Denmark advances in drab draw with France
MOSCOW — A game neither France nor Denmark needed to win produced the World Cup’s first 0-0 draw amid boos and whistles from fans Tuesday.
A slow-paced game — officially No. 37 in Russia — was out of step with a vibrant tournament and ensured alreadyqualified France won Group C and Denmark advanced as runner-up. Both came through unbeaten.
The draw ensured that outcome, though Peru’s 2-0 victory over Australia playing at the same time meant the Danes would have advanced to the round of 16 even had they lost to France.
It was the longest a World Cup had gone without a goalless draw since 1954, which had none.
A French team with six starters resting barely tested Denmark goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel until substitute Nabil Fekir tried two long-range shots.
Much of a 78,011 crowd in Luzhniki Stadium whistled misplaced passes and slow play as the game progressed and Denmark protected its point — likely aware Australia had no chance of winning.
Still, thousands of Denmark fans in a stadium seemed happy at the final whistle.
PERU 2, AUSTRALIA 0
In Sochi, Russia, already-eliminated Peru ended Australia’s hopes of advancing to the knockout round with a victory.
The Australians had to beat Peru and hope Denmark lost to France in the other Group C match, but neither result happened. France and Denmark drew 0-0 in Moscow.
Andre Carrillo’s first-half goal — a half-volley from inside the area — was Peru’s first in a World Cup since 1982, the last time the South Americans played in the tournament. Peru hadn’t won a World Cup match since defeating Iran in 1978.
Peru captain Paolo Guerrero, who almost missed the tournament because of a doping suspension, scored the second goal early in the second half to give his team an honorable finish after two opening losses.
Tim Cahill, a 38-year-old striker who entered the match in the second half, couldn’t give Australia a boost as it tried to reach the round of 16 for the first time since 2006.
ARGENTINA 2, NIGERIA 1
In St. Petersburg, Russia, Lionel Messi and Argentina finally came alive.
Messi scored an exquisite 14th-minute goal to give the two-time champions the lead in a must-win game against Nigeria, but it wasn’t until Marcos Rojo’s 86th-minute strike that Argentina was assured of a place in the round of 16 with a win.
Victor Moses scored from the penalty spot in the 51st minute for Nigeria, putting Argentina in danger of being eliminated without winning a match in Russia.
It took an unlikely goal by Rojo — a center back — to save Argentina with a cushioned volley into the corner.
The win gave the Argentines second place in Group D and allowed the soccer-mad nation to forget about the 3-0 loss to Croatia last week that sparked days of soul-searching within the squad and back home.
Argentina will play France in the last 16 in Kazan on Saturday, keeping alive Messi’s quest for a first world title.
CROATIA 2, ICELAND 1
In Rostov-on-Don, Russia, Croatia ended Iceland’s chances and helped out Argentina at the same time.
Ivan Perisic capitalized on a defensive error to score a 90th-minute winner, giving Croatia a win over Iceland and first place in Group D.
Iceland could have finished second in the group with a victory because Argentina beat Nigeria 2-1 at the same time. Instead, the Croats will face Denmark on Sunday in Nizhny Novgorod and Argentina will take on France on Saturday in Kazan.
Fielding a side filled with reserves after already being assured of a spot in the round of 16, Croatia started to take control of the match in the second half.
Milan Badelj, moments after hitting the bar, scored the opening goal in the 53rd minute. He sprinted into the area and sent a bouncing shot past goalkeeper Hannes Halldorsson.