World Cup: Team D Group Credentials

We have already informed you about the first 3 teams in the World Cup, so now it is time to move onto Group D and share with you all of the important tit-bits…
ARGENTINA
Coach Jorge Sampaoli
Argentine Sampaoli has been in charge of his country since 2017. It was a shaky road to Russia, with the runners-up of Brazil 2014 leaving it until their last game to qualify. Sampaoli has also managed Chile and Sevilla.
Key Player Gonzalo Higuaín
Fresh from winning Serie A and the Coppa Italia with Juventus, Higuaín will be hoping to increase his World Cup goal tally after a hat-trick against South Korea in 2010 and the winner against Belgium in the 2014 quarter-final.
Random Fact
Argentina legend Gabriel Batistuta is one of only four players to have scored more than one hat-trick in World Cup tournaments, along with Hungary’s Sándor Kocsis, France’s Just Fontaine, and West Germany’s Gerd Müller.
FIFA Ranking: 5
ICELAND
Coach Heimir Hallgrímsson
A manager with a remarkable story, Hallgrímsson was once playing for Höttur in Iceland whilst also coaching the club’s women’s football team. Appointed Iceland’s assistant manager in 2011, he carried out his national team duties whilst working part-time as a dentist until taking over as sole manager after UEFA Euro 2016.
Key Player Gylfi Sigurðsson
Iceland’s third highest goalscorer, the Everton midfielder scored four goals in Iceland’s qualifying campaign for their first ever World Cup.
Random Fact
Iceland will become the smallest nation by population to participate in a World Cup tournament.
FIFA Ranking: 22
CROATIA
Coach Zlatko Dalić
Dalić was named Croatia coach in October 2017, following Ante Čačić’s dismissal. At this point, Croatia had only one World Cup qualifier remaining against Ukraine. Dalić’s team secured their place in their second consecutive World Cup after beating Greece 4-1 on aggregate in the play-offs.
Key Player Mario Mandžukić
The Juventus forward has scored 30 goals for his country, including two against Cameroon in the 2014 World Cup and one against upcoming group opponents Iceland.
Random Fact
Croatia played fellow Group D competitors Argentina in the 1998 World Cup group stage and were defeated 1-0, but they still went on to reach third place, their best ever finish at the tournament.
FIFA Ranking: 18
NIGERIA
Coach Gernot Rohr
Former Bayern Munich and Bordeaux defender Gernot Rohr has also managed Gabon, Niger and Burkina Faso. Named Nigeria manager in August 2016, he guided the African nation to the World Cup comfortably, with Nigeria being the first African nation to qualify for Russia 2018.
Key Player Ahmed Musa
The Leicester City forward, who spent half a season on loan at CSKA Moscow, scored 6 goals in 10 appearances for the Russian club in that time. He also scored twice against Argentina, Nigeria’s group D opponents, at the 2014 World Cup.
Random Fact
Nigeria have progressed out of the World Cup group stage three times in their history, more than any other African nation. However, they are yet to reach beyond the last 16.
FIFA Ranking: 47
> Bradley Montgomery