We will comfortably beat Argentina, but fail to beat Iceland and Nigeria not getting out of the group. Classic.
Group D (Argentina, Croatia, Iceland, Nigeria)
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Probably. We'll lose to Nigeria, then it will be all over media that we'll bounce back, that we're the best against the best, we'll beat Argentina, only to relax too much and comfortably lose to Iceland.
Probably. We'll lose to Nigeria, then it will be all over media that we'll bounce back, that we're the best against the best, we'll beat Argentina, only to relax too much and comfortably lose to Iceland.
I can already see it, you have to love our mentality!
I'm fairy confident we'll beat both Nigeria and Iceland but draw against Argentina, purely because Messi alone cancels everything we have over them and that's midfield. in ideal scenario, 3-1 victory over Nigeria, draw against Argentina and 2 or 3-0 against Iceland could probably qualify us as group winners on goal difference, given that I'm pretty sure Argentina will also beat Nigeria and Iceland. but, they struggle with scoring and they conceded a couple of goals in their last WC group so I'm hoping it'll be the same this time.
obviously, Argentina could just beat us and every other team in group with ease and send us to France most likely
The cheek! No you fecking wont. I also like how everyone still thinks Argentina are good. Apart from watching Nigeria best thing about this group will be the Icelandic celebrations. Might not even mind them beating us to see that shit
Also, Argentina seems to play Nigeria an awful load of times.
Is Sampaoli still going to play 3 at the back or switch to back 4.
If back 4 I assume Mercado-Otamendi-Fazio-Rojo. Back 3 genuinely no idea as Fazio is awful in that system. Taglia and Acuna are wing backs so they only really have 4 options to chose for three positions as Ansaldi is a very mediocre player (seen plenty of Torino). Maybe they could play Mascherano in there but he's declined so much in last year.
At least a few new options in midfield to freshen the side up like Meza, Lanzini and Lo Celso. Could be good subs.
Regularly watched them in qualifying and would be amazed if they got past the quarters. I suppose on the positive side they are in one of the tougher groups so that will get them battle hardned for the knock outs.
All three opponents ofter something different. Croatia are as good technically, Nigeria will be fast and powerful on the counter attack and gave Argentina an excellent game in last match and Iceland will stick 11 behind the ball, a tactic which Argentina badly struggled with in Commebol. Defending long throws will be interesting aswell considering Argentina always have defenders on the short side.
Probably the most interesting group of them all.
Why Icardi always missed out? Is there a war between him AFA? Really curious for the reason
Croatian list for the WC, one will miss out:
Keepers: Danijel Subašić (Monaco), Lovre Kalinić (Gent), Dominik Livaković (Dinamo)
Defenders: Vedran Ćorluka (Lokomotiv), Domagoj Vida (Bešiktaš), Ivan Strinić (Sampdoria), Dejan Lovren (Liverpool), Šime Vrsaljko (Atletico Madrid), Josip Pivarić (Dynamo Kijev), Tin Jedvaj (Bayer Leverkusen), Matej Mitrović (Club Brugge), Duje Ćaleta-Car (Red Bull Salzburg)
Midfielders: Luka Modrić (Real Madrid), Ivan Rakitić (Barcelona), Mateo Kovačić (Real Madrid), Milan Badelj (Fiorentina), Marcelo Brozović (Inter), Filip Bradarić (Rijeka)
Strikers: Mario Mandžukić (Juventus), Ivan Perišić (Inter), Nikola Kalinić (Milan), Andrej Kramarić (Hoffenheim), Marko Pjaca (Schalke), Ante Rebić (Eintracht)
Keepers: Danijel Subašić (Monaco), Lovre Kalinić (Gent), Dominik Livaković (Dinamo)
Defenders: Vedran Ćorluka (Lokomotiv), Domagoj Vida (Bešiktaš), Ivan Strinić (Sampdoria), Dejan Lovren (Liverpool), Šime Vrsaljko (Atletico Madrid), Josip Pivarić (Dynamo Kijev), Tin Jedvaj (Bayer Leverkusen), Matej Mitrović (Club Brugge), Duje Ćaleta-Car (Red Bull Salzburg)
Midfielders: Luka Modrić (Real Madrid), Ivan Rakitić (Barcelona), Mateo Kovačić (Real Madrid), Milan Badelj (Fiorentina), Marcelo Brozović (Inter), Filip Bradarić (Rijeka)
Strikers: Mario Mandžukić (Juventus), Ivan Perišić (Inter), Nikola Kalinić (Milan), Andrej Kramarić (Hoffenheim), Marko Pjaca (Schalke), Ante Rebić (Eintracht)
He didn't get called up for ages as Messi dosen't like him.
