Group H at the 1998 FIFA World Cup comprised CONMEBOL representatives Argentina, and three World Cup debutants: Croatia, competing from the UEFA confederation; Jamaica of CONCACAF; and Japan from the Asian Football Confederation.
Argentina qualified with a match to spare after they beat Japan and Jamaica with Gabriel Batistuta scoring in both games. Croatia did the same with Davor Šuker scoring in both games. Argentina then beat Croatia to take first place, while Jamaica got their first ever points in a World Cup finals tournament by beating Japan.
Standings
Argentina advanced to play England (runner-up of Group G) in the round of 16. Croatia advanced to play Romania (winner of Group G) in the round of 16.
Matches
Argentina vs Japan
GK 1 Carlos RoaRB 14Nelson VivasCB 2 Roberto AyalaCB 6 Roberto Sensini LB 22Javier ZanettiDM 5 Matías AlmeydaCM 8 Diego Simeone (c)CM 11Juan Sebastián VerónAM 10Ariel OrtegaCF 7 Claudio López CF 9 Gabriel BatistutaSubstitutions:FW 18Abel Balbo DF 3 José Chamot Manager:Daniel Passarella GK 20Yoshikatsu KawaguchiCB 17Yutaka AkitaCB 4 Masami Ihara (c) CB 19Eisuke Nakanishi RM 2 Akira NarahashiCM 6 Motohiro YamaguchiCM 10Hiroshi NanamiLM 3 Naoki Soma AM 8 Hidetoshi NakataCF 9 Masashi Nakayama CF 18Shoji JoSubstitutions:FW 12Wagner Lopes MF 22Takashi Hirano Manager:Takeshi Okada Assistant referees: Marc Van den Broeck (Belgium) Eddie Foley (Republic of Ireland) Fourth official: Ryszard Wójcik (Polish)
Jamaica vs Croatia To date, this is the last match in which both sides were playing their first ever FIFA World Cup fixture. It was the first time it had happened since 1974, when East Germany played Australia.
GK 1 Warren Barrett (c)CB 19Frank SinclairCB 7 Peter Cargill CB 5 Ian GoodisonRM 6 Fitzroy SimpsonCM 11Theodore WhitmoreCM 16Robbie Earle LM 15Ricardo GardnerRF 18Deon Burton CF 17Onandi LoweLF 22Paul Hall Substitutions:MF 20Darryl Powell FW 9 Andrew Williams FW 10Walter Boyd Manager: René Simões GK 1 Dražen LadićCB 6 Slaven BilićCB 14Zvonimir Soldo CB 4 Igor ŠtimacRWB 20Dario Šimić LWB 17Robert JarniCM 8 Robert ProsinečkiCM 7 Aljoša AsanovićAM 10Zvonimir Boban (c)CF 13Mario StanićCF 9 Davor ŠukerSubstitutions:FW 19Goran Vlaović Manager: Miroslav Blažević Assistant referees: Nicolae Grigorescu (Romania) Jacques Poudevigne (France) Fourth official: Bernd Heynemann (Germany)
Japan vs Croatia
GK 20Yoshikatsu KawaguchiCB 17Yutaka Akita CB 4 Masami Ihara (c)CB 19Eisuke Nakanishi RM 2 Akira Narahashi CM 6 Motohiro YamaguchiCM 10Hiroshi Nanami LM 3 Naoki SomaAM 8 Hidetoshi NakataCF 9 Masashi Nakayama CF 18Shoji JoSubstitutions:FW 14Masayuki Okano MF 15Hiroaki Morishima FW 12Wagner Lopes Manager:Takeshi Okada GK 1 Dražen LadićCB 6 Slaven BilićCB 14Zvonimir SoldoCB 4 Igor Štimac RWB20Dario ŠimićLWB17Robert JarniDM 21Krunoslav JurčićCM 8 Robert Prosinečki CM 7 Aljoša AsanovićCF 13Mario Stanić CF 9 Davor Šuker (c)Substitutions:FW 19Goran Vlaović MF 11Silvio Marić DF 15Igor Tudor Manager: Miroslav Blažević Assistant referees: Marere Gonzales (Trinidad and Tobago) Achmat Salie (South Africa) Fourth official: Günter Benkö (Austria)
