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How Nigeria’s Russia 2018 Group Opponents Have Fared At The World Cup

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Nigeria have been drawn in the 2018 FIFA World Cup Group D along with Croatia. Argentina and Iceland Completesportsnigeria.com’s JOHNNY EDWARD x-rays performances of the Super Eagles’new World Cup group opponents in past editions of the Mundial. 

ARGENTINA

Two time World Champions, Argentina, will be hoping to banish their runner-up hoodoo when they kick off their campaign at the 2018 World Cup in Russia. The La Albiceleste have failed to win their third World Cup title. They reached the quarter-finals four times in the 15 appearances.

Having won the World Cup in 1978 and 1986, Argentina have failed to qualify from the group stage only three times. In 1958, 1962 and in 2002.

Russia 2018 will be Argentina’s 16th appearance at the World Cup.

A Lionel Messi inspired La Albiceleste have never lost a game to Nigeria in their last five encounters at the World Cup so far. Their final Group D game against Nigeria on the 26th of June 2018 at the Saint Petersburg Stadium will be a landmark sixth encounter between the two teams at the World Cup.

Argentina have won 42 games, lost 21 and drawn 14 in 77 World Cup games since they made their debut in 1930.

CROATIA


Croatia made their debut at the FIFA World Cup in 1998 and finished third in the tournament, defeating the likes of Jamaica and Japan in the group stages. They lost 1-0 to Argentina in their final group game, but bounced back to beat Romania and Germany in the round of 16 and quarter-finals respectively, only to lose to eventual winners France 2-1 in the semi-final..

In the third place match, the Davor Suker led side edged Netherlands 2-1 to end their fairy tale at the World Cup,

Their second appearance at the 2002 Korea/Japan was not a pleasant one as the Croats could only manage one win, losing the remaining two games to make early exit from the tournament.

Croatia lost by a lone goal to Mexico in their opening game, but defeated Italy 2-1. They could not go past Ecuador in their final group game which ended their dream of a knockout berth.

Their third appearance at the Mundial was in Germany 2006 where they suffered the similar fate, but this time around they failed to win a game, losing to Brazil in their opening game and only recorded two draws, against Australia and Japan.

At the 2014 World Cup, despite parading the likes of Darijo Srna, Vedran Ćorluka, Dejan Lovren,Šime Vrsaljko, Luka Modrić, Ivan Rakitić, Ivan Perišić, Mateo Kovačić, Ivica Olić and Nikica Jelavić, the Croatian team failed to advance to the next round as they could only get a win against Cameroon in Group A that also housed hosts Brazil and Mexico.

In four appearances at the FIFA World Cup, Croatia have played 16 games, won seven, drawn two and lost seven. They have also scored 21 goals, conceding 17.

ICELAND


They will be making their debut at FIFA World Cup in Russia.

Sourced From: Complete Sports Nigeria

Complete Sports NG

Iheanacho Bags Sixth Assist As Leicester Slip Up In Top-Four Race After Frustrsting Draw At 10-Man Southampton 

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Kelechi Iheanacho provided his sixth assist of the season as 10-man Southampton held Leicester to a 1-1 draw and frustrate the Foxes in their push to clinch a top-four finish, Completesports.com reports. The in-form Iheanacho made amends by assisting Johnny Evans for Leicester’s equaliser, after he gave away the penalty which James Ward-Prowse converted to […]

The post Iheanacho Bags Sixth Assist As Leicester Slip Up In Top-Four Race After Frustrsting Draw At 10-Man Southampton  appeared first on Complete Sports.

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Football

Jupiler League: Onuachu Makes History As Genk Beat Royal Antwerp

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The 26-year-old becomes only the second player to score 30 league goals in Europe’s top ten leagues this season and the first Nigerian to reach that mark after he scored in Genk’s 3-2 win at Antwerp

Paul Onuachu continues to break new grounds in what has been a remarkable season after he scored his 30th league goal to help Genk to a 3-2 win over Royal Antwerp in the opening game of the Jupiler League Championship playoff round.

After coronavirus ended the Belgian top-flight abruptly last season, the championship round resumed again this season, with Antwerp playing host to Genk.

Theo Bongonda put Genk ahead in the 20th minute following a ball from Junya Ito, but goals from Maxime Le Marchand and Koji Miyoshi in the space of four minutes turned the tie around for Antwerp.

However, Onuachu restored parity for The Smurfs in the 71st minute for his 30th league goal of the season. By reaching this milestone, the former Midtjylland striker becomes the first Nigerian to reach 30 league goals in a single season in Europe.

Also, he is just the second player after Robert Lewandowski to score 30 or more goals in Europe’s top ten leagues this season.

But the Nigerian international is still 11 short of the record for most goals in a single Belgian top-flight season, set by Arthur Ceuleers and Jules Van Craen in the 1942-1943 season.

Nonetheless, Onuachu is well on course to become the third Nigerian player to finish as the top scorer in the Belgian top-flight after Tosin Dosunmu and Joseph Akpala.

Meanwhile, Bongonda, who provided the assist for Onuachu’s goal, combined once again with Ito to fire home the winner for Genk two minutes from time.

Sourced From: Soccernet.ng

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Women’s UCL: Oshoala Scores As Barca Knockout Man City, Clinch Semi-finals Ticket

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Asisat Oshoala netted a vital away goal for Barcelona Ladies who lost 2-1 to Manchester City but qualified for the semi-finals of the UEFA women’s Champions League on Wednesday, Completesports.com reports. Barcelona progressed into the last four stage with a 4-2 aggregate win over City, after winning the reverse fixture 3-0. It was a first […]

The post Women’s UCL: Oshoala Scores As Barca Knockout Man City, Clinch Semi-finals Ticket appeared first on Complete Sports.

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UWCL: Oshoala Scores Again As Barcelona Move Into The Semifinal Despite Losing To Man City

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The Super Falcons star was the hero in the first leg, and was again brilliant in the return leg, even though La Blaugranes lost

Asisat Oshoala was once again on target, but Barcelona lost 2-1 in the return leg of their Uefa Women’s Champions League quarterfinal clash.

However, Barcelona still progressed to the semifinals 4-2 on aggregate, having won the first leg 3-0 in Rome.

Oshoala was the hero in the first leg, scoring once and winning a penalty. The Nigerian international picked up from where she left off as she scored Barcelona’s equaliser in the 59th minute after Janine Beckie had given City the lead.

The former Liverpool star finished off a cut back from Mariona Caldentey to draw Lluis Cortes ladies level. The 26-year-old now has 13 goals for Barcelona this season,  including four in the champions league.

Although Samantha Mewis restored City’s lead from the penalty spot, it was the Spanish champions that progressed 4-2 on aggregate.

Barcelona will now face either Lyon or Paris in the semifinals next month.

Sourced From: Soccernet.ng

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