1998 FIFA World Cup Group D

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

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Nigeria 3 2 0 1 5 5 0 6 Advance to knockout stage
2  Paraguay 3 1 2 0 3 1 +2 5
3  Spain 3 1 1 1 8 4 +4 4
4  Bulgaria 3 0 1 2 1 7 −6 1
Source: FIFA

Matches

Paraguay vs Bulgaria

Paraguay 0–0 Bulgaria
Report
Paraguay
Bulgaria
GK 1 José Luis Chilavert (c)
CB 4 Carlos Gamarra
CB 5 Celso Ayala
CB 11 Pedro Sarabia
RWB 19 Carlos Morales downward-facing red arrow 43'
LWB 21 Jorge Luis Campos downward-facing red arrow 78'
CM 10 Roberto Acuña
CM 13 Carlos Paredes
CM 16 Julio César Enciso
SS 15 Miguel Ángel Benítez Yellow card 45'
CF 9 José Cardozo downward-facing red arrow 70'
Substitutions:
DF 20 Denis Caniza upward-facing green arrow 43'
FW 18 César Ramírez upward-facing green arrow 70'
MF 7 Julio César Yegros upward-facing green arrow 78'
Manager:
Brazil Paulo César Carpegiani
GK 1 Zdravko Zdravkov
RB 2 Radostin Kishishev
CB 3 Trifon Ivanov (c) Yellow card 73'
CB 5 Ivaylo Yordanov
LB 4 Ivaylo Petkov
RM 16 Anatoli Nankov Yellow card 27' Yellow-red card 89'
CM 6 Zlatko Yankov
CM 11 Ilian Iliev downward-facing red arrow 77'
LM 10 Krasimir Balakov
FW 8 Hristo Stoichkov Yellow card 45'
FW 9 Lyuboslav Penev downward-facing red arrow 68'
Substitutions:
FW 7 Emil Kostadinov upward-facing green arrow 68'
MF 18 Daniel Borimirov upward-facing green arrow 77'
Manager:
Hristo Bonev

Assistant referees:
Achmat Salie (South Africa)
Hussain Ghadanfari (Kuwait)
Fourth official:
Nikolai Levnikov (Russia)

Spain vs Nigeria

Spain 2–3 Nigeria
Hierro 21'
Raúl 47'
Report Adepoju 24'
Zubizarreta 73' (o.g.)
Oliseh 78'
Spain
Nigeria
GK 1 Andoni Zubizarreta (c)
RB 2 Albert Ferrer downward-facing red arrow 45'
CB 14 Iván Campo Yellow card 75'
CB 4 Rafael Alkorta
LB 12 Sergi
RM 21 Luis Enrique
CM 20 Miguel Ángel Nadal Yellow card 59' downward-facing red arrow 77'
CM 6 Fernando Hierro
LM 10 Raúl
SS 19 Kiko
CF 11 Alfonso downward-facing red arrow 58'
Substitutions:
MF 18 Guillermo Amor Yellow card 56' upward-facing green arrow 45'
FW 17 Joseba Etxeberria upward-facing green arrow 58'
MF 16 Albert Celades upward-facing green arrow 77'
Manager:
Javier Clemente
GK 1 Peter Rufai
RB 2 Mobi Oparaku downward-facing red arrow 70'
CB 5 Uche Okechukwu (c) Yellow card 62'
CB 6 Taribo West
LB 3 Celestine Babayaro
DM 15 Sunday Oliseh
RM 7 George Finidi
CM 8 Mutiu Adepoju
CM 10 Jay Jay Okocha
LM 11 Garba Lawal downward-facing red arrow 90+3'
CF 20 Victor Ikpeba downward-facing red arrow 83'
Substitutions:
FW 9 Rasheed Yekini upward-facing green arrow 70'
MF 13 Tijani Babangida upward-facing green arrow 83'
DF 21 Godwin Okpara upward-facing green arrow 90+3'
Manager:
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Bora Milutinović

