Group F of the 2014 FIFA World Cup consisted of Argentina, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iran and Nigeria. Play began on 15 June and ended on 25 June 2014. The top two teams, Argentina and Nigeria, advanced to the round of 16.
Teams Draw positionTeamConfederationMethod ofqualificationDate ofqualificationFinalsappearanceLastappearancePrevious bestperformanceFIFA Rankings October 2013 June 2014 F1 (seed) CONMEBOL CONMEBOL 1st winners 10 September 2013 16th 2010 Winners (1978, 1986) 3 5 F2 UEFA UEFA Group G winners 15 October 2013 1st — — 16 21 F3 AFC AFC fourth round Group A 1st winners 18 June 2013 4th 2006 Group stage (1978, 1998, 2006) 49 43 F4 CAF CAF third round winners 16 November 2013 5th 2010 Round of 16 (1994, 1998) 33 44
Notes
Standings
Argentina advanced to play Switzerland (runner-up of Group E) in the round of 16. Nigeria advanced to play France (winner of Group E) in the round of 16.
Matches Argentina vs Bosnia and Herzegovina The two teams had met in two previous matches, both in friendlies, most recently in 2013, both won by Argentina.
Bosnia and Herzegovina conceded three minutes into their World Cup debut, when Lionel Messi's free kick from the left was flicked on by Marcos Rojo and bounced off Sead Kolašinac into the net for an own goal. In the second half, Messi played a one-two with substitute Gonzalo Higuaín and shot home from the edge of the penalty area with his left foot into the bottom-right corner. With five minutes remaining in normal time, Bosnia and Herzegovina pulled one back, when Senad Lulić's pass found substitute Vedad Ibišević to score the country's first ever World Cup goal, shooting under the goalkeeper with his left foot.
Kolašinac's own goal after two minutes and nine seconds broke the record for the fastest own goal in the history of the FIFA World Cup, surpassing Carlos Gamarra's own goal (two minutes and 46 seconds) in Paraguay's first group stage match against England at the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
GK 1 Sergio RomeroCB 3 Hugo Campagnaro CB 17Federico FernándezCB 2 Ezequiel GarayRWB4 Pablo ZabaletaLWB16Marcos Rojo RM 11Maxi Rodríguez CM 14Javier MascheranoLM 7 Ángel Di MaríaCF 10Lionel Messi (c)CF 20Sergio Agüero Substitutions:FW 9 Gonzalo Higuaín MF 5 Fernando Gago MF 6 Lucas Biglia Manager:Alejandro Sabella GK 1 Asmir BegovićRB 13Mensur Mujdža CB 3 Ermin BičakčićCB 4 Emir Spahić (c) LB 5 Sead KolašinacCM 7 Muhamed BešićCM 20Izet Hajrović RW 8 Miralem PjanićAM 10Zvjezdan Misimović LW 16Senad LulićCF 11Edin DžekoSubstitutions:FW 9 Vedad Ibišević MF 19Edin Višća MF 18Haris Medunjanin Manager:Safet Sušić
Man of the Match: Lionel Messi (Argentina)
Assistant referees: William Torres (El Salvador) Juan Zumba (El Salvador) Fourth official: Djamel Haimoudi (Algeria) Fifth official: Abdelhalk Etchiali (Algeria)
Iran vs Nigeria The two teams had met in one previous match, in the 1998 Lunar New Year Cup, won 1–0 by Nigeria.
In a goalless game of few chances, Iran's Reza Ghoochannejhad forced a save from Vincent Enyeama in the first half, while Nigeria substitute Shola Ameobi headed wide in the second half.
This was the first goalless match as well as the first draw of the tournament after the previous 12 matches all produced a winner, and was the longest wait for a draw in a single tournament since 1930, where there were no draws in the entire tournament. This was also the first clean sheet kept by Iran in the World Cup.
GK 12Alireza HaghighiRB 4 Jalal HosseiniCB 5 Amir Hossein SadeghiCB 15Pejman MontazeriLB 23Mehrdad PooladiCM 2 Khosro Heydari CM 14Andranik Teymourian AM 6 Javad Nekounam (c)RF 21Ashkan Dejagah CF 16Reza GhoochannejhadLF 3 Ehsan HajsafiSubstitutions:FW 9 Alireza Jahanbakhsh MF 7 Masoud Shojaei Manager: Carlos Queiroz GK 1 Vincent Enyeama (c)RB 5 Efe AmbroseCB 13Juwon OshaniwaCB 14Godfrey Oboabona LB 22Kenneth OmeruoCM 17Ogenyi OnaziCM 15Ramon Azeez CM 10John Obi MikelRW 11Victor Moses LW 7 Ahmed MusaCF 9 Emmanuel EmenikeSubstitutions:DF 2 Joseph Yobo FW 23Shola Ameobi FW 8 Peter Odemwingie Manager:Stephen Keshi
Man of the Match: John Obi Mikel (Nigeria)
Assistant referees: Christian Lescano (Ecuador) Byron Romero (Ecuador) Fourth official: Wilmar Roldán (Colombia) Fifth official: Humberto Clavijo (Colombia)
Argentina vs Iran
The two teams had met in one previous match, in a friendly in 1977, won on penalties by Argentina after a 1–1 draw .
