A mouth-watering showdown now looms between two-time winners Argentina and former champions France in the round of 16 at 2018 World Cup in Russia.
The match-up was set in stone after goals by Lionel Messi and Marcos Rojo lifted the South American giants to a 2-1 win in their crucial Group D encounter against Nigeria in St. Petersburg.
Victor Moses’s second-half penalty looked to be enough to earn Nigeria a crucial point, cancelling out Lionel Messi’s superb thigh control and finish in the 14th minute.
Needing a win to have any chance of progression, Rojo volleyed La Albiceleste 2-1 in front in the 86th minute to break Nigerian hearts.
Messi’s strike had brought up the century for goals at Russia 2018 – one day later than Brazil 2014 hit the milestone on the way to a record-equalling haul of 171. He also joined Diego Maradona and Gabriel Batistuta in becoming the third Albiceleste player to score in three World Cups.
His effort which was the 100th goal of the tournament also saw him becoming the first player in world cup history to score in his teens, 20’s and 30’s.
Argentina, with the result, ended second in Group D on 4 points, one above the Nigerians who missed out on qualifying for the next round.
Already advanced Croatia maintained their 100 percent record with a 2-1 win over Iceland to set up a round of 16 clash with Denmark who finished runners up in Group C after playing to a goalless draw with France – the first such result at Russia 2018.
Peru meanwhile registered their first win at a World Cup finals since 1978 after goals by Andre Carrillo and skipper Paulo Guerrero led them to a 2-0 win over Australia.