HAS NIGERIA DONE ARGENTINA A FAVOUR OR ITS FOR THEMSELVES?
Group D awaits the last round of games before we become aware which team joins Croatia in the second round.
Nigeria’s 2-0 victory over Iceland has blown Group D wide open, and keeps the World Cup dreams alive for all teams in the group though the three will be fighting for that second slot.
Here are the permutations that I have gathered pertaining this group and what is expected to be done for each team to qualify.
Croatia
They have qualified to the knock out stage and the only team that could catch up with them is Nigeria but will have to win big and hope Croatia lose to Iceland in the final game. That scenario would only be for the fight of top slot. It looks far fetched.
Croatia are through……
NIGERIA
Nigeria will qualify without looking at any other fixture should they beat Argentina with whichever score line.
A draw with Argentina will also be enough for Nigeria if Iceland draw against Croatia. But Nigeria will be out should they draw and Iceland beat Croatia and better their goal difference against Nigeria .
A draw for Nigeria and a win for Croatia against Iceland sends the Super Eagles to the knock out stage.
The Super Eagles will be knocked out with a loss to Argentina and Argentina will then have to wait for the Iceland Vs Croatia result to know their fate should they beat Nigeria.
ICELAND
Iceland will also have to beat Croatia to keep their slim hopes alive, while Croatia will want to top the group with a win. A draw for Iceland won’t be good enough to qualify as anything less than a victory won’t be good enough for the smallest nation at the World Cup.
A win for Iceland and we get calculators…
ARGENTINA
Argentina must win their match, and at the same time better Iceland’s result against a Croatian team who may rest players, given their knockout spot is secure.
If Argentina win 3-0 and Iceland win 1-0, then Argentina qualify on goal difference. If they win 2-0 and Iceland win 1-0, then Argentina would also go through – both sides would have four points and minus one goal difference, but Messi and company would have scored three goals to Iceland’s two.
Of course, if Iceland draw or lose and Argentina win, then the South Americans hopes of being a world champion can continue.
However if both sides win 1-0, then Iceland knock Argentina out, as their goal difference would be minus one to Argentina’s minus two.
Argentina will be knocked out if they fail to win. A draw isn’t good enough for the South Americans.
Summary of Group D
After two games, Nigeria have three points, while Argentina and Iceland both have one. Leaders Croatia, on six, have reached the last 16 with a match to spare.
Crucially, Iceland’s goal difference is marginally better than Argentina’s – minus two, while the South Americans are on minus three.
Goal difference is the primary decider of group ranking at the World Cup, after points, unlike in the Champions League where head-to-head takes precedence.
The final games in the group kick-off at on Tuesday, with Argentina playing Nigeria in St Petersburg, while Iceland face Croatia in Rostov.
Again, from Africa’s perspective, Has Nigeria done Argentina a favour or they have done it for Africa?
