Argentina survive vs. Nigeria to reach last 16

ST. PETERSBURG — A late, late goal ensured Argentina reached the last 16 of the World Cup with a 2-1 win over Nigeria on Tuesday in St Petersburg.

With just four minutes left Marcos Rojo volleyed home the winner from Gabriel Mercado’s cross to send Jorge Sampaoli’s team through.

Lionel Messi had scored on 15 minutes, running onto a long pass from Ever Banega and shooting past Francis Uzoho.

But four minutes into the second half Javier Mascherano was adjudged to have brought down Leon Balogun and Victor Moses scored the penalty to leave Argentina on the brink until Rojo’s intervention.

Messi jumped on the back of Rojo when the winner went in. He had paved the way with that early goal but without the Manchester United defender it would all have been for nothing.

“We controlled the first half and we wanted to do the same in the second half but the penalty changed everything and all the nerves and the anxiety came back,” said Messi.

“For all the things that have happened it’s been difficult. We didn’t want to suffer as much as we did but in the end the goal came.”

Messi’s delight was matched by Diego Maradona bouncing up and down in his seat in the St Petersburg Stadium before flashing two middle fingers as the remarkable victory became a reality.

Even with victory Argentina were relying on Iceland not winning but they lost 2-1 to Group D winners Croatia.

Argentina finish as runners-up to play France on Saturday in Kazan, a day before Croatia take on Denmark.

Asked about Argentina’s next rivals, Messi added: “We have seen all of France’s games and they have a good defence, a good midfield and they have very quick forwards. We know how difficult it is going to be.”

Coach Sampaoli said: “When you coach Lionel you want him to have the ball. We have the best player in the world and we suffer when he is isolated.”

Predictably it was Messi who settled the early nerves on the quarter hour when he put Argentina ahead.

Banega played a long ball over the top and Messi took it in his stride with two touches and a right-footed shot past Uzoho.

Argentina’s tails were up now. When Angel Di Maria raced away he was clipped by Balogun on the edge of the area.

They wanted a red with Di Maria through on goal but the presence of covering Nigeria defender Kenneth Omeruo ensured the card was yellow and Balogun, crucially, stayed on.

Messi took the free-kick and sent it past Uzoho but the ball came back off the post and was cleared to safety.

Argentina were a different side to the one that folded against Croatia with Rojo bringing greater urgency to the defence although one high kick in the penalty area left Nigeria complaining to referee Cakir Cuneyt.

He had caught Ahmed Musa full in the face but the shouts for a penalty were ignored.

Nigeria did get their penalty, five minutes into the second half when Mascherano was penalized for grappling Balogun to the ground.

He complained his opponent leaned back into him but his arms were around Balogun and Moses rolled in the penalty before a couple of somersaults to celebrate.

Nigeria wanted another spot-kick with 15 minutes left but Cuneyt ruled that Rojo had headed the ball on to his own arm.

Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr resisted blaming refereeing decisions. He said: “It’s difficult for the officials. Sometimes a few centimetres is the difference between winning or losing.”

John Obi Mikel was less gracious: “It was a clear penalty. The ball hit the hand. He saw it on the VAR but he didn’t give it.”

Argentina were still a goal away from going through when Gonzalo Higuain blasted over from the edge of the six yard box.

It looked as if their last chance had gone but from Mercado’s cross Rojo finished to send them through and Nigeria out.

Iceland fall short of World Cup shock against Croatia

ROSTOV-ON-DON, RUSSIA — Iceland exited their debut World Cup at the group stage on Tuesday after missing several chances against Croatia and falling to a 2-1 defeat.

Victory over the qualified Croats would have given them second place in Group D, setting up a Saturday meeting with France in Kazan. Argentina beat Nigeria 2-1 but that would not have been enough for the two-time champions had Iceland won.

Alfred Finnbogason and Birkir Bjarnason missed chances to break the deadlock before Milan Badelj netted early in the second half for Croatia. Gylfi Sigurdsson levelled with a penalty but Ivan Perisic grabbed a last-gasp winner.

Iceland, the smallest country to appear at a finals, end fourth on one point, two behind Nigeria. They finish three behind Argentina, who can plan for France, and behind group winners Croatia, who take a perfect record to meet Denmark in Nizhny Novgorod on Sunday.

“We are very sad but with this performance we can go home with pride,” Finnbogason said. “We can still celebrate that we were better against this super team from Croatia.”

Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic did not disguise his focus turning to the knock-out phase prematurely. Only Luka Modric and Ivan Perisic kept their starting spots from the side that hammered Argentina 3-0 with the other nine places rotated.

The newcomers lacked fluency going forward but initially did enough to keep Iceland at bay, at least until Heimir Hallgrimsson’s side realized the match was their to be won.

“We haven’t played many games against such a strong team,” Hallgrimsson said. “I am proud of my team, their character and fighting spirit.”

Hordur Magnusson twice threatened from set pieces before Bjarnason was blocked twice in succession.

Finnbogason won the ball deep in the Croatia half, played a smart one-two with Sigurdsson, but curled the wrong side of the post.

Bjarnason went closer when Lovre Kalinic flapped at a corner but somehow recovered to block his shot as the pressure mounted but Croatia held out.

In the second half Croatia stepped up a level and Badelj struck the bar with a deflection.

Iceland didn’t heed the warning and Badelj finished well when a cross bobbled into his path in the 53rd.

“Our goal is achieved. We are top of the group and we are ready to compete in the second round of the World Cup,” said man of the match Badelj. “Now we can concentrate on preparations for the knockout stage.

“This is a big new win for Croatia. There is no special celebration, let’s go further, step by step through the tournament.”

Ragnar Sigurdsson headed onto the bar as Iceland looked to strike back immediately and Bjarnason miskicked terribly when free in the box.

Dejan Lovren’s handball let Sigurdsson, who missed a penalty against Nigeria, score from the spot and suddenly Iceland were two goals from progress.

They threw everything forward but to no avail. Perisic flew into the left of the box in the last minute and powered a shot through the hands of Hannes Halldorsson to seal their fate.

France, Denmark advance with first 0-0 of World Cup

MOSCOW — Fancied France and Denmark played out the first 0-0 draw of the Russia World Cup on Tuesday which was good enough to see both teams into the last 16.

All previous 36 games of the tournament had seen goals but the series ended in a stale affair at Moscow’s Luzhniki stadium in which neither side took major risks as the result suited them just fine.

New-look formations created no serious chances as France’s Antoine Griezmann and Denmark playmaker Christian Eriksen were unable to lift their teams in front of a sell-out crowd of 78,011 which loudly voiced its dissent after the final whistle.

France topped Group C with seven points after earlier wins over Australia (2-1) and Peru (1-0), with Denmark second on five after earlier winning 1-0 over Peru and a 11 against the Socceroos.

Peru finished third by beating Australia in the other game as Denmark were never under threat from losing second place to the Aussies.

In the last 16, France play Saturday in Kazan against Argentina, second-placed from Group D, and Denmark take on the Group D winner Croatia the next day in Nizhny Novgorod.

“We have reached our goal. The most important thing was to be top of the group,” France coach Didier Deschamps said.

“It was not a very exciting match ... We didn’t have to take risks and this result was okay for everyone.”

His Danish counter part Age Hareide named “discipline” the key for progression into the knock-outs for the first time since 1998.