Argentina vs Jamaica
GK 1 Carlos RoaRB 22Javier ZanettiCB 2 Roberto AyalaCB 6 Roberto Sensini LB 3 José Chamot DM 5 Matías AlmeydaCM 8 Diego Simeone (c) CM 11Juan Sebastián VerónAM 10Ariel OrtegaCF 7 Claudio López CF 9 Gabriel BatistutaSubstitutions:DF 14Nelson Vivas MF 20Marcelo Gallardo DF 4 Mauricio Pineda Manager:Daniel Passarella GK 1 Warren Barrett (c)DF 2 Stephen Malcolm DF 3 Chris DawesDF 5 Ian GoodisonMF 6 Fitzroy SimpsonMF 11Theodore Whitmore DF 15Ricardo GardnerFW 18Deon Burton DF 19Frank SinclairMF 20Darryl Powell FW 22Paul HallSubstitutions:DF 7 Peter Cargill FW 10Walter Boyd MF 16Robbie Earle Manager: René Simões Assistant referees: Mikael Nilsson (Sweden) Gennaro Mazzei (Italy) Fourth official: Pierluigi Collina (Italy)
Argentina vs Croatia
GK 1 Carlos RoaRB 14Nelson Vivas CB 2 Roberto Ayala CB 13Pablo PazLB 4 Mauricio PinedaDM 22Javier Zanetti DM 5 Matías AlmeydaCM 11Juan Sebastián VerónAM 10Ariel Ortega AM 20Marcelo Gallardo CF 9 Gabriel Batistuta (c)Substitutions:FW 7 Claudio López MF 8 Diego Simeone MF 16Sergio Berti Manager:Daniel Passarella GK 1 Dražen LadićCB 20Dario ŠimićCB 6 Slaven Bilić CB 14Zvonimir Soldo RWB 11Silvio Marić LWB 17Robert Jarni CM 8 Robert Prosinečki CM 7 Aljoša AsanovićAM 10Zvonimir Boban (c) CF 13Mario StanićCF 9 Davor ŠukerSubstitutions:FW 19Goran Vlaović DF 4 Igor Štimac Manager: Miroslav Blažević Assistant referees: Aristidis Chris Soldatos (South Africa) Mohamed Mansri (Tunisia) Fourth official: An-Yan Lim Kee Chong (Mauritius)
Japan vs Jamaica
GK 20Yoshikatsu KawaguchiCB 17Yutaka AkitaCB 4 Masami Ihara (c)CB 5 Norio Omura RM 2 Akira NarahashiCM 6 Motohiro Yamaguchi CM 10Hiroshi Nanami LM 3 Naoki SomaAM 8 Hidetoshi NakataCF 9 Masashi NakayamaCF 18Shoji Jo Substitutions:FW 12Wagner Lopes MF 22Takashi Hirano MF 11Shinji Ono Manager:Takeshi Okada GK 13Aaron LawrenceDF 2 Stephen Malcolm DF 3 Chris Dawes DF 5 Ian Goodison (c)MF 6 Fitzroy Simpson FW 8 Marcus Gayle MF 11Theodore WhitmoreDF 15Ricardo GardnerFW 17Onandi LoweDF 19Frank SinclairFW 22Paul Hall Substitutions:FW 10Walter Boyd FW 18Deon Burton MF 16Robbie Earle Manager: René Simões Assistant referees: Evžen Amler (Czech Republic) Dramane Danté (Mali) Fourth official: Hugh Dallas (Scotland)
See also Argentina at the FIFA World Cup Croatia at the FIFA World Cup Jamaica at the FIFA World Cup Japan at the FIFA World Cup
References
Match reports