In a match where Argentina dominated in terms of possession and shots, they scored the only goal one minute into second half injury time when Lionel Messi received a pass from Ezequiel Lavezzi on the right wing, dribbled inside and curled a left-footed shot past the outstretched hands of the Iranian keeper Alireza Haghighi. Before the goal, Iran had chances to score, but Argentina goalkeeper Sergio Romero was able to save Ashkan Dejagah's header and Reza Ghoochannejhad's shot, and Dejagah also had a penalty appeal turned down when Argentina defender Pablo Zabaleta tackled him in the area but only just got his toe to the ball. With the win, Argentina were guaranteed to advance to the knockout stage.
GK 1 Sergio RomeroRB 4 Pablo ZabaletaCB 17Federico FernándezCB 2 Ezequiel GarayLB 16Marcos RojoCM 5 Fernando GagoCM 14Javier MascheranoCM 7 Ángel Di María RF 10Lionel Messi (c)CF 9 Gonzalo Higuaín LF 20Sergio Agüero Substitutions:FW 18Rodrigo Palacio FW 22Ezequiel Lavezzi MF 6 Lucas Biglia Manager:Alejandro Sabella GK 12Alireza HaghighiRB 4 Jalal HosseiniCB 5 Amir Hossein SadeghiCB 15Pejman MontazeriLB 23Mehrdad PooladiCM 14Andranik TeymourianCM 6 Javad Nekounam (c) RW 21Ashkan Dejagah AM 7 Masoud Shojaei LW 3 Ehsan Hajsafi CF 16Reza GhoochannejhadSubstitutions:DF 2 Khosro Heydari MF 9 Alireza Jahanbakhsh MF 8 Reza Haghighi Manager: Carlos Queiroz
Man of the Match: Lionel Messi (Argentina)
Assistant referees: Milovan Ristić (Serbia) Dalibor Đurđević (Serbia) Fourth official: Norbert Hauata (Tahiti) Fifth official: Aden Range (Kenya)
Nigeria vs Bosnia and Herzegovina
The two teams had never met before.
Bosnia and Herzegovina thought they had taken the lead when Edin Džeko put the ball into the net, but his effort was ruled out for offside, which replays later showed to be an incorrect decision. Referee Peter O'Leary later admitted Džeko's goal was disallowed in error. Seven minutes later, Nigeria took the lead when Emmanuel Emenike burst past Emir Spahić to cross for Peter Odemwingie to score, firing in through the legs of Asmir Begovic. Džeko came closest to scoring the equaliser to keep his team's qualification chances alive, but his shot in second-half stoppage time was deflected onto the post by Nigeria goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama. Nigeria held for the win and eliminated Bosnia and Herzegovina as a result.
GK 1 Vincent EnyeamaRB 5 Efe AmbroseCB 2 Joseph Yobo (c)CB 13Juwon OshaniwaLB 22Kenneth OmeruoCM 17Ogenyi OnaziCM 10John Obi Mikel RW 7 Ahmed Musa AM 8 Peter OdemwingieLW 18Michel Babatunde CF 9 Emmanuel EmenikeSubstitutions:FW 23Shola Ameobi MF 3 Ejike Uzoenyi Manager:Stephen Keshi GK 1 Asmir BegovićRB 13Mensur MujdžaCB 15Toni ŠunjićCB 4 Emir Spahić (c)LB 18Haris Medunjanin CM 8 Miralem PjanićCM 7 Muhamed BešićRW 20Izet Hajrović AM 10Zvjezdan MisimovićLW 16Senad Lulić CF 11Edin DžekoSubstitutions:FW 9 Vedad Ibišević MF 23Sejad Salihović MF 14Tino-Sven Sušić Manager:Safet Sušić
Man of the Match: Peter Odemwingie (Nigeria)
Assistant referees: Jan-Hendrik Hintz (New Zealand) Mark Rule (New Zealand) Fourth official: Roberto Moreno (Panama) Fifth official: Eric Boria (United States)
Nigeria vs Argentina The two teams had met in six previous matches, including three times in the FIFA World Cup group stage, all won by Argentina (1994: 2–1; 2002: 1–0; 2010: 1–0).
