today's matches
Tuesday, June 26, 2018
Group C:
Australia-Peru: Australia's chances were slim, and when Peru's André Carrillo scored in the 18th minute, they got slimmer. Veteran Paolo Guerrero added another in the 50th minute, and the group was decided. This meant Denmark-France devolved a pointless bore, the first 0-0 draw of the tournament. The crowd of 78,000 booed the players off the field at the end. Which set up ...
Group D:
As play begins: CRO 6 NIG 3 ISL 1 ARG 1. On the opening whistle, the live table adds one point to everyone: CRO 7 NIG 4 ISL 2 ARG 2. Croatia will advance no matter what. All three of the other teams have a chance at second place.
14th minute: Messi scores, Argentina leads 1-0. CRO 7 ARG 4 NIG 3 ISL 2 .
51st minute: Victor Moses on a penalty to equalize: Nigeria 1, Argentina 1. CRO 7 NIG 4 ISL 2 ARG 2.
53rd minute: Milan Badelj gives Croatia the lead. CRO 9 NIG 4 ARG 2 ISL 1.
76th minute: Gylfi Sigurdsson brings Iceland level with a penalty. CRO 7 NIG 4 ISL 2 ARG 2. At this point, second place is still up for grabs. If the scores remain the same, Nigeria advances, if Iceland scores two, they advance, if Argentina scores, they advance, unless Iceland ... well, you get the idea.
86th minute: Marcos Rojo puts Argentina up to stay, 2-1. CRO 7 ARG 4 NIG 3 ISL 2. Only a few minutes left, Iceland is probably doomed, Nigeria can still advance if they put one more past Argentina.
90th minute: Ivan Perisic scores for Croatia, ending the hopes of Iceland.
Final whistles: Croatia and Argentina advance, Nigeria and Iceland go home.
Absent context, the best goal of the day was Argentina's first. Éver Banega's pass was perfection, and Messi's control was unworldly: two quick touches and then the shot from his "worst" foot.
I posted the call from Andres Cantor earlier. Here is the audio from Argentina television for Rojo's goal: