Group D of the 1998 FIFA World Cup was played from 12 to 24 June 1998. Nigeria won their first two games while Paraguay drew their first two games 0–0, which meant that Nigeria were certain of qualifying in first place with a game to spare. In their final game, Spain got their only victory after scoring six against Bulgaria, but were still eliminated in third place after Paraguay beat Nigeria. Thus, Spain were the only top seed not to advance to the second round, while all others topped their respective groups. On the other hand, Bulgaria could not repeat their surprise performance from the previous tournament, finishing last in the group with a single point.
Standings
Nigeria advanced to play Denmark (runner-up of Group C) in the round of 16. Paraguay advanced to play France (winner of Group C) in the round of 16.
Matches
Paraguay vs Bulgaria
GK 1 José Luis Chilavert (c)CB 4 Carlos GamarraCB 5 Celso AyalaCB 11Pedro SarabiaRWB 19Carlos Morales LWB 21Jorge Luis Campos CM 10Roberto AcuñaCM 13Carlos ParedesCM 16Julio César EncisoSS 15Miguel Ángel Benítez CF 9 José Cardozo Substitutions:DF 20Denis Caniza FW 18César Ramírez MF 7 Julio César Yegros Manager: Paulo César Carpegiani GK 1 Zdravko ZdravkovRB 2 Radostin KishishevCB 3 Trifon Ivanov (c) CB 5 Ivaylo YordanovLB 4 Ivaylo PetkovRM 16Anatoli Nankov CM 6 Zlatko YankovCM 11Ilian Iliev LM 10Krasimir BalakovFW 8 Hristo Stoichkov FW 9 Lyuboslav Penev Substitutions:FW 7 Emil Kostadinov MF 18Daniel Borimirov Manager:Hristo Bonev Assistant referees: Achmat Salie (South Africa) Hussain Ghadanfari (Kuwait) Fourth official: Nikolai Levnikov (Russia)
Spain vs Nigeria
GK 1 Andoni Zubizarreta (c)RB 2 Albert Ferrer CB 14Iván Campo CB 4 Rafael AlkortaLB 12SergiDM 20Miguel Ángel Nadal DM 6 Fernando HierroAM 21Luis EnriqueLF 10RaúlRF 11Alfonso CF 19KikoSubstitutions:MF 18Guillermo Amor FW 17Joseba Etxeberria MF 16Albert Celades Manager:Javier Clemente GK 1 Peter RufaiRB 2 Mobi Oparaku CB 5 Uche Okechukwu (c) CB 6 Taribo WestLB 3 Celestine BabayaroDM 15Sunday OlisehRM 7 Finidi GeorgeCM 8 Mutiu AdepojuCM 10Jay-Jay OkochaLM 11Garba Lawal CF 20Victor Ikpeba Substitutions:FW 9 Rashidi Yekini MF 13Tijani Babangida DF 21Godwin Okpara Manager: Bora Milutinović Assistant referees: Luis Torres Zúñiga (Costa Rica) Yuri Dupanov (Belarus) Fourth official: Ian McLeod (South Africa)
Nigeria vs Bulgaria
GK 1 Peter RufaiRB 8 Mutiu Adepoju CB 5 Uche Okechukwu (c) CB 6 Taribo WestLB 3 Celestine BabayaroDM 15Sunday OlisehRM 7 Finidi George AM 10Jay-Jay Okocha LM 11Garba LawalCF 14Daniel Amokachi CF 20Victor Ikpeba Substitutions:FW 4 Nwankwo Kanu FW 9 Rasheed Yekini MF 13Tijani Babangida Manager: Bora Milutinović GK 1 Zdravko ZdravkovDF 2 Radostin Kishishev DF 3 Trifon Ivanov (c)DF 4 Ivaylo PetkovMF 6 Zlatko Yankov FW 7 Emil KostadinovFW 8 Hristo StoichkovMF 10Krasimir BalakovMF 11Ilian Iliev DF 13Gosho GinchevMF 14Marian Hristov Substitutions:MF 18Daniel Borimirov FW 9 Lyuboslav Penev FW 19Georgi Bachev Manager:Hristo Bonev Assistant referees: Jorge Díaz Gálvez (Chile) Arnaldo Pinto (Brazil) Fourth official: Marcio Rezende (Brazil)
Spain vs Paraguay
GK 1 Andoni Zubizarreta (c)RB 15Carlos AguileraCB 5 Abelardo CB 4 Rafael AlkortaLB 12Sergi RM 17Joseba EtxeberriaCM 6 Fernando HierroCM 18Guillermo AmorLM 21Luis EnriqueSS 10Raúl CF 9 Juan Antonio Pizzi Substitutions:FW 7Fernando Morientes MF 16Albert Celades FW 19Kiko Manager:Javier Clemente GK 1 José Luis Chilavert (c)DF 2 Francisco Arce DF 4 Carlos GamarraDF 5 Celso Ayala FW 8 Arístides Rojas MF 10Roberto Acuña DF 11Pedro SarabiaFW 15Miguel Ángel BenítezMF 16Julio César EncisoDF 20Denis CanizaMF 21Jorge Luis Campos Substitutions:MF 13Carlos Paredes MF 7 Julio César Yegros FW 18César Ramírez Manager: Paulo César Carpegiani Assistant referees: Aristidis Chris Soldatos (South Africa) Owen Powell (Jamaica) Fourth official: Esfandiar Baharmast (United States)
Nigeria vs Paraguay
GK 1 Peter Rufai (c)RB 17Augustine Eguavoen CB 6 Taribo WestCB 16Uche OkaforLB 19Ben Iroha RM 13Tijani BabangidaCM 15Sunday Oliseh CM 18Wilson Oruma LM 11Garba LawalCF 9 Rasheed YekiniCF 4 Nwankwo KanuSubstitutions:DF 21Godwin Okpara MF 7 Finidi George Manager: Bora Milutinović GK 1 José Luis Chilavert (c)RB 2 Francisco ArceCB 4 Carlos GamarraCB 5 Celso AyalaLB 11Pedro SarabiaCM 13Carlos ParedesCM 16Julio César EncisoCM 20Denis Caniza RF 17Hugo Brizuela CF 9 José CardozoLF 15Miguel Ángel Benítez Substitutions:MF 7 Julio César Yegros MF 10Roberto Acuña FW 8 Arístides Rojas Manager: Paulo César Carpegiani Assistant referees: Mohamed Al Musawi (Oman) Mikael Nilsson (Sweden) Fourth official: Masayoshi Okada (Japan)
Spain vs Bulgaria
GK 1 Andoni Zubizarreta (c)RB 15Carlos Aguilera CB 20Miguel Ángel NadalCB 4 Rafael AlkortaLB 12SergiRM 17Joseba Etxeberria CM 6 Fernando HierroCM 18Guillermo AmorLM 21Luis Enrique SS 11Alfonso CF 7 Fernando MorientesSubstitutions:FW 10Raúl FW 19Kiko MF 8 Julen Guerrero Manager:Javier Clemente GK 1 Zdravko ZdravkovDF 2 Radostin KishishevDF 3 Trifon Ivanov (c)DF 5 Ivaylo YordanovFW 7 Emil KostadinovFW 8 Hristo Stoichkov MF 10Krasimir Balakov DF 13Gosho GinchevMF 16Anatoli Nankov MF 18Daniel BorimirovFW 19Georgi Bachev Substitutions:FW 9 Lyuboslav Penev MF 11Ilian Iliev MF 14Marian Hristov Manager:Hristo Bonev Assistant referees: Nicolae Grigorescu (Romania) Claudio Rossi (Argentina) Fourth official: Nikolai Levnikov (Russia)
See also Bulgaria at the FIFA World Cup Nigeria at the FIFA World Cup France at the FIFA World Cup Spain at the FIFA World Cup
References
Match reports