OdishaLIVE Bureau
The tournament progresses into the last round of the group stages as teams gear up for knock out stage
- Peru beat Australia by 2-0 in the opening match of the day
- France draw 0-0 with Denmark in a boringdisplay
- Messi and company beat Nigeria 2-1 while Croatia also beat Iceland by 2-1
As the tournament progresses into the last round of the group stages we will tend to find the fate of the teams of each group day by day. Yesterday, we saw the fate of teams belonging to Group C and D, in other words who will be going to the knockout stages and who will be going back home.
Peru vs Australia
In the first match of the day, Peru defeated the kangaroos by 2-0 in the Fisht Stadium in Sochi. Australia, who had still hopes of qualifying into the knockout stages, came into the match hoping to get a win and expecting France to beat Denmark. Peru on the other side, were already knocked out but had put in strong performances in both of their previous matches, despite losing both of them. Australia started off the game better than Peru, playing at a high tempo when in possession of the ball. But, out of nowhere their slim hopes of qualifying were soon cut off when Peru took the lead in the 18th minute thanks to Ardre Carillo’s stunning volley from the edge of the box after some great team play.
The kangaroos thereafter looked to get back into the game with creating a number of chances. Mathew Leckie, late into the first half had the chance to level it for his country but the Peruvian defence did enough to stop him. In the 50th minute, Peru doubled their lead when their Captain Paulo Gurrero scored a neat finish from a deflected cross. From, thereon Australia had more of the chances and possession while Peru were more compact and solid in defence and looked to play on the counter attack. The Aussies created some chances later in the second half but it wasn’t enough. The full time whistle blew and Australia were knocked out of the tournament.
France vs Denmark
France played Denmark in the second match of the day in the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow and let’s just say it was similar to a warm up game as the game ended 0-0. Slow paced, dull and boring not what football fans exactly want to see. Both teams knew they needed a draw to qualify and that probably affected their play. Denmark sat back deep with all of their 11 players in their half for most of the time. France on the other side offered little creativity and made few chances. Some would argue that France had made 6 changes and probably that played a role in France being so dull and slow paced. But with a team of Antoinne Griezmann and Thomas Lemar you would expect more. Nabil Fekir came into the match with 22 minutes left and injected some creativity but it wasn’t enough. France, having qualified, have won 2 games and drawn 1 and sit on top of the table, although their performances would not convince anyone that they can win the tournament. Denmark on the other side were ecstatic, having qualified into the knockout stages for the first time since 2002.
Argentina vs Nigeria
Argentina faced Nigeria in other matches in the Saint Petersburg Stadium in Saint Petersburg and probably this match was the most exciting and important of all. Messi and Company have had a miserable campaign with only registering one point on the table. He and his team needed to turn up and win the game comfortably in order to qualify. Nigeria on the other hand kept their qualifying hopes alive when they beat Iceland 2-0 and were hoping to take that momentum into this game. Both of the teams had to win this match in order to qualify.
The passionate Argentinean fans were in full voice even before the game urging their team to turn up and perform and it looked like they did their magic. In the 14th minute Ever Banega of Argentina put in a beautiful lobbed pass for Lionel Messi who took that elegantly and scored it past the Nigerian goal to give Argentina the lead. The selection of Ever Banega in the Argentinean side was a great move by Jorge Sampaoli, the Argentinean manager as he provided much needed creativity something that lacked in the midfield before. Messi hit the woodwork from a free kick in the first half after winger Angel Di Maria was brought down and it looked like Messi was taking his country to the Round of 16s as he was at the heart of everything.
But, the second half was a different story. Nigera looked to get back in the game and were awarded a penalty when Argentinean defender Javier Mascherano fouled Leo Balogun while defending a corner. Victor Mosses stepped up and converted the penalty calmly in the 51st minute. From there on everything went downhillfor Argentina. Nigeria slowly grew back into the game and Argentina were showing a shabby and ragged display. Nigeria created many chances which would have won them the game but were not able to take them. Argentina were lucky not to go behind when defender Marcos Rojo headed the ball onto his arm and after using the VAR the referee came to a decision of not giving the penalty.
As the Argentinean fans grew tensed and weary they needed their heroes to deliver and with just 4 minutes of normal time to go, the Manchester United defender Marcos Rojo volleyed past the Nigerian goal from a cross and the stadium erupted. The full time whistle blew and emotions ran high among the fans and the players. Messi and company did just enough to see their country through into the Round of 16s.
Iceland vs Croatia
Iceland played Croatia in the last game of the day in the Rostov Arena in Rostov-On-Don. Croatia sat comfortably on top of the table with 6 points before the game while Iceland were last placed requiring to win against Croatia and hoping that results of the Argentina and Nigeria match go in their favour while keeping a higher goal difference than them in order to qualify.
The game of the pattern was set early, Croatia keep more of the ball and Iceland looking to hurt them on the counter attack. Their prolific striker Finnbogason shot just wide of the goal in the 40th minute and Iceland looked a threat on the counter. Just before half time, throw in specialist Aaron Gunnorson’s shot was saved by Kalinic to deny Iceland the lead. Croatia had their first major chance when Miram Badlej’s thunderous shot hit the woodwork early into the second half. Few minutes later, he tried his luck again and this time it went in and Croatia took the lead in the 53rd minute.
Iceland took this as a challenge and reacted strongly. Sverrir Ingason headed into the Croatian goal but it was saved yet again by Kalinic who had been great in this match. Their rigorous efforts were awarded when Liverpool defender Dejah Lovren handled the ball and the referee awarded the penalty to Iceland. Gylfi Sigurdsson stepped up and scored the penalty cool and calmly. It looked like Iceland were going to win the game with momentum in their side but their hopes were destroyed when Ivan Perisic , who came close from a free kick 5 minutes before, scored in the 89th minute from his left foot to give Croatia the win. Iceland were knocked out and Croatia maintained their 100% win record in the tournament.
(Story: Raunaq Dash, Edit: Sriram Singh Rattan)
