ST. PETERSBURG, Russia – From his thigh to his foot to the back of the net, Lionel Messi finally scored a goal at this year’s World Cup.
The exquisite strike from the Argentina great sparked the first of several celebrations from an animated Diego Maradona, who screamed, shouted and made obscene gestures – and raised concerns for his health.
Argentina staved off elimination with a 2-1 victory over Nigeria on Tuesday, getting a late goal from Marcos Rojo. Maradona showed both middle fingers to the crowd after the 86th-minute winner.
A short time later, videos posted on social media showed Maradona needing help out of the stands and into an adjoining luxury box at the stadium. He appeared to have his eyes closed and a later photo showed a pair of paramedics attending to him.
There was no immediate information on his health, but about two hours later he was photographed smiling at an airport. Another photo posted on Twitter appeared to show him sitting on a plane.
Messi’s goal – his 65th for Argentina – was surely enough to impress even Maradona.
From a long pass over the defense by Ever Banega, Messi caressed the ball with his left thigh, took another touch with his left foot, and then delivered a smooth right-footed finish into the corner.
Messi fell to his knees and pointed his fingers upward in celebration. At the same time, Maradona crossed his arms with his hands on his shoulders and looked to the sky.
“I knew that God is with us,” Messi said, “and he wouldn’t let us get eliminated.”
Rojo finished it off in the second by cushioning a volley with his right foot into the bottom corner and ensuring Messi’s quest for a first World Cup title continued.
Argentina will play France in the last 16 in Kazan on Saturday.
Before Rojo’s goal, Nigeria had been only a few minutes from qualifying for the last 16 for the fourth time.
Javier Mascherano gave away a penalty with a pull on Leon Balogun at a 49th-minute corner. Victor Moses converted – and marked the goal with a somersault – to put Nigeria back in control of the race for second place in the group.
Argentina was facing a World Cup without a win for the first time since 1934, but instead the team is headed to the knockout stage.
“This is Messi,” Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr said with a shrug.
ROSTOV-ON-DON, Russia – Croatia ended Iceland’s chances at the World Cup and helped out Argentina at the same time.
Ivan Perisic capitalized on a defensive error to score a 90th-minute winner Tuesday, giving Croatia a 2-1 win over Iceland and first place in Group D on Tuesday.
Iceland could have finished second in the group with a victory because Argentina beat Nigeria 2-1 at the same time. Instead, the Croats will face Denmark on Sunday in Nizhny Novgorod and Argentina will take on France on Saturday in Kazan.
Fielding a side filled with reserves after already being assured of a spot in the round of 16, Croatia started to take control of the match in the second half.
Milan Badelj, moments after hitting the bar, scored the opening goal in the 53rd minute. He sprinted into the area and sent a bouncing shot past goalkeeper Hannes Halldorsson.
“The fact that we’ve brought on nine new players and won is another sign of our strength and depth, and we have to be proud of that,” said Badelj, who was man of the match.
Iceland equalized in the 76th when Gylfi Sigurdsson scored from the penalty spot after substitute Dejan Lovren handled the ball.
“There is too much quality in Croatia,” Iceland coach Heimir Hallgrimsson said. “I am disappointed but I am really proud of the character and the performance of the boys.
“It was a bit of a shock to concede one, but we did not give up. The players should have a lot of credit for this game. I couldn’t have been more proud.”
Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic said he was pleased to show how deep the quality extended in his side, but also paid tribute to his opponents’ “character and discipline.”
“I’m upset with the conceded goal, but ... we won nine points, the goal difference is 7-1, and we have top spot in the group,” he said. “That is fantastic.”
MOSCOW – A game no team needed to win became the game no fan would want to watch.
France and Denmark produced the World Cup’s first 0-0 draw at the 37th attempt amid boos and whistles from fans on Tuesday.
The slow-paced game was out of step with a vibrant tournament. But it advanced both teams to the round of 16 unbeaten, with the bonus of no players suspended and no serious injuries. France will now play Argentina, and Denmark faces Croatia.
“We did what we needed,” Denmark coach Age Hareide said, praising his team for a disciplined display. “We would have been stupid to open a lot of space for the French team.”
France was already sure to advance with two opening victories, and this result spread the happiness to Denmark and its thousands of fans who stayed to dance and cheer in an empty stadium.
Less happy were the neutral fans in the crowd. Many Russians cheered the host team’s name and whistled misplaced passes and slow play as the game progressed with Denmark protecting its one point for a draw.
It was the longest a World Cup had gone without a goalless draw since 1954, a tournament of 26 games which all delivered at least one goal.
SOCHI, Russia – Back at the World Cup for the first time since 1982, Peru isn’t leaving Russia empty handed.
The Peruvians failed to score a goal in their opening two matches, but the team finally gave its fans a reason to celebrate when it ended Australia’s hopes of advancing to the knockout round with a 2-0 victory on Tuesday.
The Australians had to beat Peru and hope Denmark lost to France in the other Group C match, but neither result occurred. France and Denmark drew 0-0 in Moscow.
Andre Carrillo’s 18th-minute goal – a half-volley from inside the area – was Peru’s first in a World Cup since its last appearance 36 years ago. Peru hadn’t won a World Cup match since defeating Iran in 1978.
“I need to thank the players for their great effort, and the fans, who were incredible and supported us all the way,” Peru coach Ricardo Gareca said. “At least we were able to give them a triumph, that’s the most important thing.”
Peru captain Paolo Guerrero, who almost missed the tournament because of a doping suspension, scored the other goal in the 50th with a left-footed strike after getting to a loose ball inside the area.
“This triumph is for our people and for Jefferson (Farfan),” Guerrero said of his teammate who missed the match after being hospitalized with a head injury sustained in practice last weekend. “We showed that Peru can play as equal to anyone.”
