2014 FIFA World Cup Group F

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 position Team Confederation Method of
qualification		 Date of
qualification		 Finals
appearance		 Last
appearance		 Previous best
performance		 FIFA Rankings
October 2013[nb 1] June 2014 August 2014 October 2019
F1 (seed) ArgentinaCONMEBOLCONMEBOL 1st winners10 September 201316th2010Winners (1978, 1986)3529
F2 Bosnia and HerzegovinaUEFAUEFA Group G winners15 October 20131st——16211948
F3 IranAFCAFC Fourth Round Group A 1st winners18 June 20134th2006Group stage (1978, 1998, 2006)49434827
F4 NigeriaCAFCAF Third Round winners16 November 20135th2010Round of 16 (1994, 1998)33443335
Notes
  1. The rankings of October 2013 were used for seeding for the final draw.

Standings
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Argentina 3 3 0 0 6 3 +3 9 Advance to knockout stage
2  Nigeria 3 1 1 1 3 3 0 4
3  Bosnia and Herzegovina 3 1 0 2 4 4 0 3
4  Iran 3 0 1 2 1 4 −3 1
Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: Tie-breaking criteria

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.[1]

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.[2] 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.[3]

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.[4]

Argentina 2–1 Bosnia and Herzegovina
 Report
Attendance: 74,738
Argentina
Bosnia and Herzegovina
GK1Sergio Romero
CB3Hugo Campagnaro 46'
CB17Federico Fernández
CB2Ezequiel Garay
RWB4Pablo Zabaleta
LWB16Marcos Rojo 25'
RM11Maxi Rodríguez 46'
CM14Javier Mascherano
LM7Ángel Di María
CF10Lionel Messi (c)
CF20Sergio Agüero 87'
Substitutions:
FW9Gonzalo Higuaín 46'
MF5Fernando Gago 46'
MF6Lucas Biglia 87'
Manager:
Alejandro Sabella
GK1Asmir Begović
RB13Mensur Mujdža 69'
CB3Ermin Bičakčić
CB4Emir Spahić (c) 63'
LB5Sead Kolašinac
DM7Muhamed Bešić
DM20Izet Hajrović 71'
RW8Miralem Pjanić
AM10Zvjezdan Misimović 74'
LW16Senad Lulić
CF11Edin Džeko
Substitutions:
FW9Vedad Ibišević 69'
MF19Edin Višća 71'
MF18Haris Medunjanin 74'
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.[6]

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.[7][8]

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.[9] This was also the first clean sheet kept by Iran in the World Cup.[10][11]

Iran 0–0 Nigeria
Report
Attendance: 39,081
Referee: Carlos Vera (Ecuador)
Iran
Nigeria
GK12Alireza Haghighi
RB4Jalal Hosseini
CB5Amir Hossein Sadeghi
CB15Pejman Montazeri
LB23Mehrdad Pooladi
CM2Khosro Heydari 89'
CM14Andranik Teymourian 75'
AM6Javad Nekounam (c)
RF21Ashkan Dejagah 73'
CF16Reza Ghoochannejhad
LF3Ehsan Hajsafi
Substitutions:
FW9Alireza Jahanbakhsh 73'
MF7Masoud Shojaei 89'
Manager:
Carlos Queiroz
GK1Vincent Enyeama (c)
RB5Efe Ambrose
CB13Juwon Oshaniwa
CB14Godfrey Oboabona 29'
LB22Kenneth Omeruo
CM17Ogenyi Onazi
CM15Ramon Azeez 69'
CM10John Obi Mikel
RW11Victor Moses 52'
LW7Ahmed Musa
CF9Emmanuel Emenike
Substitutions:
DF2Joseph Yobo 29'
FW23Shola Ameobi 52'
FW8Peter Odemwingie 69'
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
Further information: List of 2014 FIFA World Cup controversies § 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 .[12]

In a match where Argentina dominated in terms of possession and shots,[13] 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.[14] 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.[15] With the win, Argentina were guaranteed to advance to the knockout stage.

