MATCHDAY 13 – PREVIEW

Argentina faces do or die test against Nigeria

St. Petersburg, June 25 (IANS): Lionel Messi’s Argentina, languishing at the bottom of their group, will know that anything less than a win against Nigeria will knock them out of the FIFA World Cup, when the two sides meet in a Group D clash here on Tuesday.   Nigeria beat Iceland 2-0 in their last game and will fancy their chances against a low-key Argentina, who suffered a shock 0-3 thrashing by Croatia.   The pair have met five times in six World Cups.   A win against Argentina will guarantee Nigeria a place in the second round.   A draw may also be enough even if Iceland beat already-qualified Croatia, depending on goal difference.   For Argentina, they must beat Nigeria and also hope Iceland do not win against Croatia, as that could send them home again depending on goal difference.   Messi and Co. will have to improve by leaps and bounds to harbour any chance on Tuesday.   Messi, who turned 31 on Sunday, has looked undercooked in both games, been largely crowded off the ball and his penalty miss against Iceland was horrible to say the least. Against Croatia, the FC Barcelona talisman was anonymous.   “The team is lost,” former Argentina international and Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone said in a leaked audio.   “What’s happening to the team right now is what has happened to Argentina in these last four disgraceful years: anarchy, no leadership from the players, coaches or directors,” he added.  

Struggling Iceland take on already qualified Croatia

Rostov-On-Don: Struggling to make their mark, Iceland will aim for nothing less than a win when they take on already-qualified Croatia in their last Group D clash at the Rostov Arena here on Tuesday.   Croatia are already through to the Round of 16 with victories over Argentina and Nigeria while Iceland played a draw with Argentina before losing to Nigeria.   Iceland’s fate does not only lie in their own hands as a win on Tuesday may not be enough for them but will also hope that Nigeria lose to Argentina.   Croatia tops the group with six points while the Heimir Hallgrimsson-coached Iceland have just a single point in their kitty and lie at the third spot.   After already achieving their first objective, Croatia would likely bench some of their players against Iceland.   On Tuesday, Croatia could also become the fourth team in the history of the World Cup to win all three of their group games without conceding a goal.   Six Croatian players -- Ivan Rakitic, Ante Rebic, Sime Vrsaljko, Mario Mandzukic, Marcelo Brozovic and Vedran Corluka -- are one booking away from being suspended for the last 16 and some of them are likely to be rested against Iceland.   Iceland, on the other hand, are known for bouncing back from defeats such as the one they suffered against Nigeria.   The islanders employed a 4-5-1 formation against Argentina before switching to a 4-4-2 formation against the African side.   Iceland will mostly rely on Gylfi Sigurdsson, their highest-profile player, who missed a late penalty against Nigeria and a goal could have pulled his team back into the game.  

Australia clashes with Peru in must-win tie

Sochi: Faced with a must-win situation, Australia will be wary of a wounded Peru when they lock horns in their final group stage match of the FIFA World Cup here on Tuesday.   Despite all the plaudits for their admirable displays against Denmark and France, the Australians, with just a single point in their kitty, are expected to come hard at their South American opponents, who are already eliminated from the ongoing football extravaganza.   Placed third in Group C, the Socceroos must beat Peru if they're to have any hope of reaching the second round, while also hoping France do them a favour and topple Denmark in the other Group C match.   If those two results are achieved, it will then mean goal difference, goals scored and even the number of yellow and red cards accrued by Australia and Denmark could come into play.   While relying on other results to aid their cause, Australia skipper Mile Jedinak has urged his players to be far more astute against Peru than they were in their first two matches of the tournament.   "We'll probably have to be more focused than what we've done in the last two games and give it a really big effort to make sure we're going to get the job done against them," Jedinak said.   "I have no doubt that they're going to give it a go. Peru hasn't been here for a very long time on this stage, to think that they're just going to turn up and not care about the camp or be disillusioned, it's wrong to think that.   "We're expecting a very, very tough game and one that I know they're going to want to win," he added.  

France relaxed ahead of encounter with Denmark

Moscow: Comfortably placed atop Group C and already qualified for the knockouts, France will attempt to finish off their first round assignments with a win over Denmark when they face off in their final group stage clash here on Tuesday.   A draw against Denmark will also keep France atop the group as they hope for a potentially more favourable meeting with likely second-place finishers in Group D -- Argentina or Nigeria -- as Croatia are likely to top Group D after winning their opening two matches.   Denmark, on the other hand, will advance with a draw but a defeat, paired with an Australia win against Peru, could send them packing.   Going into Tuesday’s tie, it will be interesting to see if France will be keen to rest some key players before the knockout stage.   Striker Antoine Griezmann, who arrived tired in Russia after a long club season with Spanish football giants Atletico Madrid, remains a potential headache for the team.   Denmark coach Age Hareide will be forced to reshuffle his attacking lineup on Tuesday with Yussuf Poulsen being suspended after he collected a second booking in as many outings against Australia, the forward picking up a harsh yellow card following a VAR-awarded penalty.   And the indifferent form of winger Pione Sisto could also force the coach to bench him for the crucial tie.