By Sportswriter Paul Giblin
MOSCOW, June 25 (Xinhua) -- Tuesday sees the last round of matches in Groups C and D of the 2018 World Cup, with two sides in Group C chasing one qualification spot, and three teams in Group D, including Argentina, fighting it out for just the one place available between them.
France are already assured of a place in the last 16 from Group C, but still have a role to play as they take on Denmark. A point for the Danes will be enough to see them join Les Bleus in the knockout stage, but if the French, who will probably rest some key players, can make it three straight wins, then Australia could overtake Denmark on goal difference if they beat Peru.
Denmark currently have a goal difference of +1, compared with the Socceroos' -1, and if the two sides are level on both points and goal difference after their matches, placings would be decided first by goals scored and then by the number of red and yellow cards to have been accumulated.
The Australians will have to work hard for their win against a Peruvian side who will be without Jefferson Farfan following a training accident, but who have played better than their two 1-0 defeats suggest.
If Group C is dramatic, Group D is even more so, as Nigeria, Iceland and Argentina are all chasing the final qualification spot on a day where anything could happen.
If Nigeria beat an Argentina side in apparent meltdown after a 1-1 draw with Iceland and a 3-0 thrashing at the hands of Croatia, they will qualify, and even a draw could be enough to see the Super Eagles through unless Iceland beat group leaders Croatia by at least two goals.
However, if Lionel Messi returns to form and Argentina are able to put their crisis behind them, they could still claim second place, as long as Iceland's margin of victory against Croatia is smaller than Argentina's against Nigeria.
Croatia defender Dejan Lovren said on Sunday that his side would almost certainly rest any players who had been booked in their first two matches against Iceland, which may mean no Mario Mandzukic or Ivan Rakitic.
Meanwhile, Nigeria striker Ahmed Musa said after his two goals against Iceland on Friday that he usually scored against Argentina, and reminded the press that Nigeria beat a Messi-less Argentina side 4-2 in a friendly in Russia last November.
Can Argentina pull off a great escape, or is their situation so bad that not even Messi can save them? It promises to be another fascinating day of World Cup football.