Argentina 1–0 Iran
 Report
Attendance: 57,698
Argentina
Iran
GK1Sergio Romero
RB4Pablo Zabaleta
CB17Federico Fernández
CB2Ezequiel Garay
LB16Marcos Rojo
CM5Fernando Gago
CM14Javier Mascherano
CM7Ángel Di María 90+4'
RF10Lionel Messi (c)
CF9Gonzalo Higuaín 76'
LF20Sergio Agüero 76'
Substitutions:
FW18Rodrigo Palacio 76'
FW22Ezequiel Lavezzi 76'
MF6Lucas Biglia 90+4'
Manager:
Alejandro Sabella
GK12Alireza Haghighi
RB4Jalal Hosseini
CB5Amir Hossein Sadeghi
CB15Pejman Montazeri
LB23Mehrdad Pooladi
DM14Andranik Teymourian
DM6Javad Nekounam (c) 53'
RM21Ashkan Dejagah 85'
CM7Masoud Shojaei 73' 76'
LM3Ehsan Hajsafi 88'
CF16Reza Ghoochannejhad
Substitutions:
DF2Khosro Heydari 76'
MF9Alireza Jahanbakhsh 85'
MF8Reza Haghighi 88'
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
Further information: List of 2014 FIFA World Cup controversies § Nigeria vs Bosnia and Herzegovina

The two teams had never met before.[16]

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.[17] Referee Peter O'Leary later admitted Džeko's goal was disallowed in error.[18] 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.[19]

Nigeria 1–0 Bosnia and Herzegovina
 Report
Attendance: 40,499
Nigeria
Bosnia and Herzegovina
GK1Vincent Enyeama
RB5Efe Ambrose
CB2Joseph Yobo (c)
CB13Juwon Oshaniwa
LB22Kenneth Omeruo
CM17Ogenyi Onazi
CM10John Obi Mikel 81'
RW7Ahmed Musa 65'
AM8Peter Odemwingie
LW18Michel Babatunde 75'
CF9Emmanuel Emenike
Substitutions:
FW23Shola Ameobi 65'
MF3Ejike Uzoenyi 75'
 
Manager:
Stephen Keshi
GK1Asmir Begović
RB13Mensur Mujdža
CB15Toni Šunjić
CB4Emir Spahić (c)
LB18Haris Medunjanin 6' 64'
DM8Miralem Pjanić
DM7Muhamed Bešić
RW20Izet Hajrović 57'
AM10Zvjezdan Misimović
LW16Senad Lulić 58'
CF11Edin Džeko
Substitutions:
FW9Vedad Ibišević 57'
MF23Sejad Salihović 58'
MF14Tino-Sven Sušić 64'
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).[20]

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.[21] 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.[22]

Musa became the first Nigerian player to score more than once in a World Cup match.[23]

Nigeria 2–3 Argentina
 Report
Attendance: 43,285
Nigeria
Argentina
GK1Vincent Enyeama
RB5Efe Ambrose
CB2Joseph Yobo (c)
CB13Juwon Oshaniwa 51'
LB22Kenneth Omeruo 49'
CM17Ogenyi Onazi
CM10John Obi Mikel
RW7Ahmed Musa
LW18Michel Babatunde 66'
SS8Peter Odemwingie 80'
CF9Emmanuel Emenike
Substitutions:
FW20Michael Uchebo 66'
FW19Uche Nwofor 80'
Manager:
Stephen Keshi
GK1Sergio Romero
RB4Pablo Zabaleta
CB17Federico Fernández
CB2Ezequiel Garay
LB16Marcos Rojo
RM5Fernando Gago
CM14Javier Mascherano
LM7Ángel Di María
AM10Lionel Messi (c) 63'
CF9Gonzalo Higuaín 90'
CF20Sergio Agüero 38'
Substitutions:
FW22Ezequiel Lavezzi 38'
MF19Ricky Álvarez 63'
MF6Lucas Biglia 90'
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.[24]

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.[25] 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.[26]

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.[27]

Bosnia and Herzegovina 3–1 Iran
Džeko  23'
Pjanić  59'
Vršajević  83'		 Report Ghoochannejhad  82'
Attendance: 48,011
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Iran
GK1Asmir Begović
RB2Avdija Vršajević
CB15Toni Šunjić
CB4Emir Spahić (c)
LB5Sead Kolašinac
CM8Miralem Pjanić
CM7Muhamed Bešić 78'
RW21Anel Hadžić 61'
LW14Tino-Sven Sušić 79'
CF11Edin Džeko 85'
CF9Vedad Ibišević
Substitutions:
DF6Ognjen Vranješ 61'
MF23Sejad Salihović 79'
FW19Edin Višća 85'
Manager:
Safet Sušić
GK12Alireza Haghighi
RB4Jalal Hosseini
CB5Amir Hossein Sadeghi
CB15Pejman Montazeri
LB23Mehrdad Pooladi
CM6Javad Nekounam (c)
CM14Andranik Teymourian
RW21Ashkan Dejagah 68'
AM7Masoud Shojaei 46'
LW3Ehsan Hajsafi 63'
CF16Reza Ghoochannejhad
Substitutions:
MF2Khosro Heydari 46'
FW9Alireza Jahanbakhsh 63'
FW10Karim Ansarifard 88' 68'
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)

