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Rojo, Messi give Argentina dramatic win

By Nicholas MendolaJun 26, 2018, 3:55 PM EDT
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Lionel Messi struck early and Marcos Rojo became a national hero when his late goal gave Argentina a knockout round berth with a 2-1 win over Nigeria in the World Cup on Tuesday.

[ MORE: Latest 2018 World Cup news ] 

Messi’s goal was brilliant. He collected a diagonal rope from Ever Banega with his thigh, dragging the ball into position before belting it beyond the reach of Francis Uzoho

It could’ve been a brace for Messi, but 19-year-old Nigerian goalkeeper  Uzoho pushed the Argentine’s terrific free kick off the far post.

Click here for live and on demand coverage of the World Cup online and via the NBC Sports App.

[ LIVE: World Cup scores ]  

But Nigeria found its way to the scoresheet when Javier Mascherano was not given the benefit of the doubt for holding in the box on a corner kick.

Wilfred Ndidi blazed a shot over the bar in the 71st minute as Nigeria looked to put an end to all doubt.

Nigeria had another chance to put it to bed in the 75th minute when Marcos Rojo headed a ball off his arm, but the referee said there was no intent.

Gonzalo Higuain should’ve had it 2-1 in the 81st, but missed horribly with a cutback pass into the 18.

Argentina backstop Franco Armani made an outstanding in-tight save in the 82nd to keep the Albiceleste’s hopes alive.

And then what happened? Talk to ’em, Andy:

WATCH: World Cup, Day 14 — Brazil, Germany aim to avoid shock exits

Rodolfo Buhrer/La Imagem/Fotoarena/Sipa USA)(Sipa via AP Images)
By Nicholas MendolaJun 26, 2018, 5:26 PM EDT
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Only one team of the eight World Cup combatants taking the pitches of Russia on Tuesday has been eliminated from the tournament.

[ SCENARIOS: Who needs what, to finish where, in final round of group games ]

Costa Rica is out of the running in Group E, where it will face Switzerland, while Brazil and Serbia stage what could be an occasion to relish at the same time (2 p.m. ET) in Kazan.

Brazil and Switzerland both advance with a draw, while Serbia needs either a win or a draw and a Costa Rican upset of Switzerland (plus tiebreakers).

[ MORE: Latest 2018 World Cup news ]

Earlier in the day is Group F action, where Mexico needs a draw against Sweden to advance to the knockout rounds, while Germany, Sweden, and South Korea need, well, just read this, okay?

Below is Wednesday’s schedule in full.

Click here for live and on demand coverage of the World Cup online and via the NBC Sports App.

2018 World Cup schedule – Wednesday, June 27

Group F
Mexico vs. Sweden: Moscow, 10 a.m. ET – LIVE COVERAGE
Germany vs. South Korea: Nizhny Novgorod, 10 a.m. ET – LIVE COVERAGE

Group E
Serbia vs. Brazil: Kazan, 2 p.m. ET – LIVE COVERAGE
Switzerland vs. Costa Rica: Yekaterinburg, 2 p.m. ET – LIVE COVERAGE

Messi, Rojo react to Argentina win: “A well-deserved joy”

Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images
By Nicholas MendolaJun 26, 2018, 4:42 PM EDT
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Marcos Rojo was in tears after his late goal lifted Argentina from the dregs of its footballing history into the knockout rounds of the World Cup.

[ MORE: Croatia tops Iceland ]

Rojo blasted a volley from Gabriel Mercado home as the match-winner of a 2-1 Group D finale against Nigeria, joining a marvelous Lionel Messi opener on the score sheet.

And Rojo was very much here for Messi.

“Lionel Messi had told the guys he was going to score a goal more than ever. The goal is for my family and for this group that deserves it. Let’s go Argentina!”

Messi was effusive in his praise for his teammates, Argentine people, and even a more holy spirit.

“We were confident that we would win this game. It’s wonderful to have won it this way. It is a well-deserved joy. I knew that God is with us and he was not going to leave us out. I thank all the people who are here, for all their sacrifice, and all those who are in Argentina who were always with us. The shirt of the national team is above all.”

Religious enthusiasm aside, we’re grateful that Messi’s World Cup story plays on (though there wasn’t a team in Group D without plenty of reason for our support). Against France, though, Messi may need some archangels to come down play defense for Argentina.

Croatia perfect in Group D with late Perisic strike

AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda
By Nicholas MendolaJun 26, 2018, 3:54 PM EDT
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There was another World Cup game in Group D, you know, where Croatia cemented its contender status with a 2-1 win over Iceland on Tuesday.

Milan Badelj and Ivan Perisic scored to set Croatia up with Denmark in the Round of 16.

Everton’s Gylfi Sigurdsson scored for Iceland, who was in the match until Perisic’s 90th minute winner.

[ MORE: Latest 2018 World Cup news ] 

Josip Pivaric hit a second half cross that bounded into the path of Fiorentina’s Badelj, who did well to make it 1-0.

Click here for live and on demand coverage of the World Cup online and via the NBC Sports App.

[ LIVE: World Cup scores ]  

Iceland drew level through Sigurdsson, who hammered a penalty down the middle after a handball in the box.

But that just wasn’t enough, as the criminally overlooked Perisic buried a goal to give the World Cup its second 3-0 team.

VIDEO: Lionel Messi scores amazing goal

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By Joe Prince-WrightJun 26, 2018, 2:25 PM EDT
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Lionel Messi put Argentina up 1-0 early on in a must-win game against Nigeria and it was a beauty.

[ LIVE: World Cup scores ]  

Messi, 31, had the weight of his nation on his shoulders heading in this match with La Albiceleste in turmoil after gaining just one point from their first two Group D games.

A long ball over the top from Ever Banega was tricky for anyone to control but this is Messi we are talking about. He controlled it with his left thigh at full speed, then took a touch before smashing across goal and into the far corner.

What a moment as Argentina’s fans inside the stadium in Saint Petersburg went wild.

[ MORE: Latest 2018 World Cup news ] 

Take a look at Messi’s moment of magic below.

Click here for live and on demand coverage of the World Cup online and via the NBC Sports App.