Assistant referees:
Luis Torres Zúñiga (Costa Rica)
Yuri Dupanov (Belarus)
Fourth official:
Ian McLeod (South Africa)

Nigeria vs Bulgaria

Nigeria 1–0 Bulgaria
Ikpeba 28' Report
Attendance: 45,500
Nigeria
Bulgaria
GK 1 Peter Rufai
RB 8 Mutiu Adepoju Yellow card 20'
CB 5 Uche Okechukwu (c) Yellow card 44'
CB 6 Taribo West
LB 3 Celestine Babayaro
DM 15 Sunday Oliseh
RM 7 Finidi George downward-facing red arrow 84'
AM 10 Jay Jay Okocha Yellow card 70'
LM 11 Garba Lawal
CF 14 Daniel Amokachi downward-facing red arrow 67'
CF 20 Victor Ikpeba Yellow card 49' downward-facing red arrow 75'
Substitutions:
FW 4 Nwankwo Kanu upward-facing green arrow 67'
FW 9 Rasheed Yekini upward-facing green arrow 75'
MF 13 Tijani Babangida upward-facing green arrow 84'
Manager:
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Bora Milutinović
GK 1 Zdravko Zdravkov
DF 2 Radostin Kishishev Yellow card 78'
DF 3 Trifon Ivanov (c)
DF 4 Ivaylo Petkov
MF 6 Zlatko Yankov downward-facing red arrow 84'
FW 7 Emil Kostadinov
FW 8 Hristo Stoichkov
MF 10 Krasimir Balakov
MF 11 Ilian Iliev Yellow card 66' downward-facing red arrow 66'
DF 13 Gosho Ginchev
MF 14 Marian Hristov downward-facing red arrow 45'
Substitutions:
MF 18 Daniel Borimirov upward-facing green arrow 45'
FW 9 Lyuboslav Penev upward-facing green arrow 66'
FW 19 Georgi Bachev upward-facing green arrow 84'
Manager:
Hristo Bonev

Assistant referees:
Jorge Díaz Gálvez (Chile)
Arnaldo Pinto (Brazil)
Fourth official:
Marcio Rezende (Brazil)

Spain vs Paraguay

Spain 0–0 Paraguay
Report
Spain
Paraguay
GK 1 Andoni Zubizarreta (c)
RB 15 Carlos Aguilera
CB 5 Abelardo downward-facing red arrow 56'
CB 4 Rafael Alkorta
LB 12 Sergi Yellow card 8'
RM 17 Joseba Etxeberria
CM 6 Fernando Hierro
CM 18 Guillermo Amor
LM 21 Luis Enrique
SS 10 Raúl downward-facing red arrow 65'
CF 9 Juan Antonio Pizzi downward-facing red arrow 52'
Substitutions:
FW 7 Fernando Morientes upward-facing green arrow 52'
MF 16 Albert Celades upward-facing green arrow 56'
FW 19 Kiko Yellow card 87' upward-facing green arrow 65'
Manager:
Javier Clemente
GK 1 José Luis Chilavert (c)
DF 2 Francisco Arce Yellow card 76'
DF 4 Carlos Gamarra
DF 5 Celso Ayala Yellow card 30'
FW 8 Arístides Rojas downward-facing red arrow 83'
MF 10 Roberto Acuña downward-facing red arrow 73'
DF 11 Pedro Sarabia
FW 15 Miguel Ángel Benítez
MF 16 Julio César Enciso
DF 20 Denis Caniza
MF 21 Jorge Luis Campos downward-facing red arrow 45'
Substitutions:
MF 13 Carlos Paredes upward-facing green arrow 45'
MF 7 Julio César Yegros upward-facing green arrow 73'
FW 18 César Ramírez upward-facing green arrow 83'
Manager:
Brazil Paulo César Carpegiani