References
  1. "2014 FIFA World Cup – Statistical Kit" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. p. 18. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 June 2014.
  2. Wilson, Jonathan (16 June 2014). "Lionel Messi's sparkle returns to secure Argentina victory over Bosnia". The Guardian. Guardian News and Media. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  3. Sanghera, Mandeep (15 June 2014). "World Cup: Argentina 2-1 Bosnia-Hercegovina". BBC Sport.
  4. Janela, Mike (2 July 2014). "World Cup records fall in Brazil as tournament reaches the quarterfinals". Guinness World Records. Retrieved 28 December 2014.
  5. "Referee designations for matches 9-11" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 13 June 2014.
  6. "2014 FIFA World Cup – Statistical Kit" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. p. 19. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 June 2014.
  7. Chowdhury, Saj (16 June 2014). "Iran 0-0 Nigeria". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). Retrieved 28 December 2014.
  8. Lowe, Sid (16 June 2014). "Nigeria and Iran lower World Cup pulse with forgettable goalless draw". The Guardian. Guardian News and Media. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  9. Masefield, Fraser (16 June 2014). "World Cup - Bore draw does nothing for Iran or Nigeria". Yahoo! Sport. Retrieved 28 December 2014.
  10. "Haghighi: Iran excel in tough situations". FIFA. 21 June 2014. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  11. Delaney, Miguel (17 June 2014). "Iran 0 Nigeria 0 match report: Unlucky 13 for World Cup as Carlos Queiroz masterminds first stalemate of tournament". The Independent. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  12. "2014 FIFA World Cup – Statistical Kit" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. p. 34. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 June 2014.
  13. Ornstein, David (21 June 2014). "World Cup: Argentina 1-0 Iran". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). Retrieved 28 December 2014.
  14. "Argentina 1 Iran 0". theguardian.com.
  15. "Should Iran have had a penalty for Pablo Zabaleta's foul on Ashkan Dejagah in the box?". metro.co.uk.
  16. "2014 FIFA World Cup – Statistical Kit" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. p. 35. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 June 2014.
  17. Wilson, Jonathan (22 June 2014). "Nigeria's Peter Odemwingie sends Bosnia-Herzegovina out of World Cup". The Observer. Guardian News and Media. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  18. Theunissen, Matthew (9 November 2014). "Death threat ref's international return". nzherald.co.nz. Retrieved 9 November 2014.
  19. Oscroft, Tim (21 June 2014). "World Cup: Nigeria 1-0 Bosnia". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). Retrieved 28 December 2014.
  20. "2014 FIFA World Cup – Statistical Kit" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. p. 46. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 June 2014.
  21. Lowe, Sid (25 June 2014). "Lionel Messi hits double in Argentina win but Nigeria go through too". The Guardian. Guardian News and Media. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  22. Chowdhury, Saj (25 June 2014). "Nigeria 2-3 Argentina". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). Retrieved 28 December 2014.
  23. Okeleji, Oluwashina (26 June 2014). "World Cup 2104: Musa revels in Nigerian goals record". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). Retrieved 28 December 2014.
  24. "2014 FIFA World Cup – Statistical Kit" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. p. 47. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 June 2014.
  25. Wilson, Paul (25 June 2014). "Iran slump out of World Cup with disappointing defeat to Bosnia". The Guardian. Guardian News and Media. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  26. Woodcock, Ian (25 June 2014). "World Cup: Bosnia-Hercegovina 3-1 Iran". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). Retrieved 28 December 2014.
  27. "Copa do Mundo tem gols de todas seleções pela primeira vez desde 1998". UOL Copa (in Portuguese). São Paulo: Grupo Folha. 25 June 2014. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
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