Croatia end Iceland’s dreams of knockout stages with Group D-winning victory

Ivan Perisic scored late to help Croatia finish the group stage on nine points and end Iceland’s hopes of advancing in their first World Cup.

ROSTOV-ON-DON, Russia — Three quick thoughts from Croatia’s 2-1 win over Iceland in their group-stage finale, which sees Luka Modric & Co. finish atop of Group D.

1. Croatia win Group D, end Iceland dreams

This World Cup has so far offered most things that we want to entertain: goals, brilliant play, occasional incompetence and upsets. It needed tension though, and the last games of Group D certainly provided that, with gusto.

Iceland were so very close to doing the implausible and qualifying…

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Win or bust for Iceland against familiar foe Croatia

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Match 40

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By Philip O’ConnorGELENDZHIK, Russia, June 24 (Reuters) – Nothing less than a win will do for Iceland against Croatia if they are to emulate their Euro 2016 success by making it to the knockout stage at their first World Cup, but it will be a tall order against a familiar foe that leads Group D.The Croatians, who outclassed Argentina with a 3-0 win, are through already and will top the group with a win or a draw against Iceland at the Rostov Arena in Rostov-On-Don.Having drawn with Argentina in their…

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World Cup diaries: The Viking clap experience, big crowds at small games

ESPN FC’s Stewart Robson breaks down the adjustments Gernot Rohr made to help Nigeria overcome Iceland and blow Group D wide open.

The Thunderclap

At the first double-drumbeat the stadium suddenly goes hush; the “Hoo!” follows a split second later. Still a hush. It’s like the first footstep of the T-Rex in Jurassic Park. Everyone is on edge. Then the next, about ten seconds later. Then another, a second faster; and so on until by the tenth it’s rapid-fire. I counted 30 before it broke down into the general noise of a football crowd.

Iceland’s fans – called Tolfan, for twelve, or “twelfth man” – debuted the Thunderclap at…

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Nigeria’s reluctant tactical change paid dividends in Iceland win – Rohr

ESPN FC’s Stewart Robson breaks down the adjustments Gernot Rohr made to help Nigeria overcome Iceland and blow Group D wide open.

Don Hutchison and Leroy Rosenior commends Nigeria on a great performance which saw them win 2-0 against Iceland.

Nigeria roared to life in the second half after a dull opening 45 minutes, benefitting from two lovely goals from Ahmed Musa to see off Iceland.
Nigeria’s top players needed persuasion to change positions in a tactical shake-up but coach Gernot Rohr’s plans paid dividends as they beat Iceland 2-0 on Friday to get back in contention to progress to the World Cup’s last 16.
Skipper John Obi Mikel and Victor Moses had to be cajoled into new roles as Rohr heeded the criticism that followed his side’s opening Group D defeat by Croatia.
Obi Mikel was used as an attacking midfielder throughout Nigeria’s qualifying campaign but a lacklustre showing…

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Iceland coach confident in their chances of beating familiar foe Croatia

Nigeria roared to life in the second half after a dull opening 45 minutes, benefitting from two lovely goals from Ahmed Musa to see off Iceland.

ESPN FC’s Stewart Robson breaks down the adjustments Gernot Rohr made to help Nigeria overcome Iceland and blow Group D wide open. Iceland need to beat a Croatia side their coach Heimir Hallgrimsson described as being like the other half of a married couple to make the last-16.
Having drawn 1-1 with Argentina in their opener, Iceland got a rude awakening from their World Cup fairytale as Ahmed Musa scored twice for Nigeria and Gylfi Sigurdsson missed a penalty in the African team’s 2-0 win.
The Iceland coach said his side got their tactics right, stopping Nigeria from managing a shot on target in the first half, only to concede…

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