Before the match, Nigeria were the only team yet to concede in the tournament, but their defence were breached inside three minutes when Ángel Di María's shot hit the post and Lionel Messi slammed home the rebound. Nigeria, which would qualify for the knockout stage if they gained a point or if Iran failed to beat Bosnia and Herzegovina in the other match, equalised within a minute, when Michel Babatunde fed Ahmed Musa, and he cut inside and curled the ball into the net. Messi put Argentina in front in first half injury time with a direct free kick, but Musa equalised once again early in the second half, after playing a one-two with Emmanuel Emenike and scored. Argentina, which needed only a point to win the group, then scored the game winner when a corner from Ezequiel Lavezzi was flicked on by an Ezequiel Garay header and Marcos Rojo scored with his knee. Argentina won the group with a perfect record of three wins out of three, while Nigeria were able to qualify as group runners-up despite losing as Iran also lost to Bosnia and Herzegovina in the other match.
Musa became the first Nigerian player to score more than once in a World Cup match.
GK 1 Vincent EnyeamaRB 5 Efe AmbroseCB 2 Joseph Yobo (c)CB 13Juwon Oshaniwa LB 22Kenneth Omeruo CM 17Ogenyi OnaziCM 10John Obi MikelRW 7 Ahmed MusaLW 18Michel Babatunde SS 8 Peter Odemwingie CF 9 Emmanuel EmenikeSubstitutions:FW 20Michael Uchebo FW 19Uche Nwofor Manager:Stephen Keshi GK 1 Sergio RomeroRB 4 Pablo ZabaletaCB 17Federico FernándezCB 2 Ezequiel GarayLB 16Marcos RojoDM 14Javier MascheranoRM 5 Fernando GagoLM 7 Ángel Di MaríaAM 10Lionel Messi (c) CF 9 Gonzalo Higuaín CF 20Sergio Agüero Substitutions:FW 22Ezequiel Lavezzi MF 19Ricky Álvarez MF 6 Lucas Biglia Manager:Alejandro Sabella
Man of the Match: Lionel Messi (Argentina)
Assistant referees: Renato Faverani (Italy) Andrea Stefani (Italy) Fourth official: Svein Oddvar Moen (Norway) Fifth official: Kim Haglund (Norway)
Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Iran The two teams had met in five previous matches, all in friendlies, most recently in 2009.
Bosnia and Herzegovina, which had already been eliminated, led 1–0 at half-time through a goal by Edin Džeko, shooting low with his left foot after he received a pass from Miralem Pjanić. Pjanić extended the lead in the second half when he slotted low past the goalkeeper, after receiving a through ball from Tino-Sven Sušić. Iran, which had to win and also hoped Nigeria lost to Argentina to have any chance for qualification to the knockout stage, reduced the deficit after Reza Ghoochannejhad tapped home from close range from a Javad Nekounam cross. However, Bosnia and Herzegovina scored a third goal when Avdija Vršajević slotted home with his right foot after Sejad Salihović played him in on the right, sealing their first win in World Cup finals history, and also confirming Iran's elimination, meaning that they failed to advance to the knockout stage for all four of their World Cup campaigns.
With Ghoochannejhad's goal for Iran, the 2014 World Cup became the first since 1998 in which every participating team managed to score at least once.
GK 1 Asmir BegovićRB 2 Avdija VršajevićCB 15Toni ŠunjićCB 4 Emir Spahić (c)LB 5 Sead KolašinacCM 8 Miralem PjanićCM 7 Muhamed Bešić RW 21Anel Hadžić LW 14Tino-Sven Sušić CF 11Edin Džeko CF 9 Vedad IbiševićSubstitutions:DF 6 Ognjen Vranješ MF 23Sejad Salihović FW 19Edin Višća Manager:Safet Sušić GK 12Alireza HaghighiRB 4 Jalal HosseiniCB 5 Amir Hossein SadeghiCB 15Pejman MontazeriLB 23Mehrdad PooladiCM 6 Javad Nekounam (c)CM 14Andranik TeymourianRW 21Ashkan Dejagah AM 7 Masoud Shojaei LW 3 Ehsan Hajsafi CF 16Reza GhoochannejhadSubstitutions:MF 2 Khosro Heydari FW 9 Alireza Jahanbakhsh FW 10Karim Ansarifard Manager: Carlos Queiroz
Man of the Match: Edin Džeko (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Assistant referees: Roberto Alonso (Spain) Juan Carlos Yuste (Spain) Fourth official: Enrique Osses (Chile) Fifth official: Carlos Astroza (Chile)
See also Argentina at the FIFA World Cup Bosnia and Herzegovina at the FIFA World Cup Iran at the FIFA World Cup Nigeria at the FIFA World Cup
References
Match reports
External links 2014 FIFA World Cup Group F, FIFA.com