badelj, Pivaric... Others know how to play, but these ones in some basic technical terms, game view, responsibility, leadership, IQ - are too weak. I listened the interview with Tin Jedvaj, reporter asked him about his mistake against Brazil and their second goal. He was relaxed and said: Nothing serious has happened, life goes on, such things happen every day. Some would say: positive nature, confident, nothing could shake him...but I would just say: no responsibility, care... Kramaric is an average player, otherwise Leicester would kept him, or he would play in some other English club, or better German club. Kramaric is ok in running abilities, he can cover some things, bridge between CF and RM positions, he can circulate around RAM position. Somehow, I doubt that he can win the Golden Boot. When I see Hoffenheim squad, I just notice some Balkan Peninsula connections, they were created in the same incubator, many of them don't even play for their national teams. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TSG_1899_Hoffenheim Bicakcic, Zulj, Skenderovic, Maric with many unknown Austrians, Germans, Hungarians. I don't understand how did they end third in Bundesliga. Kramaric is lucky because he has people behind him, nothing else. In a year or two, he will be in one of the high paid Asian leagues. Promotion of football. Just like Leon Benko and some other "amazing" talents.
Predictions and Profiling the NT going into the tournament that I found on youtube. The Bein Sports profile is quite good. The lineup in the last video is what i am expecting will start against Nigeria
Hitesh Ratna forgot on Aguero, Dybala, Higuain, Di Maria...he describes Argentina as the team which depends a lot on Messi. All five are extremely great and equally important in different aspects of football. Croatia will play 3-5-2 against Iceland and Nigeria. With 4-5-1 against Argentina.
So we won group D with a 3-0 record . Beating Nigeria 2-0, then Argentina 3-0 and Iceland 2-1. Here are highlights from each of the group games. Against Nigeria they lined up like this: Subasic;Vrsaljko-Lovren-Vida-Strinic; Modric-Rakitic;Perisic-Kramaric-Rebic; Mandzukic. Dalic realized at some point that this was not working as Modric and Rakitic were being squeezed too deep, making it difficult to push up. When he brought Brozvoic and dropped Kramaric it allowed both Modric and Rakitic to move forward more and making Brozovic the Defensive mid that was needed to stifle the attacks. Dalic then used the same lineup that ended against Nigeria to great affect against Argentina. So he ended up playing a 4-3-3 against Argentina from the start in instead of the 4-2-3-1 that was employed against Nigeria. Against Iceland they also played a 4-3-3 with the starting players being L.Kalinic;Jedvaj-Caleta.Car-Corluka-Pivaric; Badelj-Modric-Kovacic; Perisic-Mandzukic-Pjaca. Since they qualified for the knock out rounds it made sense to give the bench a run too.
Against Denmark we ended up win 4-3 in a shoot out but it was not a great game from my point of view as the Danes picked on the side with Vida and Strinic, directing all their attacks on our left. And they then also covered Lovren and Brozovic from the back making Vida the passer(and he cannot pass the ball long) and allowing Strinic space(as he simply was not good at bring the ball down quick enough to make a decision). Once Pivaric was put in that changed the trust we were getting up that left side(mind you Dalic took too long to make that change) And Badelj needs to start against Russia going forward as does Pivaric IMO, as they let us take control of that game towards the end against the Danes. Highlight:
Fans - Celebration: Zagreb - Ban Josip Jelacic Square - Croatia - Russia Split - Denmark - Croatia Croats of Bosnia and Herzegovina celebration, City of Siroki Brig https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLEMoI8dE5s City of Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fm_tu72Qqg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-t8VupnvUpU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNBcEHV5KGg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiTUUlkxWtY City of Vitez https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OppF5GnZmPM Stuttgart, Germany - 30 000 fans https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqCw2aDurAI Frankfurt, Germany https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TQL6w80PfQ
After 20 years of waiting this new semifinals. They play out of spite also, because of all those affairs with tax, false testimonies, contracts, Zdravko and Zoran Mamic. So that they show, we are nice guys. England already thinks that they are in the final.
Players play for brothers Mamic also. Their real coach and mentor. Josip Pivaric had the penalty and he missed. He is their pick. These accusations were not invented, they were all involved together in this. Only Eduardo da Silva, Zlatko Kranjcar and Niko Kranjcar stood against Federation establishment and look how do they play in the NT? Domagoj Vida could be punished, because he made some political video pro-Ukraine...really silly activity. Why do they need this? Play football and that's it. FIFA forbids even beverages which are not approved by FIFA and official sponsors. No political messages under jersey kits... What do they have with Ukraine? Ognjen Vukojevic, coach assistant, born in Bjelovar, just like Zdravko Mamic. Zlatko Dalic, Livno, few miles from Tomislavgrad, place of Mamic origins. At least, if they could enter in the final. In FIFA video games, commentator would say: Pandemonium. But players are very tired...defence is weak, 2 goals from Russia, 1 goal from Denmark.
Highlights from the Croatia game vs Russia; So my thoughts are not as positive as my colleagues. As frankly this manager is just another Ante Cacic( our last coach). this team has progressed mainly on character and finding this ability to take penalty kicks. Because the tactics of this game were atrocious. As previously stated, setting up 2 mids and 4 attackers against Nigeria did not work so why start the game in the quarters the same way? You give up the whole midfield, forcing Modric and Rakitic to both play so deep, that they only way forwards was long balls over the top. Because there were loads of space in the middle of that pitch in the first half, and start of the second with no Croat occupying it. And you are asking a striker, Kramaric, to drop into the midfield and move the ball like a midfielder would, which saw him dispossessed too easily. This forced the entire team back making it too easy for Russia to really stifle us in that midfield. You see a more normal functioning of the team returning when he installs Brozovic in place of Perisic. this lasted only until he brings brings Kovacic, which then again had no meaning because Brozovic, Modric , Rakitic and Kovacic cannot exist in that midfield together. They all are central mids, as he keeps leaving the one true defensive mid(Milan Badelj- who should be starting) on the bench. Sheer chaos ensued in those last 35 minutes IMO, everything was so dysfunctional at that point. And you see us sitting back after Vida's goal, another page out of Cacic's notebook. This coach like the previous one has lost the plot. We are just fortunate that we were not on the other side of the draw otherwise we would of went out in the last 16 and not in the final 4(and yes i give us basically no chance to beat the England with this manager at the helm). But i am happy for this generation, as this tournament is really the highlight of this generation of players because in 4 years time you will not see Danijel Subasic, Ivan Strinic, Vedran Corluka, Josip Pivaric, Ivan Rakitic, Luka Modric, Mario Mandzukic, Ivan Perisic or Milan Badelj. So lets enjoy them one more time against England on Wednesday. Ajmo Hrvatska !