Road To Russia - World Cup Team-By-Team Preview - GROUP D

Argentina

Manager: 


Jorge Sampaoli

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Sergio Romero (Manchester United), Wilfredo Caballero (Chelsea), Franco Armani (River Plate)

Defenders: Gabriel Mercado (Sevilla), Cristian Ansaldi (Torino), Nicolas Otamendi (Manchester City), Federico Fazio (AS Roma), Marcos Rojo (Manchester United), Nicolas Tagliafico (Ajax), Marcos Acuna (Sporting De Lisboa)

Midfielders: Javier Mascherano (Heibei China Fortune), Eduardo Salvio (Benfica), Lucas Biglia (AC Milan), Giovani Lo Celso (PSG), Ever Benega (Sevilla), Manuel Lanzini (West Ham), Maximiliano Meza (Independiente), Angel Di Maria (PSG), Cristina Pavon (Boca Juniors)

Forwards: Lionel Messi (FC Barcelona), Paulo Dybala (Juventus), Gonzalo Higuaín (Juventus), Sergio Aguero (Manchester City) 

Key player: 

Lionel Messi: Motivated by the desire to win a World Cup, Messi will lead from the front in Russia and be giving everything he has to achieve his goal.

One-to-watch: 

Angel Di María: after suffering injury during the 2014 World Cup, Di María will be determined to help his nation achieve glory this time around.

Young gun: 

Giovani Lo Celso: a well rounded central midfielder who is mobile and a composed passer.

Team overview/style of play:

Attack is the best form of defence for the 2014 World Cup runners up. The scintillating flair and skill in the forward and attacking midfield department for Argentina is what will have to fire for them to again reach the pinnacle match of world football and hopefully go one better than last time around. Sampaoli looks to set-up his squad with a 4-3-3 formation where the front 3 will sit in a triangle shape and feed off each other while linking in midfielders, who have the ability to drive into the box. Defence will be where the Argentines are tested most – weak in the goalkeeping department and light on top notch defenders, this is where other powerhouse nations will exploit.

Strengths:

·       Lionel Messi and a phenomenal attacking cast of players

Weaknesses:

·       Low defensive depth

·        Goalkeeping issues

·       Ghosts of the 2014 campaign haunting them

·       Drawn in a tricky group of opponents where there can be no letup in quality if the want to secure qualification into the next stage

Predicted line up:

Jerseys:

Verdict: 

As good as the side is, winning the tournament appears to be a stretch too far for Argentina. In fact, they will struggle to make it to the final seeing as though they are on the same side of the draw as Spain and Germany.

Iceland

Manager:

Heimir Hallgrímsson

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Hannes Dor Halldorsson, Runar Alex Runarsson, Frederik Schram

Defenders: Kari Arnason, Ari Freyr Skulason, Ragnar Sigurdsson, Hordur Bjorgvin Magnusson, Birkir Mar Saevarssson, Sverrir Ingi Ingason, Holmar Orn Eyjolfsson

Midfielders: Johann Berg Gumundsson, Birkir Bjarnason, Arnor Ingvi Traustason, Emil Hallfredsson, Gylfi Sigurdsson, Olafur Ingi Skulason, Rurik Gislason, Samuel Kari Fridjonsson, Aron Einar Gunnarsson

Forwards: Alfred Finnbogason, Jon Dadi Bodvarsson, Bjorn Bergmann Sigurdarson, Albert Gudmundsson

Key player:

Gylfi Sigurðsson: ‘Siggy’ has been at the centre of Iceland’s recent success, and will need to be at his best if Iceland are to progress into the knock-out stages.

One-to-watch:

Jóhann Berg Guðmundsson: goes about his business quietly, but is a creative force with top notch vision.

Young gun:

Albert Guðmundsson: this young winger has a superb final product, scoring 9 goals and providing 8 assists in 15 starts this season, as well as netting a hat-trick on international debut in 2018.

Team overview/style of play:

Ever the darling of football hipsters around the world, this Iceland side will be looking for a repeat of their astonishing performance at the 2016 Euros. Credited with making 4-4-2 fashionable again, head coach (and dentist) Heimir Hallgrímsson has continued to use the tactics that won hearts - and matches - in France. With a highly organised midfield, compact defensive line and clinical attackers, Iceland makes up for their lack of individual talent with an expansive brand of football that involves all players in the build up play. Although much of their success can be credited to a rock-solid defence, Iceland does not shy away from attacking football, known to rush players forward and overwhelm their opponents in the final third.

Strengths:

•   Iceland play an innovative brand of football that previous matches show teams struggle to respond to

• At a time where more attacking-minded defensive lines seem to be the trend, Iceland’s tactic of overwhelming their opponents through sheer numbers may work a treat

•   Sky-high confidence after Euro 2016 and the World Cup qualifying campaign

•   Team unity and spirit

•   Unrivalled supporter base

Weaknesses:

•   Iceland’s tactics have been scrutinised by every manager worth their salt since their unexpected Euro 2016 run, and friendlies have shown that perhaps the magic has started to wear off

•   No true top class players

•   A solid plan A but no back-up plan B

•   Inability to score consistently or sometimes at all

Predicted line up:

Jerseys:

Verdict:

Valiant displays at Euro 2016 announced Iceland as a quality football side. In a tough group, making it to the round of 16 would be considered a success. 