Sampaoli gave him chances when he first arrived and he missed a hatful v Venezeula.
It was probably between him and Higuain and can understand the choice. Higuain may bottle the finals but he has good scoring record in group stages (hat trick v Korea in 2010) and also scored the winner v Belgium in quarter finals at last world cup.
Those midfield options are unbelievable for a country as small as Croatia. Defense looks like it will have a few weak links though, what's the most likely starting eleven?
Why Messi hate him? A problem since La Masia? It just curious after 3 manager changes, no one pick him.
He "nicked" Maxi Lopez Wife/Girlfriend.
Maxi Lopez and Messi were good friends at Barca.
The famous Wanda-gate. I thought it was that but then i thought again no way Messi have connection to that. Of course i forgot Maxi was a Barca player.
Forever it will be his cardinal sin right?
Yeah midfield is brilliant tbh but our defensive options are not great. Young LB Sosa, who should have been called, is apparently injured although I dont think it's a bad injury and out of Pivarić and Strinić I dont know who's worse or to be precise more average.
As for the team. Dalić till now played Modrić as a nr. 10 and as good as he is there he's much better of course as a deep lying playmaker. Another problem is Rakitić and Modrić tend to occupy the same position and Rakitić is not so good as a nr. 10.
So I see the lineup as something as this:
-------------Subašić
Strinić--Lovren--Ćorluka--Vrsaljko
---------Rakitić--- Badelj
--------------Modrić
Rebić------Kramarić------Perišić
I hope Dalić won't insist on Mandžukić as a winger and Kramarić absolutely must be a starter weather as a striker or as a winger.
The famous Wanda-gate. I thought it was that but then i thought again no way Messi have connection to that. Of course i forgot Maxi was a Barca player.
Forever it will be his cardinal sin right?
Yeah basically Messi didn't want him called up to national team for years because of that despite him hitting 20 in Seria A since 2013. I believe Gerardo Martino when he was coached actually admitted in a press conference that Icardi didn't have the right ethics to play for Argentina.
Sampaoli of course is his own man and just based it on football reasons and gave Icardi a shoot but he missed too many chances and unsurprisingly didn't link up well at all with Messi.
As I've said I can see why they've gone with Higuain as he has scored goals previously at World cups.
We basically couldn't have gotten a tougher group. But this team have given me the hope that anything is possible. When we play our best we can beat anyone, and yes that includes Argentina. We even beat Croatia in our last meeting and topped our qualification group which included them.
I actually think we'll sneak out of this group in second place. Both Croatia and Argentina have great teams, but also quite regularly fail to show up.
I actually think we'll sneak out of this group in second place. Both Croatia and Argentina have great teams, but also quite regularly fail to show up.
Honestly our chances hing on how well Messi will perform and/or if Croatia can play like a team. On paper we shouldn't beat either nation and our squad has injury problems to key players (captain, goalkeeper and Gylfi) which can severly hamper our chances but I don't think there's a squad at the WC that can perform as well as a team as us which will always give us a chance.
Nigeria is a questionmark to me but they should have a chance if they can play together and have their heads on right.
