My thoughts on Argentina’s win, a bore draw and crucial Brazil and Germany games…
Argentina scrape through
We were served up another night of drama as Group D came to a close, at the end of which Argentina managed to scrape through to the last 16 with a 2-1 over Nigeria. It took until the 86th minute for Marcos Rojo of all people to hit the winner, while only when Ivan Perisic smashed home for Croatia in the 90th minute to seal their 2-1 win over Iceland could they be sure that they had done enough.
It wasn’t a vintage performance by any means but Argentina needed an improvement on their first two matches, and they did enough to get the win. There were plenty of changes, leading many to wonder whether they were all decisions taken by coach Jorge Sampaoli or by the players, particularly Lionel Messi. While player changes were overdue and deserved, it does seem unlikely that Sampaoli would change the three at the back, to which he is so religiously devoted, to a four without any influence from the players who were clearly struggling in that original system.
The big personnel changes included swapping Sergio Aguero for Gonzalo Higuain, but it was the introduction of Ever Benega to the midfield, as I had called for after the Croatia defeat, that made a massive difference. Argentina simply hadn’t had anyone in midfield capable of making a killer pass, which meant that the presence of world-class strikers and one of the best players of all time made little difference. Banega ran the show last night though, and it brought the best out of Messi.
Their opening goal was the perfect case in point, with Banega’s ball over the top allowing Messi to do what he does best with some magnificent control and a great finish. There were plenty more passes in behind that were causing all manner of problems for Nigeria, with keeper Francis Uzoho having to block an effort from Higauin after Messi’s ball before Banega was creator again for Angel Di Maria to run in, only to be stopped unceremoniously by Leon Balogun with a foul that was close to being a red card. From that free-kick Messi hit the post, and with the main man playing with flair and skill all over the pitch and the rest of the players growing in confidence with him, it all looked good for Argentina.
The second half proved to be anything but an easy ride though. Their defence never looks far from making an error, but the decisive moment came just a few minutes after the break when Javier Mascherano was caught grappling with Balogun at a corner and Nigeria had a penalty. Victor Moses converted it, and from there it was anybody’s game.
Both sides had their chances, and Nigeria’s big moment came when the ball fell for Odion Ighalo to hit in the area, but his half-volley missed the target. The players pleaded for a penalty for a Rojo handball, but it would have been a very harsh decision. From their perspective fate does have a funny sense of humour, as it was Rojo, fancying himself as a centre-forward, who was in position to volley in Gabriel Mercado’s cross, cruelly ending Nigeria’s hopes while just about sending Argentina through to the last 16 for a meeting with France.
Iceland unlucky
That result might not have been enough for Argentina had Iceland claimed victory over Croatia, and they really ought to have done. Croatia, already sure of a place in the next round, made nine changes to their line-up and they saw Iceland have the bulk of chances. A quiet first half came to life in the final minutes when Alfred Finnbogason put a great chance wide and goalkeeper Lovre Kalinic saved efforts from Birkir Bjarnason and Aron Gunnarsson in injury time.
Iceland stayed on the front foot at the start of the second half but it was Croatia who found the opening goal, with Milan Badelj striking the ball into the ground and in when a deflected cross bounced up for him, just moments after a deflected Luka Modric effort had rattled the crossbar. To their credit, Iceland kept their heads up and were straight back onto the opposition, with Sverrir Ingason unable to convert two great chances from back-to-back corners after the goal.
They finally got the equaliser from the penalty spot, as Dejan Lovren was punished for handballing Gylfi Sigurdsson’s cross. It was Sigurdsson, who put a penalty over the bar in their previous game against Nigeria, who stepped up to take it again, and he was brave enough to aim high again but this time smashed it into the roof of the net. Argentina’s winner then meant that another Iceland goal would see them through, but as they pushed forward it was Croatia who stole the win through Perisic.
Croatia’s second-best side were exactly that last night, but they got the win to complete a clean sweep of the group. While many top sides have faltered they have been impressive, and with a very winnable fixture against Denmark in the next round the will fancy their chances of going a long way. For Iceland, there won’t be a repeat of 2016’s performance but certainly didn’t disgrace themselves at all, with another effort far beyond what could be expected of much bigger nations. There will be disappointment at how close they were, but they will hopefully move on and be back at another major tournament in two years’ time.
Denmark seal last 16 place
Group C came to a far less exciting conclusion, with Denmark and France playing out a 0-0 draw, the first of the whole tournament, that suited both just fine. There were boos and whistles from the fans at the ground and they were certainly denied a serious contest, but it was simply unfortunate that the objectives of both sides meant they needed a draw and so each played without any risk.
That makes it hard to really judge the relative strengths of the two sides. France made six changes to the starting line-up, not so much to rest players as to experiment with a squad so full of potential, but it seems impossible to fairly compare the average performances of the first two games with this one. Steven N’Zonzi and Thomas Lemar both made their first starts while Ousmane Dembele was recalled, but all three wasted the opportunity to show their talents and will be outsiders for selection in the last 16. That said, it is hard to think of anyone who has come out the group stage for France with an enhanced reputation, and serious improvement can’t come soon enough.
It was good to see Peru finish their campaign off with a win, as they defeated Australia 2-0 to end any glimmer of hope that they may have had of overtaking Denmark. Considering that the game was must-win, Australia were absolutely woeful, given plenty of possession but so wasteful with their chances. Their only goals at this World Cup have come from the penalty spot, and that just about says everything about their quality in the final third. Peru looked the more dangerous when they were on the break and were most clinical with two good goals, the first a great Andre Carrillo volley and the second a sharp finish on the half-volley from Paolo Guerrero.
Work for Brazil and Germany
The two competition favourites still have work to do in their respective groups. Things start with Group F, where Germany still have a good chance of going through after Toni Kroos’ dramatic winner against Sweden, which leaves the two sides neck-and-neck in second and third. There’s still everything at stake for the other sides as well though, with Mexico not yet guaranteed a place in the last 16 and South Korea still in the frame despite losing both games so far. Germany have been awful so far but I think we’ve witnessed a turning point, while the clash between Mexico and Sweden looks really tough to call with a point enough for the leaders.
Things are simpler for Brazil, with a draw against Serbia enough for them to go through from Group E. They haven’t had things easy so far though, drawing with Switzerland and needing injury time goals to see off Costa Rica, so there will need to be improvement in attack if they want to have a more comfortable evening. Switzerland had a late winner themselves against Serbia, which leaves them a point ahead of them with a meeting with Costa Rica last up. If they get the job done then that Brazil-Serbia clash is the crucial one, and while Brazil are far from the finished article I don’t seeing them losing.
Box-to-box journalist 