Denmark joined France in the last 16 after playing out the first goalless draw of the tournament, which was greeted by boos at the final whistle.
Peru recorded their first win at a World Cup finals since 1978 as they beat Australia in the last match of the tournament for both sides.ReportReport this social embed, make a complaint
“Thanks boys! I love you a lot, dear Rojo!!”
Faith restored?
Argentine fans and media seem to have recovered their faith in the team, judging by the media reports.
“Everything that was said prior to this match was left behind: the team is among the best 16 teams of the World Cup and on Saturday [30 June] it will play against a contender like France,” Infobae website said.
Sports commentator Sergio Danishewsky, writing for Clarin, said the Argentine squad’s “Messidependency” could not be denied.
“That’s it. End of the discussions and polemics. Whether you like it or not: The Argentine national team was and is Messidependent," he wrote in his opinion piece.
"It was so on the road that took it to the World Cup, it was so each time that it couldn’t dissimulate his absence and it was so again in Saint Petersburg on the evening in which hope was reborn, if not of being champions of the world, at least of not returning empty-handed and before time.
“Leo broke the spell,” Argentine sports newspaper Ole wrote of Messi’s first goal of the tournament.
“Messi came up with a great goal to end the 699-minute drought of not having scored in the World Cup,” Ole said. “He got the bad spell off his back,” the newspaper added.
“You shouldn’t have to suffer like this!” Argentine TV channel Todo Noticias (TN) told its viewers.
The hyperbole is easy with some players. Supernatural sounds over the top until you add context, pressure, and timing.
"He was, in my opinion and many others,the greatest footballer that ever lived," said Smith who has represented about 200 footballers including Claude Makelele, Petr Cech and Freddie Ljungberg.
"An intense God-given talent. On top of that when he was born God sprinkled some special dust on him," he said.
"He could walk in a room, all of 5ft 2, and heads would turn no matter who he us.
"He is a lovely guy which is why I find this sad.
"I understand why people criticise him but in his heart he's a warm, caring guy.
"I just hope he one day doesn't do something stupidly excessive and something silly happens.
"He's an embodiment of living life."
"It doesn't surprise me - Diego is a really high energy guy and has always been that way," said Maradona's former agent Jon Smith.
"When I was with him in the 80s and 90s he was high on life but his problem at the moment is he doesn't sleep so he takes these sleeping pills and if he interacts with other substances during the day such as alcohol it has an effect on him.
"He quite enjoys being a parody of himself at times."
Maradona's former agent, a Brit called Jon Smith is speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live now and it's really interesting.
Messi is still alive, was the headline on AS in Spain.
Anyway the night belonged to the current team, and Maradona's successor in the insanely gifted national icon stakes.
Iceland knew they had to win to stand any chance of reaching the last 16, and their colourful support looked dejected as their side missed key chances late in the first half.
Alfred Finnbogason and Birkir Bjarnason both went close before the interval in Rostov-on-Don but Milan Badelj stylishly slammed home for Croatia after the break.
That forced Iceland to chase the game and, after Sverrir Ingason hit the bar, Gylfi Sigurdsson converted a penalty to level following Dejan Lovren's handball.
In the dying minutes, with Argentina leading Nigeria 2-1, Iceland knew a win would see them jump ahead of the South American side in second place.
But their attacks became less frequent as Croatia took more control and Ivan Perisic - one of only two players to retain his place from the win over Argentina - fired home in injury time.
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