itsbeautifuloutside

As the schedulers/powers-that-be in FIFA have decided to double up the third matches in the group games, I’m trying to follow two matches at the same time - one on the TV and the other on the laptop - but, as I’m crap at multitasking, this may not go well. Anyway, I decided to watch this game on TV and try and follow Iceland v Croatia on the laptop. Not ideal, but there you are.

As the schedulers/powers-that-be in FIFA have decided to double up the third matches in the group games, I’m trying to follow two matches at the same time - one on the TV and the other on the laptop - but, as I’m crap at multitasking, this may not go well. Anyway, I’ve opted to watch Nigeria v Argentina on the TV and follow Iceland v Croatia, so this is cobbled together from bits viewed on the laptop from the BBC website and the BBC's text coverage.

Today sees the final group matches in Group D, with Iceland v Croatia and Nigeria v Argentina, both at 1900 (NOT helpful, I'll watch one and keep tabs on the other). While Croatia are already through to the last 16, things aren't so clear cut for the other qualifying place, with Iceland, Nigeria and Argentina all in with a chance.

Nigeria v Iceland
22nd June 2018, 1600
Volgograd

Result:
Nigeria 2 (Musa, 49’, 75’)
Iceland 0

Nigeria were in the dazzling radioactive-green chevrons today, making them look like animated highlighter markers. I can’t say I’m a fan of that kit, it’s way too loud for my taste, the dark green alternative looks much nicer.

Iceland should fancy their chances after holding Argentina to a draw in the first round of games. Argentina were hammered by Croatia in the previous evening’s Group D game and are therefore facing elimination should Iceland win this game and get at least a point from the next.

Fascinating (or not) factoids - Iceland’s no. 19 Rurik Gíslason is a model in his spare time, while no. 6 Ragnar Sigurðsson hates warm weather and much prefers Icelandic winters (apparently even summer in Iceland is too hot for him). Nigeria’s goalkeeper Francis Uzoho is only 19 years old and was a striker until he was 12, before switching to the goalkeeper position.

Argentina v Croatia
Group D, match 3
21st June 2018, 1900
Nizhny Novgorod

Result:
Argentina 0
Croatia 3

I remembered there was a reason I don’t particularly like Argentina - two words: Diego Maradona - and ostentatiously kissing a Lionel Messi shirt won’t make me like him any more.

Argentina looked very nervous during the warm up, the anthems and the early stages. That said, Croatia didn’t look composed themselves.