ARGENTINA

ARGENTINA pulled off a great escape to make it through to the last 16 of the World Cup – and for once Lionel Messi was not the hero.

It was Manchester United defender Marcos Rojo who scored the winner in the 86th minute of a pulsating tie in St Petersburg.

Messi played his part with his first goal of the tournament after only 14 minutes – the 100th goal of this World Cup – but Victor Moses equalised for Nigeria from the penalty spot soon after half-time.

With nothing but a win good enough to keep Argentina in the competition, Rojo became a national hero as he scored with a spectacular volley.

At the end, Argentina’s players celebrated as if they had won the World Cup and, given the problems they have faced over the past week or so, it was no surprise.

Manager Jorge Sampaoli was apparently a dead man walking, TV hosts held a minute’s silence on screen last week to mourn their 3-0 humiliation by Croatia, players held crisis talks with the head of their FA and it was rumoured this team was effectively picked by the senior players, notably Messi and Javier Mascherano.

Sampaoli said Messi would touch the ball a lot more here and was as good as his word. Within 15 minutes of the start Messi had been involved in almost everything, the trademark jinking runs, the one-twos, the passes and of course a goal.

And what a goal it was, as he took down Ever Banega’s lofted pass on to his thigh, moved the ball forward with his next touch and clipped it into the far corner of goal with his right foot.

It all happened in a flash and the stadium erupted.

Messi dropped to his knees with his arms pointing up to the skies. Up in the stands Diego Maradona adopted the same pose, eyes closed, his arms raised. But the mood changed