Argentina’s Late‑Game Miracle
Just when the Argentine side seemed ready to turn back to bus‑stop life, defender Marcos Rojo supplied the ultimate plot twist, curling a precision volley into the back of the net and handing the national side a 2‑1 victory over Nigeria. With that last‑minute goal, the “ever‑hopeful” youngsters book a quarter‑final clash against nothing short of France.
Messi, the one‑and‑only talisman, had already lit the scoreboard in Russia, but a penalty from Victor Moses had tied the game back up. As time ran out, Argentina’s defence looked like a reluctant inbox‑filter, turning every Nigerian attack into a deletion. The dream of going home seemed as believable as that Nobel Prize for a Messi fan.
Enter Rojo – a defender who had just dodged an extra penalty after a controversial VAR slam. He swooped into the box, met a cross from Gabriel Mercado, and tipped the ball with a side‑footed volley in the 86th minute. The Rio de Janeiro fans, as well as the world‑iconic Diego Maradona watching from afar, erupted in pure joy.
Messi! “It is marvellous to have won it in this manner. It is a deserved joy,” he chanted on Argentina’s official twitter. “We knew God was with us and wasn’t going to let us go out. I thank all the fans that are here, for all their sacrifice and to all those in Argentina that were always with us. The shirt of the national team is above all else.”
Pre‑tournament Woes
- Argentina had been braced for a rough start – they had been hammered 3‑0 by Croatia in the opener after a shaky squad selection.
- Jorge Sampaoli was already told he’d stay on for the last group match, with whispers of a rift in the team’s core.
- Their tournament opener? A humiliating 3‑0 loss to Croatia.
Croatia’s Dominance
Meanwhile, in Rostov‑on‑Don, Croatia shut down Iceland, 2‑1, with Ivan Perišić’s late strike. This shut out the Slavic neighbour and sealed a perfect group stage.
Key highlights:
- Milan Badelj opened the scoring with a dazzling volley.
- Gylfi Sigurdsson got a penalty for Iceland.
- Perišić finished it off, locking the win.
With the group knockout stage looming, coach Zlatko Dalić used the match to test the squad, resting most of the team that had previously been blown out by Argentina.
“Our goal is achieved,” Badelj said. “We’re top of the group and ready for the next round, but no celebration is left to play.”
France’s 0‑0 Show‑down
The French side, under Didier Deschamps, ease through a goalless draw with Denmark at Luzhniki Stadium. Deschamps swapped his usual Q&A routine for a midsummer, “second competition” talk – the imminent knockout stage. His next test? Messi and the Argentine fleet in the last-16.
Australia’s Flat Finish
Australia’s campaign went from 1 point to 0 with a 2‑0 loss to Peru. Even with Timo Cahill stepping out of a life‑long tenure, the Socceroos couldn’t spark a surge. The country’s future? A hopeful in Daniel Arzani, a 19‑year‑old trickster born to Iran.