Messi moves Argentina towards fixture with France…and then Ronaldo?

With the score at 1-1 against the Super Eagles in St Petersburg, Argentina were 4 minutes away from being eliminated from the World Cup. But a Marcos Rojo volley spared Jorge Sampaoli’s blushes and knocked Nigeria out.Natalie Sawyer is joined by Martyn Ziegler and Bill Edgar to review another disjointed Argentine performance that sets up a last 16 tie with France. And should Messi’s men progress, a meeting with Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal is possible in the quarter-finals.Martyn has also been examining every VAR review at the tournament and with England and Belgium separated by just yellow cards, could the drawing of lots decide Group G on Thursday?Plus Gab Marcotti witnesses a French team featuring a lost Lemar and a ghastly Griezmann. And he runs the rule over a Denmark side that will face Croatia in the next round on Sunday.For more from The Times why not take advantage of our digital sale and subscribe to enjoy award winning journalism online and on your smartphone or tablet. For a limited time only it's just £1 a month for your first 3 months. Search The Times Sale for more information.You can follow @NatalieSawyer on Twitter and track our award-winning writers in Russia, including @henrywinter, @DickinsonTimes, @OliverKayTimes, @_pauljoyce, @allyrudd_times, @martynziegler and @JNorthcroft. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What this episode covers

With the score at 1-1 against the Super Eagles in St Petersburg, Argentina were 4 minutes away from being eliminated from the World Cup. But a Marcos Rojo volley spared Jorge Sampaoli’s blushes and knocked Nigeria out.Natalie Sawyer is joined by Martyn Ziegler and Bill Edgar to review another disjointed Argentine performance that sets up a last 16 tie with France. And should Messi’s men progress, a meeting with Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal is possible in the quarter-finals.Martyn has also been examining every VAR review at the tournament and with England and Belgium separated by just yellow cards, could the drawing of lots decide Group G on Thursday?Plus Gab Marcotti witnesses a French team featuring a lost Lemar and a ghastly Griezmann. And he runs the rule over a Denmark side that will face Croatia in the next round on Sunday.For more from The Times why not take advantage of our digital sale and subscribe to enjoy award winning journalism online and on your smartphone or tablet. For a limited time only it's just £1 a month for your first 3 months. Search The Times Sale for more information.You can follow @NatalieSawyer on Twitter and track our award-winning writers in Russia, including @henrywinter, @DickinsonTimes, @OliverKayTimes, @_pauljoyce, @allyrudd_times, @martynziegler and @JNorthcroft. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.