World Cup: Group D: Nigeria vs. Iceland, 6/22/2018

[Live in the Now]

If someone told me four years ago that I would make a thread for this game and that Iceland would have drawn Argentina first, I would piss myself with laughter.

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[Hadoop]

Iceland are the story of the tournament so far. Hope they continue to show the world that a nation with a fraction of the population of most cities can still compete with legends like Messi and global powerhouses on the world's biggest stage.

 

[Suiteness]

Iceland need the three points here if they want out of this group.

 

[gary69]

So, tiny Iceland against not only millions of Nigerians hoping for them to lose, but against Argentinians as well. Such a small number of people can break so many hearts in this game.

 

[The Abusement Park]

Iceland are the story of the tournament so far. Hope they continue to show the world that a nation with a fraction of the population of most cities can still compete with legends like Messi and global powerhouses on the world's biggest stage.

I’ve been saying that people are sleeping on Iceland. They’re one of the 2/3 best coached teams in the world, and while they don’t have the star power; and elite talent of the big teams, they play as a team and understand the system they’re playing better than almost every team in this WC. They won’t play pretty but they will play effective.

 

[robertmac43]

I would love to see Nigeria progress so I could keep watching Iwobi. That being said I think Iceland is well run and are far more organized than Nigeria at the best of times.

 

[Live in the Now]

I would love to see Nigeria progress so I could keep watching Iwobi. That being said I think Iceland is well run and are far more organized than Nigeria at the best of times.

I think the problem now is that Iceland also has to win, which will lead to them making mistakes. A draw in the other game would have been better for them as it would have caused Croatia to play football that is better suited to them.

The way Nigeria lost also was in a way that necessitated they make changes and frankly some of the players they had on the bench are better than the starters.

 

[MaxV]

I’m not even sure that Iceland are a story anymore.

They have been doing this since Euro ‘16 qualifiers.

I’m starting to just expect it from them.

 

[Nalens Oga]

I expect Nigeria to win if they show up instead of sleep-walking like they did against Croatia. Which is easily said than done.

 

[The Abusement Park]

I’m not even sure that Iceland are a story anymore.

They have been doing this since Euro ‘16 qualifiers.

I’m starting to just expect it from them.

That’s what I’ve been trying to say. They’re actually a decent team.

 

[kovacro]

I’m not even sure that Iceland are a story anymore.

They have been doing this since Euro ‘16 qualifiers.

I’m starting to just expect it from them.

You could even argue they were doing it in the Brazil 2014 qualifying cycle . Narrowly missing out on that tournament.

 

[The Abusement Park]

You could even argue they were doing it in the Brazil 2014 qualifying cycle . Narrowly missing out on that tournament.

They completely overhauled their coaching department at all levels around then. And ever since then they’ve been a good side.

 

[Moncherry]

Iceland is advancing from the group.

 

[MaxV]

Iceland is advancing from the group.

That would be something.

 

[koyvoo]

I’m not even sure that Iceland are a story anymore.

They have been doing this since Euro ‘16 qualifiers.

I’m starting to just expect it from them.

I agree. Winning the qualifying group for this tournament, when their opponents were definitely not underestimating them anymore shouldve been the last time anyone doubted their effectiveness.

 

[Corto]

In theory, I should cheer for a draw so Croatia is secured the #1 seed.

But in practice, game will start and there's no way I'll be able to NOT cheer for Iceland. I love their country, I love their team, I love the whole Scandinavian viking thing, and I'll just end up rooting for them.

 

[The Abusement Park]

In theory, I should cheer for a draw so Croatia is secured the #1 seed.

But in practice, game will start and there's no way I'll be able to NOT cheer for Iceland. I love their country, I love their team, I love the whole Scandinavian viking thing, and I'll just end up rooting for them.

They’re so hard not to root for.

 

[HajdukSplit]

This is a candidate for first 0:0 draw I think, though as I think about it more Iceland are usually pretty clinical and Nigeria looked shaky defending set pieces

 

[Alklha]

Iceland need the three points here if they want out of this group.

Avoiding defeat makes Iceland favourites to qualify from the group.

Win and a draw suits both them and Croatia in the final game.

Draw and it confirms Croatia as group winners. That will likely mean significant team changes for the Croatians going into the final game, and Iceland already proved capable of beating a full strength Croatian side in qualifying. Plus, if I'm a Croatian player then I want to see Argentina getting eliminated.

 

[Vancouver Canucks]

Iceland wins 2-1.

 

[Ivan13]

Dalic already said he'll play reserves.

 

[Luigi Habs]

Let's go Nigeria

I want all bus parking teams to be eliminated. I don't care how nice your country and your people are.

 

[TP]

Adopted Iceland as my team. LETS GO! Start Gunnar Stahl!

 

[hatterson]

Let's go Nigeria

I want all bus parking teams to be eliminated. I don't care how nice your country and your people are.

Iceland isn't a bus parking team though....

 

[TP]

wow. 99.6% of all houses with TV's in Iceland watched the Argentina game.