Hello, and welcome to this evening’s liveblog.
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Kick off for the game is at 7pm.
Confirmation of tonight’s teams…
Nigeria name unchanged team for Argentina #SuperEaglesInsider #Team9jaStrong #SightsAndSoundsOfRussia #Russia2018 #SoarSuperEagles https://t.co/E5GMIiAlrs pic.twitter.com/VgAeBmdZFz
— Colin NOT Collins (@ColinUdoh) June 26, 2018
Maradona dancing with a random fan as the teams warm up here: pic.twitter.com/gTujhs0TjX
— James Olley (@JamesOlley) June 26, 2018
In case you’re wondering about permutations for this group, you can read about it here.
We’re under way…
It’s been a fairly low key start so far.
There have been a few stray passes and it’s been quite stop-start.
Mascherano has already given the ball away twice.
Argentina haven’t exactly started this game in convincing fashion.
Tagliafico slices a shot wide from the edge of the area.
This game looks like it’ll be a bit more open than either of Argentina’s two previous World Cup 2018 encounters.
Mascherano gives the ball away but then makes a good recovery tackle to dispossess Iheanacho.
Argentina are looking vulnerable on the counter-attack.
NIGERIA 0-1 ARGENTINA (MESSI 14)
Messi controls Banega’s well-executed through pass.
The Barcelona star takes it down brilliantly before burying it into the corner of the net.
662 - Lionel Messi has scored his first World Cup goal in 662 minutes of football, his last previous World Cup goal came against Nigeria as well, in 2014. Relief. pic.twitter.com/471WFjg3Uo
— OptaJohan (@OptaJohan) June 26, 2018
Messi still looks a bit frustrated at times with his team-mates’ choice of pass and other errors.
There hasn’t been much goalmouth action since Argentina took the lead.
Messi plays a sublime through ball, but Higuain can’t beat Uzoho.
Goal difference could be a factor in terms of who progresses in the group tonight, so Argentina could do with scoring a few more.
Messi becomes the first player to have scored a World Cup goal as a teenager, in his twenties and in his thirties.
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) June 26, 2018
Di Maria breaks away on goal, but Balogun cynically trips him.
The defender gets booked for the challenge.
Messi’s free kick from just outside the box comes back off the post seemingly after Uzoho gets a slight touch on it.
The Barcelona star really looks up for this game — he’s been comfortably the best player on the pitch in the opening half hour.
Messi plays a one-two with Higuain, before passing to Di Maria, whose shot from the edge of the area is blocked.
Argentina have been much the better side so far. One or two promising moments in the early stages aside, Nigeria have looked pretty toothless.
Still Croatia 0-0 Iceland.
Luka Modric has flashed a shot just wide.
Iheanacho is down after his head connects with Rojo’s high boot.
The referee did not see that as an infringement.
HALF-TIME: ARGENTINA 1-0 NIGERIA
HALF-TIME: CROATIA 0-0 ICELAND
Maradona is sleeping
— Jan Aage Fjortoft (@JanAageFjortoft) June 26, 2018
Breaking News
The second half has begun…
PENALTY TO NIGERIA!
NIGERIA 1-1 ARGENTINA (MOSES 51)
Moses sends the goalkeeper the wrong way.
The penalty came about after Mascherano put his hands on Troost-Ekong as a corner was going in.
CROATIA 1-0 ICELAND (BADELJ)
Badelj’s clinical finish has given Croatia the lead.
That’s good news for both Argentina and Iceland.
Argentina continue to look very nervy.
There have been far too many misplaced passes from the South Americans.
Argentina make a change.
Pavón replaces Pérez.
Banega has just been booked for a late challenge on Ndidi.
A sign of frustration creeping into Argentina’s play perhaps.
Argentina are going all-out attack now.
They’re practically playing a 4-2-4 formation.
Argentina have dominated possession in recent minutes.
They have been hesitant in attack, however, and don’t look like breaking Nigeria down at the moment.
Nigeria break and get a sight at goal. Ndidi’s shot from distance goes just over.
Meanwhile, Argentina make another change, as Meza comes on for the disappointing Di María.
“Great tackle on jalapeño” - Brian Kerr
— Yoyo Mahdy (@Yoyomahdy98) June 26, 2018
PENALTY TO ICELAND!
ICELAND 1-1 CROATIA (SIGURDSSON 76)
Sigurdsson makes no mistake with the penalty to give Iceland hope.
Claims for a penalty, as the ball comes off Rojo’s arm.
After consulting VAR, the ref decides it was accidental.
Another sub as Argentina desperately push for a winner.
Tagliafico is replaced by Aguero.
As I type, the ball is pulled back to Higuaín, who blasts a good chance over the bar.
There is a chance that an Argentina winner will kill Diego Maradona.
— Rory Smith (@RorySmith) June 26, 2018
Ighalo goes through on goal.
However, Armani does well to tighten the angle and make the save.
ARGENTINA 2-1 NIGERIA (ROJO 87)
Rojo produces an incredible volleyed finish from Mercado’s cross.
Is that the goal that takes Argentina into the last-16?
CROATIA 2-1 ICELAND (PERISIC 89)
FULL-TIME: ARGENTINA 2-1 NIGERIA
FULL-TIME: CROATIA 2-1 ICELAND
Right, that’s all from me for now.
Thanks for reading and commenting.
You can our match report here.
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