Group D of the 1994 FIFA World Cup was one of six groups of four teams competing at the 1994 World Cup in the United States. The first match was played June 21, 1994, and the final games took place simultaneously on June 30, 1994.
The group consisted of Argentina, Greece, Nigeria, and Bulgaria. Nigeria won the group on goal difference, Bulgaria finished second, and Argentina qualified as one of the best third-placed teams (Bulgaria defeated Argentina in the group stage, thus their higher rank). Bulgaria and Argentina had previously met before in the group stage, in 1962; neither team advanced into the knockout stage. Bulgaria and Argentina had also met in 1986, both teams advanced to the knockout stage.
Group D was also notable for the end of Diego Maradona's international career. Maradona, who was Argentina's captain and star player, was found to contain ephedrine, a performance-enhancing stimulant, in his system after being subjected to an anti-doping test held during their match with Nigeria. In his absence, Argentina would lose their final group match against Bulgaria, and were eliminated by Romania 3–2 at the Round of 16. Maradona's only goal in the tournament against Greece would prove to be his last for Argentina.
Standings
Matches All times local (EDT/UTC–4, CDT/UTC–5, PDT/UTC–7)
Argentina vs Greece
GK 12Luis IslasRB 4 Roberto SensiniCB 13Fernando Cáceres CB 6 Oscar RuggeriLB 3 José ChamotCM 14Diego SimeoneCM 5 Fernando RedondoAM 10Diego Maradona (c) RF 7 Claudio CaniggiaCF 9 Gabriel BatistutaLF 19Abel Balbo Substitutions:MF 21Alejandro Mancuso FW 17Ariel Ortega Manager:Alfio Basile GK 1 Antonis MinouRB 2 Stratos ApostolakisCB 4 Stelios Manolas CB 5 Giannis KalitzakisLB 3 Thanasis KolitsidakisCM 19Savvas KofidisCM 6 Panagiotis Tsalouchidis CM 8 Nikos NiopliasRF 7 Dimitris Saravakos (c)CF 9 Nikos Machlas LF 11Nikos Tsiantakis Substitutions:MF 12Spyros Marangos MF 10Tasos Mitropoulos Manager:Alketas Panagoulias
Assistant referees: Park Hae-yong (South Korea) Jan Dolstra (Netherlands) Fourth official: Mario van der Ende (Netherlands)
Nigeria vs Bulgaria
GK 1 Peter Rufai (c)RB 2 Augustine EguavoenCB 5 Uche OkechukwuCB 6 Chidi NwanuLB 3 Benedict IrohaDM 15Sunday OlisehRM 7 Finidi George CM 12Samson Siasia LM 11Emmanuel Amunike CF 9 Rashidi YekiniCF 14Daniel AmokachiSubstitutions:MF 21Mutiu Adepoju DF 13Emeka Ezeugo Manager: Clemens Westerhof GK 1 Borislav Mihaylov (c)RB 2 Emil KremenlievCB 3 Trifon IvanovCB 5 Petar HubchevLB 4 Tsanko TsvetanovRM 11Daniel Borimirov CM 6 Zlatko YankovCM 9 Yordan Letchkov LM 20Krasimir BalakovCF 7 Emil KostadinovCF 8 Hristo StoichkovSubstitutions:FW 10Nasko Sirakov FW 13Ivaylo Yordanov Manager:Dimitar Penev
Assistant referees: Gordon Dunster (Australia) Eugene Brazzale (Australia) Fourth official: Ali Bujsaim (United Arab Emirates)
Argentina vs Nigeria
