Late Argentina goal sinks brave Nigeria
• France and Denmark both advance to the last 16 after a boring goalless draw
A late goal by Marcos Rojo gave Argentina a dramatic 2-1 victory over Nigeria in Group D on Tuesday and sent the twice champions through to the last 16 of the World Cup.
Lionel Messi scored his first goal of the tournament in the 14th minute with an expertly taken shot.
However, Nigeria were level six minutes after the restart, when Javier Mascherano fouled Leon Balogun in the area and Victor Moses stepped up to slot the resulting penalty past Franco Armani.
With the game ebbing away from Argentina, Gabriel Mercado crossed from the right in the 86th minute and Rojo turned the ball into the goal with a first time strike to spark wild celebrations from the Argentines and break Nigerian hearts.
Argentina face France in the last 16 after finishing second in the group, while Croatia take on Group C runners-up Denmark. Nigeria and Iceland are out after finishing third and fourth, respectively.
In the other match, Croatia beat Iceland 2-1 to top the group with nine points.
Earlier France and Denmark played a mutually beneficial 0-0 draw at the Luzhniki Stadium which allowed the French to finish top of Group C and the Danes to qualify in second spot.
Thirty-six games in Russia had failed to result in a goalless stalemate, but neither France nor Denmark looked like scoring in a tedious affair.
France have scored just three times in three games in Russia, including a penalty and an own goal, and it was another disjointed display.
France coach Didier Deschamps rested captain Hugo Lloris and Paul Pogba, with the Manchester United midfielder a booking away from suspension, while Kylian Mbappe was also left out among six changes.
Marseille goalkeeper Steve Mandanda, 33, made his first appearance at a major tournament, having been an unused substitute at the last three European Championships and the 2010 World Cup.
After much debate about the video assistant referee (VAR) following further controversy on Monday, it was inevitable any penalty area tussles would prompt strong appeals.
There have already been 20 penalties at this World Cup, a tournament record before the group stage has even concluded. Denmark’s Martin Braithwaite laid an early claim after going down from Presnel Kimpembe, although there appeared minimal contact at best.
France had a penalty shout of their own when Henrik Dalsgaard slid in on Lucas Hernandez, with Kasper Schmeichel tipping behind Olivier Giroud’s looping follow-up effort.
Already eliminated Peru got their first World Cup win in 40 years and their first goal in 36 with a 2-0 victory over Australia, a result that condemned the Australians to last place in Group C.
The Socceroos needed to win to have any chance of progressing but missed every chance that came their way.
Andre Carrillo put Peru ahead with an 18th-minute volley before Paolo Guerrero doubled their lead.
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