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’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.

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.

Group D, Game 2: Croatia v Nigeria
Kaliningrad Stadium, Kaliningrad
Sat 16th June at 2000 BST

Result:
Croatia 2 (Etebo 32’ o.g., Modrić 70’ pen)
Nigeria 0

Game 2 preview: Croatia v Nigeria
Kaliningrad Stadium
Sat 16th June at 2000 BST

Both teams will be hopeful of progressing and the two sides have not met in any competition before. Croatia have not kept a clean sheet in 9 games out of their last 11 while Nigeria have only one won game in their last 12 World Cup matches.