>> Denmark’s star player Christian Eriksen kicked off the match against Australia in style with a lovely shot in the 7’, thanks to a masterful assist from Nicolai Jørgensen. With this, the 26-year-old Eriksen has had a hand in 18 goals in his last 15 appearances for Denmark, including 5 assists.
>> Another busy day for VAR . In a hotly debated decision, VAR awarded a penalty to Australia for a handball from Yussuf Poulsen in the 37’ — the Socceroos successfully converted it to a goal, leveling with the Danes.
>> Tragic night for Australia’s Andrew Nabbout. Nabbout has been ruled out of the World Cup after dislocating his shoulder while trying to stabilize his fall with his arm in the 74’.
>> After drawing 1-1 with Denmark , Australia’s chances of making it to the round of 16 look slim. They need victory in their final match against Peru to have any hope of advancing.
>> Possession of ball: Denmark 47% Australia 53%
>> This was the second time France and Peru were meeting in the World Cup. They faced each other previously in a 1982 friendly which Peru won 1-0.
>> French goalkeeper Hugo Lloris made his 100th appearance for the country and his 76th as captain. He has saved more penalties for France than any other keeper in the last 45 years.
>> Kylian Mbappé scored his first World Cup goal in the 36’. At the age of 19 years and 183 days, he became the youngest player to ever score a goal for France at a major tournament.
>> France maintained its record of never losing a World Cup game when leading at half time (W20 D1). They are through to the knockout stage thanks to their 1-0 win against Peru . The South Americans are out of the World Cup, but they won hearts with an excellent game of football. And the best fans in the World Cup so far.
>> Possession of ball: France 43% Peru 57%
>> Croatia and Argentina had met only once before in the World Cup in 1998.
>> After a goal less first half, Argentinian goal keeper Willy Caballero did a Loris Karius, allowing Ante Rebić to score Croatia’s first goal. Caballero tried to pass the ball to Mercado, but ended up spooning it into the air. The only way he could have made it easier for Rebic was if he had hand-tossed the ball to the Croatian.
>> As if to compensate for a lucky first goal, Croatia’s Luka Modrić scored a sensational goal in the 80’. The Real Madrid man curled the ball to the right post, but the focus was on Lionel Messi who stood yards away, dropping his head, dejected.
>> Five minutes of extra time. In the 91’, Ivan Rakitić’s attempt at a goal is saved, but the ball deflects back to Mateo Kovačić who passed it to Rakitić. The rest is history. The two-time World Cup winners and 2014 finalists Argentina down 0-3 and Croatia is through to the next round.
>> For Argentina to secure a spot in the round of 16 (a) Iceland should tie or lose to Nigeria on Friday and (b) Croatia should beat or tie Iceland on June 26 and (c) Argentina should beat Nigeria on June 26. If Iceland does beat Nigeria on Friday, Messi can still sneak into the next round depending on a tiebreaker, but only if they beat Nigeria and Iceand loses to Croatia.
>> Possession of ball: Argentina 58% Croatia 42%
Read more:
WC superstitions putting a spell on players
How the world explains football
St. Petersburg’s white nights keep World Cup fans awake
Read key moments from Day 1, Day 2 , Day 3 , Day 4 , Day 5 , Day 6 and Day 7 . Follow The Hindu's comprehensive coverage of the World Cup here .
