Argentina played Nigeria in their final match of the group.
Argentina completed a remarkable comeback in a game filled with emotions, as a late winner from Marcos Rojo saw Argentina going into the round-of-16. With this win, Argentina and Croatia proceed from the Group D of the World Cup.
Lionel Messi scored his first goal of the World Cup this year as he controlled a brilliant long ball from Ever Banega. He took the ball on his left foot, took two touches and scored a brilliant goal from his right foot to give Argentina the lead. However, in the second half, Nigeria bounced back after referee handed them a penalty, after Mascherano manhandled the opponent.
Victor Moses equalised with an easy penalty kick for Nigeria. Argentina continued to attack throughout the second half but couldn’t find the perfect pass in the final third. However, in the dying minutes of the game, Rojo volleyed a brilliant cross right into the left corner of the goal, as Argentina won the match 2-1.
Argentina will now face the Group C toppers, France in the round-of-16. Meanwhile, in the other match of Group D, Croatia beat Iceland 2-1, ensuring Croatia a first-place finish in the group, with 9 points. The European team will play against Denmark in the knock-out round.
Here are some tweets from the match:
Messi becomes the first player to have scored a World Cup goal as a teenager, in his twenties and in his thirties.
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) June 26, 2018
To the people who wanted Messi to go out of World Cup #NGAARG pic.twitter.com/gwSxpuKVc2
— 9GAG Football ⚽ (@9GAGFootball) June 26, 2018
What happens when an unstoppable force comes up against an immovable object? We’ll find out soon enough when Messi and Giroud face each other.
— FG (@FunnyGooner) June 26, 2018
Rojo burning Nigeria’s #WorldCup dreams like he burns toast pic.twitter.com/xkGKWLxWaQ
— Football Daily (@footballdailyuk) June 26, 2018
Rojo carrying 🐐, Argentina’s and Catalonia’s hopes all after eating burnt toasts. pic.twitter.com/4LrRDOqPiW
— ESWCN (@SemperFiUtd) June 26, 2018
“Marcos Rojo isn’t good enough to start for United” pic.twitter.com/lGympVSjVU
— The Man Utd Way (@TheManUtdWay) June 26, 2018
These bums finally carrying Messi giving the GOAT some rest
— Mexican GBE Leader (@vuhsace) June 26, 2018
🖕🏻Maradona 🖕🏻
— Gary Neville (@GNev2) June 26, 2018
Three images that define Argentina’s group stage. #ARG #Maradona #ARGNGR pic.twitter.com/qZmRBGMv7q
— Fresco (@Fresco_Football) June 26, 2018
Maradona: Still giving gems at the World cup, even decades after his retirement 😂😝
High af!#WorldCup #ARGNGR pic.twitter.com/p0J69IlnFw— The 4th Official (@Official_T4O) June 26, 2018
Maradona is surely having some good stuff in the stands there 😂😂#worldcup#ARGNGR pic.twitter.com/SE3iacScRH
— The 4th Official (@Official_T4O) June 26, 2018
Marcos Rojo: "After the match against Croatia, we were more united than ever. This goal is for my family and for this group that deserves it. Vamos Argentina!" pic.twitter.com/B1EgTW75QI
— Roy Nemer (@RoyNemer) June 26, 2018
Imagine Portugal vs Argentina in the quarter finals, it would be the apocalypse of football twitter.
— Brazil Football 🇧🇷 (@BrazilEdition) June 26, 2018
Argentina got away today but in a way they needed to go through this to overcome a mental barrier as a group. France have more quality than Argentina but in 90 minutes, anything is possible, especially when you have Leo Messi.
— Arjun Pradeep (@IndianRegista) June 26, 2018