Assistant referees:
Aristidis Chris Soldatos (South Africa)
Owen Powell (Jamaica)
Fourth official:
Esse Baharmast (United States)

Nigeria vs Paraguay

Nigeria 1–3 Paraguay
Oruma 11' Report Ayala 1'
Benítez 58'
Cardozo 86'
Nigeria
Paraguay
GK 1 Peter Rufai (c)
RB 17 Augustine Eguavoen Yellow card 25'
CB 6 Taribo West
CB 16 Uche Okafor
LB 19 Ben Iroha Yellow card 38'
RM 13 Tijani Babangida
CM 15 Sunday Oliseh downward-facing red arrow 45'
CM 18 Wilson Oruma downward-facing red arrow 68'
LM 11 Garba Lawal
CF 9 Rasheed Yekini
CF 4 Nwankwo Kanu
Substitutions:
DF 21 Godwin Okpara upward-facing green arrow 45'
MF 7 Finidi George upward-facing green arrow 68'
Manager:
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Bora Milutinović
GK 1 José Luis Chilavert (c)
RB 2 Francisco Arce
CB 4 Carlos Gamarra
CB 5 Celso Ayala
LB 11 Pedro Sarabia
CM 13 Carlos Paredes
CM 16 Julio César Enciso
CM 20 Denis Caniza downward-facing red arrow 55'
RF 17 Hugo Brizuela downward-facing red arrow 77'
CF 9 José Cardozo
LF 15 Miguel Ángel Benítez downward-facing red arrow 67'
Substitutions:
MF 7 Julio César Yegros upward-facing green arrow 55'
MF 10 Roberto Acuña upward-facing green arrow 67'
FW 8 Aristides Rojas upward-facing green arrow 77'
Manager:
Brazil Paulo César Carpegiani

Assistant referees:
Mohamed Al Musawi (Oman)
Mikael Nilsson (Sweden)
Fourth official:
Masayoshi Okada (Japan)

Spain vs Bulgaria

Spain 6–1 Bulgaria
Hierro 6' (pen.)
Luis Enrique 18'
Morientes 55', 81'
Bachev 88' (o.g.)
Kiko 90+4'
Report Kostadinov 58'
Spain
Bulgaria
GK 1 Andoni Zubizarreta (c)
RB 15 Carlos Aguilera Yellow card 16'
CB 20 Miguel Ángel Nadal
CB 4 Rafael Alkorta
LB 12 Sergi
RM 17 Joseba Etxeberria downward-facing red arrow 50'
CM 6 Fernando Hierro
CM 18 Guillermo Amor
LM 21 Luis Enrique downward-facing red arrow 69'
SS 11 Alfonso downward-facing red arrow 65'
CF 7 Fernando Morientes
Substitutions:
FW 10 Raúl upward-facing green arrow 50'
FW 19 Kiko upward-facing green arrow 65'
MF 8 Julen Guerrero Yellow card 73' upward-facing green arrow 69'
Manager:
Javier Clemente
GK 1 Zdravko Zdravkov
DF 2 Radostin Kishishev
DF 3 Trifon Ivanov (c)
MF 5 Ivaylo Yordanov
FW 7 Emil Kostadinov
FW 8 Hristo Stoichkov downward-facing red arrow 45'
MF 10 Krasimir Balakov downward-facing red arrow 61'
DF 13 Gosho Ginchev
MF 16 Anatoli Nankov downward-facing red arrow 28'
MF 18 Daniel Borimirov
FW 19 Georgi Bachev Yellow card 85'
Substitutions:
FW 9 Lyuboslav Penev Yellow card 45' upward-facing green arrow 28'
MF 11 Ilian Iliev upward-facing green arrow 45'
MF 14 Marian Hristov upward-facing green arrow 61'
Manager:
Hristo Bonev

Assistant referees:
Nicolae Grigorescu (Romania)
Claudio Rossi (Argentina)
Fourth official:
Nikolai Levnikov (Russia)

See also