Lionel Messi’s legacy stays intact, at least for another few days.
All it took was a magical 14th-minute goal from Argentina’s mini messiah and an 86th-minute goal from a defender who had done next to nothing all World Cup long for Argentina to squeak by and make it into the knockout round of the World Cup.
The first half of Tuesday’s game against Nigeria was a straight-up battle between Argentina’s aging attack and Nigeria’s 19-year-old goalkeeper, Francis Uzoho. Messi beat Uzoho with two perfect touches and a gorgeous shot with his wrong foot, but the youngster also sacrificed his body to stop Gonzalo Higuain and made a gorgeous fingertip save off a Messi free kick to keep his team alive.
Having created nothing for the first 45 minutes, Nigeria took control immediately in the second half, and it got a 51st-minute goal when the decrepit, 34-year-old Javier Mascherano gave up a penalty that Victor Moses coolly put away. At the same time, in the other Group D game, Croatia — who already booked passage to the knockout rounds — scored to all but eliminate Iceland.
Thus, with 40 minutes to play, Nigeria and Argentina played for their World Cup lives.
As has been typical of Argentina all tournament long, it looked like a mess. Its embattled coach, Jorge Sampaoli, didn’t seem to have a plan and made two very odd substitutions before finally bringing on Sergio Aguero, who promptly contributed nothing to the game.
Sampaoli’s players, who are rumored to be in open revolt against him, bailed him out when, as the clock ticked down, defender Marcos Rojo volleyed home a cross to give Argentina the lead it needed.
Now, La Albiceleste move on to the knockout rounds, where they’ll play France on Saturday. Both teams have the same problem: their manager. In France’s case, Didier Deschamps somehow hasn’t figured out how to make a perfectly balanced team function as a unit, while Sampaoli is simply fighting to keep his hands on the reins.
Goal of the Day
It was always going to be Messi. Yes, right-footed finish from the left-footed maestro is amazing, but focus on the two touches that preceded it. Somehow, he controlled the long, looping pass with the outside of his left thigh to perfectly set up the finish. Bravo.
Wednesday’s games:
Group F
Mexico vs. Sweden
10 a.m., Fox
Korea vs. Germany
10 a.m., FS1
In theory, Korea could make it through, but really, this is all about Mexico (6 points), Sweden (3 points) and Germany (3 points). Mexico’s path is the easiest: Win or draw against Sweden and it’s through. But if Sweden and Germany both win, which is entirely possible, things get nuts. Who goes through will be decided by increasingly complicated tiebreakers. Goal difference and goals scored are the first tiebreaks, however, so expect everyone to go hell for leather on Wednesday morning.
Group E
Serbia vs Brazil
2 p.m. Fox
Switzerland vs Costa Rica
2 p.m. FS1
Cross off Costa Rica, it’s done, which is good news for the Swiss because if it wins it goes through. That leaves the Serbia-Brazil game as a winner-take-all death match. Brazil will attack, Serbia will defend and look to counter. If it gets a lucky goal it’ll break millions of Brazilian hearts. In all likelihood, Brazil should go through at a canter.