I'd be more scared of the group if I knew that we hadn't beaten Croatia recently and Argentina struggled to qualify. The mentality is just so good in the squad at the moment. The manager said that they are going to get out of the group and by doing so they shouldn't be scared of facing any team that's left so the sights are set on the quarter-finals.
Personally I think we'll get 1-4 points and probably finish 3rd. The injuries are just too much I fear.
Nigeria is a questionmark to me but they should have a chance if they can play together and have their heads on right.
I'd be more scared of the group if I knew that we hadn't beaten Croatia recently and Argentina struggled to qualify. The mentality is just so good in the squad at the moment. The manager said that they are going to get out of the group and by doing so they shouldn't be scared of facing any team that's left so the sights are set on the quarter-finals.
Personally I think we'll get 1-4 points and probably finish 3rd. The injuries are just too much I fear.
Argentina is an absolute mistery. The only certain thing is that our midfield is horrible. But then again, in the last WC we all thought or defense was the worse ever and they ended up being the best of the team, over the "incredible" attack on papers.
There are many hopeless people, just asking if we'll be able to even get to the quaterfinals.
I think these weeks with Sampaoli before the world cups will be crucial, as in the reality, when it comes to the WCQFs, players come two or three days before the match, do a little bit of training and then play.
They are training right now and they have proper time to develop automatisms and that kind of stuff. I've got some faith in that sense.
But again, our midfield is awful.
He'll play back 4. I can guarantee you that. And the line will be Mercado - Otamendi - Fazio - Tagliafico (who is a proper left back, unlike acuña who is more of a winger originally).
Mercado is not good phisically, and that's why he called Ansaldi who can actually play both left and right back. Salvio is also called to play as a right back if needed.
Meza is a very interesting player, since he's able to play inside and outside both left and right flanks.
In his debut he was the best argentinian player, and even Messi was impressed. After the first half he came to Meza and told him "keep dribbling them, you're doing it great". He attacked on both left and right sides, and through the middle.
There are many hopeless people, just asking if we'll be able to even get to the quaterfinals.
I think these weeks with Sampaoli before the world cups will be crucial, as in the reality, when it comes to the WCQFs, players come two or three days before the match, do a little bit of training and then play.
They are training right now and they have proper time to develop automatisms and that kind of stuff. I've got some faith in that sense.
But again, our midfield is awful.
He'll play back 4. I can guarantee you that. And the line will be Mercado - Otamendi - Fazio - Tagliafico (who is a proper left back, unlike acuña who is more of a winger originally).
Mercado is not good phisically, and that's why he called Ansaldi who can actually play both left and right back. Salvio is also called to play as a right back if needed.
Meza is a very interesting player, since he's able to play inside and outside both left and right flanks.
In his debut he was the best argentinian player, and even Messi was impressed. After the first half he came to Meza and told him "keep dribbling them, you're doing it great". He attacked on both left and right sides, and through the middle.
What could have been...
Armani
? - Otamendi - Garay - Tagliafico
Ascacibar/Battaglia - Enzo Pérez (has he ever had a bad game for Argentina?)
Messi - Dybala - Di María
(a fit) Agüero
Armani
? - Otamendi - Garay - Tagliafico
Ascacibar/Battaglia - Enzo Pérez (has he ever had a bad game for Argentina?)
Messi - Dybala - Di María
(a fit) Agüero
My team:
-----------------------Armani-----------
Mercado/Bustos----Otamendi---Garay---Tagliafico
----------Ascacibar-------E. Perez----------
-----------Lanzini------------Di Maria--------
------------Messi--------------Aguero-----------------
Subs: Dybala, Icardi, Banega, Lamela, Kranevitter, Lautaro Martinez, Acuña, Fazio, Alan Franco, Meza, Centurion
it's a bit of a recent thing
he's been transfered to river plate in 2018 which got him better exposure than playing in colombia and he has been performing fantastic from what I've heard
With Nigeria, the first game against Croatia will be absolutely key. It's safe to say that Argentina are overwhelmingly favorites against every team in the group, so a win against Croatia sets Nigeria up well to secure qualification from the group stage.
