Porto Alegre: Nigeria face Lionel Messi’s already qualified Argentina in Porto Alegre on Wednesday with a first appearance in the last-16 since 1998 tantalisingly within the African champions’ grasp.
Tens of thousands of Messi fans are expected to make the trip up from Argentina to this southern port city for the closing Group F clash where a draw would secure the Nigerians the all important runners-up spot after Peter Odemwingie’s goal against Bosnia-Herzegovina in Cuiaba on Saturday ended the west Africans’ nine-match World Cup winless run.
Defeat to Argentina, who sit top with wins over Iran and Bosnia, could still see Stephen Keshi’s men prolong their stay in Brazil, if Iran fail to beat Bosnia up in Salvador.
And FIFA might even have to get out their straws for the drawing of lots should Iran win 1-0 and Nigeria lose by the same score, leaving the sides inseparable on points, goal difference, number of goals and head-to-head.
Argentina approach the game with their noses put out of joint by media criticism of their performances so far, with only Messi’s goals against Bosnia and Iran saving their blushes.
“Obviously it hurts when you hear people saying that they don’t like you, when people say different things to us,” Real Madrid forward Angel Di Maria said at the weekend.
Messi, who turns 27 on Tuesday, and his team mates have a significant incentive to notch up their third win here and top the table as that would mean likely avoiding Didier Deschamps’s impressive France for a second round date instead with Group E’s runners-up, likely to Ecuador or Switzerland, although Honduras could still snatch that honour.
The two-time former champions may have failed to set the 2014 World Cup stage alight in their opening forays but Messi predicts the Argentine pot is slowly coming to the boil.
“We are not showing what we can do, but with a run of games I think we will get there,” said Barcelona’s four time World Player of the Year.
France vow no let up in last-16 race
Meanwhile, France are vowing no let up of their thrilling attacking style as they seek to storm into the last-16 against Ecuador on Wednesday (Thursday in India).
Didier Deschamps’ side have been one of the revelations of the tournament so far, bagging eight goals in two games to all but seal qualification from Group E.
A draw in Wednesday’s game at the Maracana Stadium would be enough to clinch first place and avoid a probable meeting with Argentina in the last 16.
France’s huge goal difference of plus six also means they could even lose to Ecuador and still win the group.
Switzerland, level with Ecuador on three points but trailing on goal difference, would then need to win big against Honduras to have any chance of advancing. (Reuters)