Denmark v France and the 1998 Champions France came in to this match having already qualified for the knockout stage after two wins already. Denmark started the day in second and hoping to stay there or higher and they needed just a point to confirm a spot in the last sixteen. The Danes made only once forced change before kick but the French made plenty as they gave loads of their players a rest.
With Denmark knowing that if they did not lose then they would be through and with a France side seemingly going through the paces, this game turned into a bit of a stalemate. Of course there were chances in the game, but it would have been a completely different match if both teams had of needed a win. They didn’t though and in probably one of the poorest game of the tournament so far, it finished goalless. Both France and now Denmark are through though and that’s all they wanted.
Denmark 0–0 France
Next fixtures for Denmark & France:
Sunday July 1st: Croatia v Denmark – Nizhny Novgorod, 7pm (Match 52)
Saturday June 30th: France v Argentina – Kazan, 3pm (Match 50)
Australia v Peru and the Aussies had to win this match to stand any chance of qualifying for the next round and then hope that France beat Denmark as well. Peru just wanted a win after playing so well against both Denmark and France previously, but unfortunately both times they came away with nothing. The Aussies made one enforced change before kick off in Sochi, but Peru had to make a couple of changes themselves as they were still looking for an actual goal in World Cup 2018.
Thankfully after a slow start to the games, Peru managed to actually score with their first meaningful attacked as Watford’s Carrillo smashed in a wonderful volley to score Peru’s first goal at a World Cup for 36 years. It’s safe to say that the Peruvian fans inside the stadium went wild. The Australians knew they had to then score two and did press forward to get back into the game but as they did they kept leaving gaps. Just five minutes into the second-half and Peru’s talked about captain Guerrero finished off the Aussies when he swiveled and hit a left-foot half volley passed Brighton’s Matt Ryan. Home-time for both teams but overall they’ve give a good account of themselves in all three group games.
Australia 0–2 Peru
Carrillo Goal 18′
Guerrero Goal 50′
No more games for Australia & Peru, they’re going home:
Nigeria v Argentina and what a match this was going to be before kick off with all four teams still looking to qualify for the next round, could Argentina handle the pressure and turn up? It looked like it from the beginning in St Petersburg as they started brightly with their main and captain looking more determined than ever to perform for his team prior to kick off. We weren’t wrong either as Lionel Messi put his side in front after just fourteen minutes after he controlled a through ball with his thigh, took one more touch with his left foot to keep it away from the defended and then superbly smashed the ball home with his right foot. Wonderful goal.
Argentina huffed and puffed for the remainder of the first half with chances coming and going, but the South American’s could not take advantage. Messi came the closest with a free-kick that hit the bar. Nigeria then won a penalty when Javier Mascherano was caught grappling at a corner and Victor Moses converted it. It wasn’t to be though, with five minutes to go Rojo found himself in the Nigeria’s box and volleyed home a right footed shot superbly to send his team into the last sixteen. Maradona was in the crowd and he looked pleased at full-time.
Nigeria 1–2 Argentina
Moses Goal 51′ (pen.)
Messi Goal 14′
Rojo Goal 86′
Next fixture for Argentina:
Saturday June 30th: France v Argentina – Kazan, 3pm (Match 50)
Iceland v Croatia from Rostov and with three teams still looking to reach the round of sixteen along with Croatia it was going to be an interesting evening ahead, with potential changes in the table happening all evening. Iceland began the game with three changes to their side as well as sitting in third place, so they had to win and hope they ended up with a better goal difference than the others.
Croatia were favourites to win though and having qualified they made a couple of changes, it made a difference too as they didn’t look half the side they have been so far. Iceland were the better team first-half even though both sides came close. Croatia picked up second-half though and even though Sigurðsson’s penalty levelled the scores after Badelj had initially put the Croats up. Croatia still got the win though, but they left it late to finish with three wins out of three when Perišić scored with a left footed shot.
Iceland 1–2 Croatia
G. Sigurðsson Goal 76′ (pen.)
Badelj Goal 53′
Perišić Goal 90′
Next fixture for Croatia:
Sunday July 1st: Croatia v Denmark – Nizhny Novgorod, 7pm (Match 52)