GK 12Luis IslasDF 4 Roberto Sensini DF 13Fernando CáceresDF 6 Oscar RuggeriDF 3 José ChamotMF 14Diego SimeoneMF 5 Fernando RedondoMF 10Diego Maradona (c)FW 7 Claudio Caniggia FW 9 Gabriel BatistutaFW 19Abel Balbo Substitutions:MF 21Alejandro Mancuso DF 16Hernán Díaz Manager:Alfio Basile GK 1 Peter Rufai (c)DF 2 Augustine Eguavoen DF 5 Uche OkechukwuDF 6 Chidi NwanuDF 19Michael Emenalo MF 7 Finidi GeorgeMF 12Samson Siasia MF 15Sunday Oliseh MF 11Emmanuel AmunikeFW 9 Rashidi YekiniFW 14Daniel AmokachiSubstitutions:MF 21Mutiu Adepoju MF 10Jay-Jay Okocha Manager: Clemens Westerhof
Assistant referees: Mikael Erik Everstig (Sweden) Luc Matthys (Belgium) Fourth official: Leslie Mottram (Scotland)
Bulgaria vs Greece
GK 1 Borislav Mihaylov (c)RB 2 Emil KremenlievCB 3 Trifon Ivanov CB 5 Petar Hubchev LB 4 Tsanko Tsvetanov DM 6 Zlatko Yankov CM 9 Yordan LetchkovCM 20Krasimir BalakovRF 7 Emil Kostadinov CF 10Nasko SirakovLF 8 Hristo StoichkovSubstitutions:DF 16Iliyan Kiryakov MF 11Daniel Borimirov Manager:Dimitar Penev GK 20Elias AtmatsidisRB 2 Stratos Apostolakis (c)CB 18Kyriakos KarataidisCB 5 Ioannis KalitzakisLB 13Vaios Karagiannis RM 12Spiros MarangosCM 19Savvas KofidisCM 17Minas Hantzidis LM 8 Nikos NiopliasCF 9 Nikos MachlasCF 16Alexis Alexoudis Substitutions:MF 10Tasos Mitropoulos FW 14Vasilis Dimitriadis Manager:Alketas Panagoulias
Assistant referees: Abdulla Al Ghattan (Bahrain) Raimundo Calix Garcia (Honduras) Fourth official: Arturo Angeles (United States)
Argentina vs Bulgaria
GK 12Luis IslasDF 16Hernán DíazDF 13Fernando CáceresDF 6 Oscar Ruggeri (c) DF 3 José ChamotMF 14Diego SimeoneMF 5 Fernando RedondoMF 20Leonardo Rodríguez FW 7 Claudio Caniggia FW 9 Gabriel Batistuta FW 19Abel BalboSubstitutions:FW 17Ariel Ortega FW 11Ramón Medina Bello Manager:Alfio Basile GK 1 Borislav Mihaylov (c)RB 2 Emil KremenlievCB 3 Trifon Ivanov CB 5 Petar HubchevLB 4 Tsanko Tsvetanov MF 6 Zlatko Yankov MF 9 Yordan Letchkov MF 10Nasko SirakovMF 20Krasimir Balakov FW 7 Emil Kostadinov FW 8 Hristo Stoichkov Substitutions:DF 16Iliyan Kiryakov MF 11Daniel Borimirov Manager:Dimitar Penev
Assistant referees: Tapio Yli-Karro (Finland) El Jilali Rharib (Morocco) Fourth official: Lim Kee Chong (Mauritius)
Greece vs Nigeria
GK 15Christos KarkamanisDF 5 Ioannis Kalitzakis DF 22Alexis AlexiouDF 13Vaios KaragiannisMF 17Minas HantzidisMF 6 Giotis TsalouchidisMF 10Tasos Mitropoulos (c) MF 21Alekos AlexandrisMF 8 Nikos NiopliasMF 19Savvas KofidisFW 9 Nikos Machlas Substitutions:MF 11Nikos Tsiantakis FW 14Vasilis Dimitriadis Manager:Alketas Panagoulias GK 1 Peter RufaiDF 6 Chidi NwanuDF 4 Stephen Keshi (c) DF 5 Uche OkechukwuDF 19Michael EmenaloMF 7 Finidi George MF 12Samson SiasiaMF 15Sunday Oliseh MF 11Emmanuel AmunikeFW 9 Rashidi Yekini FW 14Daniel AmokachiSubstitutions:MF 10Jay-Jay Okocha MF 21Mutiu Adepoju Manager: Clemens Westerhof
Assistant referees: Park Hae-yong (South Korea) Paulo Jorge Alves (Brazil) Fourth official: José Torres Cadena (Colombia)
See also Argentina at the FIFA World Cup Bulgaria at the FIFA World Cup Greece at the FIFA World Cup Nigeria at the FIFA World Cup
References
Match reports