Reykjavík Grapevine - 15.06.2018, Blaðsíða 29

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Group D:
The Group
Of Death
Who are Iceland’s first victims
on the way to the trophy?
Words: Greig Kaj Robertsson Images: Lóa Hlín Hjálmtýsdóttir
When Iceland was pulled in Group
D of the World Cup—alongside
Argentina, Nigeria and previously-
smited weakling Croatia—many
called it the Group of Death. They’re
right. It is. For everyone else. Here
are some thoughts on the first
three teams Iceland will humble
and destroy on the march to inevi-
table World Cup victory.
Argentina
World Ranking: 5
Coach: Jorge Sampaoli
Captain: Lionel Messi
Key player: Lionel Messi
Last game against Iceland: N/A
Date to be smited: June 16th
Battlefield: Spartak Stadium
Argentina and Iceland have never
previously met, making the boys in
blue undefeated against the Group
D favourites. Lionel Messi’s side
suffered some well-documented
troubles in qualification, waiting
until the last game against Ecua-
dor to book their place in Russia.
Surprise, surprise: it was Leo who
slammed in a hat-trick. To say La
Albiceleste are over-reliant on their
talismanic captain would be an
understatement.
For example, without Messi
in a friendly against Nigeria last
November, Argentina slumped to
a 4-2 defeat, having led 2-0. Things
got even worse for them in March
as Spain delivered a smiting of
unholy proportions, trouncing
the South Americans 6-1 as Lionel
looked on, disgusted. Their recent
4-0 triumph over Haiti only reaf-
firmed this dependence, as the
little magician notched another
hat-trick and assisted Sergio
Agüero.
All of this is heartening for our
boys—if they can mark Messi out
of the game. Aron “The Annihila-
tor” is already licking his lips at the
prospect, and will take delight in
strangling the G.O.A.T.’s (“Greatest
Of All Time”) last shot at glory into
oblivion.
Predicted group position: 2nd
A fit and firing Leo will undoubt-
edly see the Argies graduate from
the group if they can overcome
their defensive fragility. They’re
prime for a smash ‘n’ grab pillage in
the group’s opening game on June
16th.
Nigeria
World Ranking: 47
Coach: Gernot Rohr
Captain: John Obi Mikel
Key player: Alex Iwobi
Last game against Iceland: August
22nd, 1981, Iceland 3-0 Nigeria
Date to be smited: June 22nd
Battlefield: Volgograd Arena
Nigeria’s home shirt may have
sold out faster than Aron Jóhanns-
son did to the Yanks, but can their
performance on the pitch gener-
ate the same hysteria? Despite an
unbeaten run in qualifying, the
Super Eagles’ lack of experience has
proved a major talking point in the
build-up to Russia and their unpre-
dictability is likely to prove their
greatest strength and pitfall.
They conceded a late penalty in
a recent friendly against DR Congo
at home to draw 1-1, and had a first
half to forget against England at
Wembley Stadium. In the second
period of the 2-1 defeat to the Three
Lions, though, Gernot Rohr’s men
impressed, with Arsenal’s Alex
Iwobi turning in an eye-catching
performance in the number 10 role.
Their German coach’s tactical
nous could well have earned his
side a share of the spoils in London,
so Heimir will need a dagger up his
sleeve on June 22nd.
Predicted group position: 4th
They like to play on the front foot
and have significant firepower in
Odion Ighalo and Kelechi Iheana-
cho, but their style will suit our
boys. Grapevine expects proceed-
ings in Volgograd to be in the same
vein as when Iceland last smited
them out of their senses in a 3-0
1981 tie.
Croatia
World Ranking: 18
Coach: Zlatko Dalić
Captain: Luka Modrić
Key player: Luka Modrić
Last game against Iceland: June
22th, 2017, Iceland 1-0 Croatia
Date to be smited: June 26th
Battlefield: Rostov Arena
Having almost been ended by
Úlfhéðnarnir okkar in qualifica-
tion, Croatia reached Russia by
the skin of their teeth. While they
negotiated their group decider
against Ukraine and a play-off
against Greece nicely, they have
faltered to deceive at recent major
tournaments, and will be a scalping
target for coach Heimir.
Their recent friendly against
Brazil on June 3rd was a case in
point of their limitations; Luka
Modrić and Ivan Rakitić saw plenty
of the ball in the second half, with-
out ever connecting meaningfully
with forwards Ivan Perišić and
Andrej Kramarić. In the eventual
2-0 defeat at Anfield, The Blazers’
concentration waned, and Neymar
was quick to capitalise.
Should Gylfi “The Viking Virtu-
oso” Sigurðsson get a similar
sniff of blood, he’ll gladly deliver
a sucker-punch; Dejan Lovren is
rumoured to have packed a suitcase
full of Kleenex in anticipation.
Predicted group position: 3rd
Stronger on paper than in reality,
and unwarranting of their “dark
horse” status, Mario Mandžukić is
a capable forward threat who could
provide a stiff physical test for
Iceland’s backline. That is, if facing
Hannes Þór “Wild Claws” Halldórs-
son again doesn’t trigger his PTSD.