The 2 key holes in the squad are at the keeper position and in defensive midfield. The starting keeper (Ikeme) who plays for Wolves and has been great for the national team, is out after his Leukemia prognosis. Nigeria conceded only 4 goals in the CAF qualifiers but I'm not sure the backup keepers can rise to the challenge. Ndidi who has been outstanding for Leicester is racing to get his fitness back after a hamstring strain late in the season.
Ideally, Ndidi is fit before June 14. He and either Onazi or Obi can cover the defense and provide the energy in the center of the pitch. That leaves Mikel to work on linking play to the attackers. Victor Moses plays as a winger instead of a full back. He and Iwobi will start on the wings. Ineahacho or Musa or another striker will start. I'd say the attack's weakness will be playing against a packed defense. In space they will create chances.
It's a young squad and progression from this group would be a successful WC campaign IMO. We beat Argentina but Messi didn't play, so, yeah. Still, a draw and win in the first 2 games sets the team up well for the final game against Argentina, depending on how the dice falls.
The 2 key holes in the squad are at the keeper position and in defensive midfield. The starting keeper (Ikeme) who plays for Wolves and has been great for the national team, is out after his Leukemia prognosis. Nigeria conceded only 4 goals in the CAF qualifiers but I'm not sure the backup keepers can rise to the challenge. Ndidi who has been outstanding for Leicester is racing to get his fitness back after a hamstring strain late in the season.
Ideally, Ndidi is fit before June 14. He and either Onazi or Obi can cover the defense and provide the energy in the center of the pitch. That leaves Mikel to work on linking play to the attackers. Victor Moses plays as a winger instead of a full back. He and Iwobi will start on the wings. Ineahacho or Musa or another striker will start. I'd say the attack's weakness will be playing against a packed defense. In space they will create chances.
It's a young squad and progression from this group would be a successful WC campaign IMO. We beat Argentina but Messi didn't play, so, yeah. Still, a draw and win in the first 2 games sets the team up well for the final game against Argentina, depending on how the dice falls.
With Nigeria the squad changed in the second half and we lost. With Aguero and other players we were beating them comfortably.
I just have this odd notion that as long as Argentina has Higuain in the line up, they will win nothing. Maybe because I have seen his misses costing them the Coppa and World Cup in the past. Probably unfair on him but I struggle to shake off those missed.
Romero injured his knee. Misses the wc
Gutted for him.
Jeez I am so gutted too and I feel so sorry for Romero. Probably his last chance of playing in the World Cup for Argentina. Big loss for Argentina as well, Romero is always so reliable for them.
Romero noooo
And he only just came back from another injury. Rotten luck.
And he only just came back from another injury. Rotten luck.
Iceland has shown they can do quite well in tough groups. . They won a group with croatia , turkey , ukraine , finland and kosovo to qualify .. First match is vs Argentina and strangely enough Iceland played portugal in the first match at the euros and drew that .. Any team that thinks that this will be only between Argentina and croatia might want to rethink that.. . A really interesting and hard group to predict ..Croatia and Iceland to qualify
Sad for Romero..not trying to be a cnut here but Armani is better. So from technical point of view i think they are strenghthened.
Why isnt Rulli called up?
Sad for Romero
almost everyone wants Armani to play though
And there's the rumour that Romero could be back in two weeks but Sampaoli still decided to rule him out. Romero's wife exploded
How good is jedvaj? He seems solid on fm
No Martial, no Romero, this world cup sucks.
Poor guy Romero. Was fit all season except for last few weeks and this. Was reliable too
Where did he injure himself? Thought he was fit for the FA cup finals and we probably havent trained since.
He got benched didn't he. Pretty sure he's leaving Real Sociedad.