By Anna Italia
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Italian Soccer Serie A Blog supports Italian Serie A players in the World Cup
35% Ball Possession NIGERIA and 65% Ball Possession ARGENTINA
Nigeria 1 – 2 Argentina 
51′ Victor Moses (pen) 14′ Lionel Messi
. 86′ Marcos Rojo
Stats BEFORE the game.
- Nigeria, 2nd position with 3 points and a goal difference of “0”
- Argentina, 4th position with 1 point and a negative goal difference of -3
It was a much needed victory. Argentina winning the First Stage Group D game on Tuesday 26 June at the Saint Petersburg Stadium in Saint Petersburg, Russia. This victory guaranteed Argentina the qualification to the Round of 16 and will face France. Nigeria is eliminated. Heroes for Argentina are Captain Lionel Messi opening the score and defender Marcos Rojo scoring the winner goal. Croatia advance as Group D Leader.
First Stage Group D Standing After Matchday 3
Croatia in the 1st position with 9 points and a positive goal difference of +6. Argentina in the 2nd position with 4 points and a negative goal difference of -2. Nigeria in the 3rd position with 3 points and a negative goal difference of -1. Iceland in the 4th position with 1 point and a negative goal difference of -3.
Never in doubt.
Was it? ?#NGAARG #ISLCRO pic.twitter.com/i2YhosG1Aa— FIFA World Cup ? (@FIFAWorldCup) June 26, 2018
Argentina opening the score in the 14th minute. It is Captain Lionel Messi to give a joy to the thousands of Argentineans fans at the Stadium shouting this goal including the great “Diego Armando Maradona” watching from the Tribune. Messi defeating Nigeria goalkeeper Uzoho with a right footed shot in the bottom left corner. The assist is by Éver Banega with a through ball.
The perfect start for @Argentina on a huge night of football. #NGAARG 0-1 pic.twitter.com/RbGhyMGBqk
— FIFA World Cup ? (@FIFAWorldCup) June 26, 2018
#SomosArgentina ¡GOOOOOOL CAPITÁN! ¡Goooool de #Messi! El 10 define tras un pase perfecto de @Ever10Banega . pic.twitter.com/r5bbHUiRTh
— Selección Argentina (@Argentina) June 26, 2018
#SomosArgentina ¡Festeje capitán! pic.twitter.com/tipBQHdrCx
— Selección Argentina (@Argentina) June 26, 2018
The honor goal for Nigeria happening in the 51st minute. Victor Moses converts a penalty defeating Argentina goalkeeper Armani with a right footed shot in the center. The penalty was conceded by Argentina midfielder Javier Mascherano after a foul on Leon Balogun inside the penalty area.
What a shot this is for #NGA fans ?#NGAARG pic.twitter.com/E63izXBpIx
— FIFA World Cup ? (@FIFAWorldCup) June 26, 2018
The moment of joy, the final cherry on top of the ice cream is for Argentina in the 86th minute. It is defender Marcos Rojo to smack a right footed shot all the way to the bottom right corner. The assist is by Gabriel Mercado with a cross. It was the needed goal to secure the passing to the Round of 16. Surely, a tense match and much needed boost for the morale of the team.
GOAL! GOAL! GOAL!
ROJO!#NGAARG 1-2 pic.twitter.com/kBAH1ED0YL
— FIFA World Cup ? (@FIFAWorldCup) June 26, 2018
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Italian Serie A Players with Nigeria and Argentina
Argentina National team: 5 Italian Serie A players, AS Roma defender Federico Fazio, Torino defender Cristian Ansaldi, AC Milan midfielder Lucas Biglia, Juventus forward Gonzalo Higuain, and Juventus forward Paulo Dybala.
Nigeria National team: 1 Italian Serie A and 1 Serie B players Torino midfielder Joel Obi (Serie A) and Crotone forward Simeon Nwankwo (Serie B).
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#SomosArgentina Estos son los once jugadores elegidos por Jorge Sampaoli para afrontar el encuentro ante Nigeria. ¡Vamos Argentina! pic.twitter.com/aAht9zlS5n
— Selección Argentina (@Argentina) June 26, 2018
.@NGSuperEagles XI Vs #Argentina #SoarSuperEagles #NGA #WorldCup #Team9jaStrong pic.twitter.com/8FvRPq2aUL
— ?? Super Eagles (@NGSuperEagles) June 26, 2018
Welcome to Saint Petersburg!
Excited for #NGAARG? Here’s where you can watch the game ? https://t.co/xliHcxWvEO
— FIFA World Cup ? (@FIFAWorldCup) June 26, 2018
Referee designations FWC 2018 Match 39: #NGA?#ARG (26 June):
Referee: Cuneyt CAKIR (TUR)
ASR 1: Bahattin DURAN (TUR)
ASR 2: Tarik ONGUN (TUR)
4th Off. Bjorn KUIPERS (NED)
Res.Ass Sander VAN ROEKEL (NED)@FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/PO8rD4GsuE— FIFA Media (@fifamedia) June 24, 2018
#ARG left it late. So, very late.
Next up on Saturday…..#FRA.? pic.twitter.com/RpDaYrOsSx— FIFA World Cup ? (@FIFAWorldCup) June 26, 2018
Photo: twitter.com/fifaworldcup
2018 FIFA World Cup
First stage – Group D
Nigeria 1 – 2 Argentina
Tuesday 26 June 2018
Saint Petersburg Stadium
Saint Petersburg, Russia
21:00 Local time
Referee: Cuneyt CAKIR (TUR)
Assistant Referee 1: Bahattin DURAN (TUR)
Assistant Referee 2: Tarik ONGUN (TUR)
Fourth Official: Bjorn KUIPERS (NED)
Res. Assistant: Sander VAN ROEKEL (NED)
Goals/b>: 14′ Lionel Messi (A), 51′ Victor Moses (pen)(N), 86′ Marcos Rojo (A)
Official lineups – formations:
NIGERIA (4-3-3): Uzoho; Idowu, Ekong, Balowun, Omeruo; Ndidi, Mikel, Etebo; Iehanacho, Musa, Moses.
Substitutes: Ezenwa, Akpeyi, Iwobi, Ebuehi, Shehu, Ighalo, Nwankwo, Onazi, Obi, Ogu, Awaziem, Echiejile
Coach: Gernot Rohr
ARGENTINA (4-3-3) – Armani; Mercado, Otamendi, Rojo, Tagliafico; Perez, Mascherano, Banega; Di Maria, Messi, Higuain.
Coach: Jorge Sampaoli
Iceland – Croatia 