Nigeria

Manager:

Salisu Yusuf

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Enyimba), Daniel Akpeyi (Chippa United/RSA), Francis Uzoho (Deportivo La Coruna/ESP);

Defenders: William Troost-Ekong, Shehu Abdullahi (Bursaspor/TUR), Leon Balogun (Brighton Hove Albion/ENG), Kenneth Omeruo (Chelsea/ENG), Bryan Idowu (Amkar Perm/RUS), Chidozie Awaziem (FC Porto/POR), Elderson Echiejile (Cercle Brugge/BEL), Tyronne Ebuehi (Benfica/POR);

Midfielders: Mikel Obi (Tianjin Teda/CHN), Ogenyi Onazi (Trabzonspor/TUR), John Ogu (Hapoel Be’er Sheva/ISR), Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City/ENG),Oghenekaro Etebo (CD Feirense/POR), Joel Obi (Torino FC/ITA);

Forwards: Odion Ighalo (Changchun Yatai/CHN), Ahmed Musa, Kelechi Iheanacho(Leicester City/ENG), Alex Iwobi (Arsenal/ENG), Simeon Nwankwo (FC Crotone/ITA), Victor Moses (Chelsea/ENG)

Key player:

Jon Obi Mikel: with so many attacking talents, Obi Mikel’s strength and composure will be vital to creating a stable base for his side to launch from.

One-to-watch:

Alex Iwobi: his side’s most important attacker, Iwobi has big game experience finds space with ease, enabling him to run at opponents and find a killer ball or shoot himself.

Young gun:

Wilfred Ndidi: is a dominant tackler, easily topping the statistic in the 2017-18 Premier League season, and also possesses and stinging shot.

Team overview/style of play:

A notoriously powerful running and defensive team, the Nigerian's go into this World Cup looking the same as the past. Scattered with many talented European based players, link up play between the midfield and forwards is an exciting prospect. Having secured qualification in a tough African group with Cameroon, Algeria and Zambia, the Super Eagles will maintain their 4-2-1-3 formation that has given them recent success. With a front line that boasts incredible strength, pace and dribbling ability, along with a wealth of English Premier League experience, the dynamic Africans will be a tough competitor, having already beaten Argentina 4-2 in a friendly earlier in the year, the psychological edge may be in their favour headed into the opening group fixture.

Strengths:

·      Pace in all playing position in attack – wings, strikers, attacking midfield. A threat in-behind can come from anywhere

·        Quality injection of youth talent with wiser more experienced players

·        Well coached structure in attack and defence

Weaknesses:

·        Untested goalkeeper

·        Despite good structure, natural talent in defence is lacking

·       Minimal ability to change the type of attack that is played. If oppositions stop the play through pacey outlets, a passing game isn’t a strong suit

Predicted line up:

Jerseys:

Verdict:

A balanced squad that will perform well. Making it out of the group stage is a possibility, but their progress will go no further than the round of 16 with loss to France in back-to-back World Cups.

Croatia

Manager:

Zlatko Dalic

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Danijel Subasic (AS Monaco), Lovre Kalinic (Gent), Dominik Livakovic (Dinamo Zagreb), Karlo Letica (Hajduk Split)

Defenders: Verdan Corluka (Lokomotiv Moscow), Domagoj Vida (Besiktas), Ivan Strinic (Sampdoria), Dejan Lovren (Livepool), Sime Vrsalijko (Atletico Madrid), Josip Pivaric (Dynamo Kyiv), Tin Jedvay (Bayer Leverkusen), Matej Mitrovic (Club Brugge), Borna Barisic (Osijek), Zoran Nizic (Hadjuk Split), Duje Caleta-Car (RB Slazburg), Borna Sosa (Dinamo Zagreb)

Midfielders: Luka Modric (Real Madrid), Mateo Kovacic (Real Madrid), Ivan Rakitic (FC Barcelona), Milan Badelj (Fiorentina), Marcelo Brozovic (Inter Milan), Marko Rog (Napoli), Mario Pasalic (Chelsea), Filip Bradaric (Hadjuk Split)

Forwards: Mario Mandzukic (Juventus), Ivan Perisic (Inter Milan), Nikola Kalinic (AC Milan), Andrej Kramaric (Hoffenheim), Marko Pjaca (Schalke), Ante Rebic (Eintracht Frankfurt), Duje Cop (Standard Liege), Ivan Santini (Caen)

Key player:

Luka Modrić: the little playmaker has the ability to single-handedly control a match, and is one of the best central-midfielders of our time.

One-to-watch:

Ivan Perisić: a consistent threat in every match, and someone who can break a game wide open in a matter of moments.

Young gun:

Marco Pjaca: possesses an exciting balance between pace/flair and composure/control.

Team overview/style of play:

A late managerial change in qualifying gave the Croatians a kick that got them over the line in the process and thrust them into the World Cup. However, this short term success may not translate over into long term security in results. A strong squad of players, playing in top European leagues gives the Croatians some much needed class in both attack and defence. Attitude, desire and unity could be called into question. A 4-2-3-1 formation is the go to shape to fit essential elements into the starting 11.

Strengths:

·        Team Chemistry

·        World Class attacking midfield

·        Settled starting XI

Weaknesses:

·        New manager without much time to enforce tactics

·        Midfield imbalance

Predicted line up:

Jerseys:

Verdict:

An extremely talent squad that could go on a run and make it deep into the tournament. This seems unlikely though, and they will be in with a tough battle to make it out of the group.

GROUP A - http://worldwidefantasyclub.blogspot.com/2018/05/road-to-russia-world-cup-team-by-team.html

GROUP B - http://worldwidefantasyclub.blogspot.com/2018/05/road-to-russia-world-cup-team-by-team_31.html

GROUP C - http://worldwidefantasyclub.blogspot.com/2018/06/road-to-russia-world-cup-team-by-team.html

FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN ONE OF THE BELOW KEY RINGS, PARTICIPATE IN OUR CURRENT PRIZE GIVEAWAY BY CLICKING HERE

Make sure to follow us on twitter to read all of our 2018 FIFA World Cup articles, as well as participate in special prize giveaways!

@WFC_17 @WFC_Seb @WFC_LS_Potzi @ctesoriero18