Fifa World Cup 2018 Group D guide: Argentina, Iceland, Croatia, Nigeria - final standings, table, results, teams, squad, permutations, betting tips/odds

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Standard Sport26 June 2018

Argentina came within minutes of an early World Cup exit until Marcos Rojo volleyed home to beat Nigeria.

The Manchester United defender was his nation's unlikely saviour when he swept home Gabriel Mercardo's cross to earn Argentina a 2-1 victory.

Iceland's 2-1 defeat to Croatia meant the Argentinians finished second in the group to reach the knock-out stage, while Nigeria were knocked out. Argentina will face France in the last 16, while Croatia take on Denmark.

Here's your complete guide to Group D...

Group D P W D L F A Pts
Croatia 3 3 0 0 7 1 9
Argentina 3 1 1 1 3 5 4
Nigeria 3 1 0 2 3 4 3
Iceland 3 0 1 2 2 5 1

Fixture schedule and TV channels

Argentina

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Coach: Jorge Sampaoli

Star player: Lionel Messi

World Cup best: Winners 1978, 1986

A nervy qualification campaign saw one of world football's great powers book their place at the last opportunity with victory over Ecuador, but the losing finalists in 2014 will be looking to go one better. That said, the Lionel Messi-less side's 6-1 loss to Spain in March suggests that is a big ask.

  Argentina  
1 GUZMAN Nahuel GK
2 MERCADO Gabriel Def
3 TAGLIAFICO Nicolas Def
4 ANSALDI Cristian Def
5 BIGLIA Lucas Mid
6 FAZIO Federico Def
7 BANEGA Ever Mid
8 ACUNA Marcos Def
9 HIGUAIN Gonzalo Fwd
10 MESSI Lionel Fwd
11 DI MARIA Angel Mid
12 ARMANI Franco GK
13 MEZA Maximiliano Mid
14 MASCHERANO Javier Def
15 PEREZ Enzo Mid
16 ROJO Marcos Def
17 OTAMENDI Nicolas Def
18 SALVIO Eduardo Def
19 AGUERO Sergio Fwd
20 LO CELSO Giovani Mid
21 DYBALA Paulo Fwd
22 PAVON Cristian Mid
23 CABALLERO Wilfredo GK

Iceland

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Coach: Heimir Hallgrimsson

Star player: Gylfi Sigurdsson

World Cup best: Debut

The smallest nation by population ever to qualify for the World Cup finals, Iceland followed up their Euro 2016 heroics by topping a group featuring Croatia, Ukraine and Turkey. Star turn Sigurdsson's knee injury is an unwanted concern heading into the tournament.

  Iceland  
1 HALLDORSSON Hannes GK
2 SAEVARSSON Birkir Def
3 FRIDJONSSON Samuel Mid
4 GUDMUNDSSON Albert Mid
5 INGASON Sverrir Def
6 SIGURDSSON Ragnar Def
7 GUDMUNDSSON Johann Mid
8 BJARNASON Birkir Mid
9 SIGURDARSON Bjorn Fwd
10 SIGURDSSON Gylfi Mid
11 FINNBOGASON Alfred Fwd
12 SCHRAM Frederik GK
13 RUNARSSON Runar GK
14 ARNASON Kari Def
15 EYJOLFSSON Holmar Def
16 SKULASON Olafur Mid
17 GUNNARSSON Aron Mid
18 MAGNUSSON Hordur Def
19 GISLASON Rurik Mid
20 HALLFREDSSON Emil Mid
21 TRAUSTASON Arnor Mid
22 BODVARSSON Jon Fwd
23 SKULASON Ari Def

Croatia

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Coach: Zlatko Dalic

Star player: Luka Modric

World Cup best: Third place 1998

Since reaching the semi-finals at France 98, they have failed to make it out of the group. Ivan Rakitic, Modric and Ivan Perisic are exciting creative options for coach Dalic, who was parachuted in at the end of qualification to steer Croatia to Russia.

  Croatia  
1 LIVAKOVIC Dominik GK
2 VRSALJKO Sime Def
3 STRINIC Ivan Def
4 PERISIC Ivan Fwd
5 CORLUKA Vedran Def
6 LOVREN Dejan Def
7 RAKITIC Ivan Mid
8 KOVACIC Mateo Mid
9 KRAMARIC Andrej Fwd
10 MODRIC Luka Mid
11 BROZOVIC Marcelo Mid
12 KALINIC Lovre GK
13 JEDVAJ Tin Def
14 BRADARIC Filip Mid
15 CALETA-CAR Duje Def
16 KALINIC Nikola Fwd
17 MANDZUKIC Mario Fwd
18 REBIC Ante Fwd
19 BADELJ Milan Mid
20 PJACA Marko Fwd
21 VIDA Domagoj Def
22 PIVARIC Josip Def
23 SUBASIC Danijel GK

Nigeria

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Coach: Gernot Rohr

Star player: Victor Moses

World Cup best: Second round 1994, 1998, 2014

An impressive qualifying campaign booked Nigeria's place in Russia. The Super Eagles have only missed one of the last seven tournaments but 2014's victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina was their first since 1998.

  Nigeria  
1 EZENWA Ikechukwu GK
2 IDOWU Bryan Def
3 ECHIEJILE Elderson Def
4 NDIDI Onyinye Mid
5 EKONG William Def
6 BALOGUN Leon Def
7 MUSA Ahmed Fwd
8 ETEBO Oghenekaro Mid
9 IGHALO Odion Fwd
10 MIKEL John Obi Mid
11 MOSES Victor Fwd
12 SHEHU Abdullahi Def
13 NWANKWO Simeon Fwd
14 IHEANACHO Kelechi Fwd
15 OBI Joel Mid
16 AKPEYI Daniel GK
17 ONAZI Ogenyi Mid
18 IWOBI Alex Fwd
19 OGU John Mid
20 AWAZIEM Chidozie Def
21 EBUEHI Tyronne Def
22 OMERUO Kenneth Def
23 UZOHO Francis GK

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