A good day for teams from the UEFA. Both European teams in Group C won their matches, and the only winner in Group D was Croatia.
Group C – France vs Australia
Date – June 16, 2018
Venue – Kazan Arena
Goal scorers – (France) Antoine Griezmann 58’p, Paul Pogba 80’
Goal scorers – (Australia) Mile Jedinak 62’p
A second-half penalty awarded to both sides opened up the game in the second-half. Thanks to Paul Pogba’s flick, France picked up the maximum points against a stubborn Australian side.
Group C – Peru vs Denmark
Date – June 16, 2018
Venue – Saransk
Goal Scorers – Yussuf Poulsen
Christian Cueva missed the first-half opportunity from the penalty spot that could have handed Peru a lead against Denmark.
Peru walked away from the match defeated and a feeling of wasting numerous opportunities to have (at least) grabbed a point in this match.
Group D – Argentina vs Iceland
Date – June 16, 2018
Venue – Spartak Arena
Goal scorers – (Argentina) – Sergio Aguero 19’
Goal scorers – (Iceland) – Alfred Finnbogason 23’
Lionel Messi missed what would have been the winning goal.
A solid defensive work helped Iceland to pick up a massive point against the odds.
In their first ever match in the FIFA World Cup, Iceland scored a goal to come from a goal down, had their goalkeeper saved a penalty, secured their first FIFA World Cup point and kept Lionel Messi at bay.
Argentina will have to dig in their remaining games of Group D to live up to pre-tournament expectations.
Group D – Croatia vs Nigeria
Date – June 16, 2018
Venue – Kaliningrad
Goal Scorers – (Nigeria) – Oghenekaro Etebo 32’(og)
Goal scorers – (Croatia) – Luka Modric 71’(pen)
Croatia moved to the top of Group D after a goal in each half handed them victory against Nigeria.
An important result for Croatia ahead of their match against Argentina on June 21 (Thursday)
