World Cup 2018 - Nigeria 1-2 Argentina RESULT: Marcos Rojo hits sensational late volley to set up France meeting

Croatia cruise home as group winners with three wins out of three, and their reward is a meeting with Denmark in the last-16.

France's 'reward' for topping Group C is a huge clash against Argentina in what will be one of the most anticipated matches as the tournament advances into the knock-out stages.

That's all from me here. Thanks for following, you can check out the post-match reaction on the homepage.

Marcos Rojo helps his profligate strikers show the way to the last-16 with a brilliant volley that for the fifth time in World Cup history in their fifth meeting sees Argentina defeat Nigeria by a single goal.

Argentina are through to the last-16 as group runners-up

90+2min: Into four added minutes and it's a last change for Nigeria as Musa departs to be replaced by Simeon Nwankwo. Mikel is booked.

90+1min: Second change for Nigeria as Kenneth Omeruo is replaced by Alex Iwobi.

89min: That was some strike from Rojo into the bottom corner and just to make the news even better for Argentina, Crotia have retaken the lead in the other game to cancel out the threat of Iceland stealing the last-16 spot.

87min: What a goal! Of all people it is Manchester United defender Marcos Rojo who hits a sensational volley from inside the box following a cross to perhaps save Argentina's World Cup campaign.

84min: Ighalo is denied a chance to score again, but this time his effort from the angle is well saved by Armani. Credit to Nigeria here who are not just sitting back and defending for their lives - they can play a bit too...even if they cannot finish as well.

81min: Big chance for Argentina. The ball is cut-back for Gonzalo Higuain, who from 10 yards somehow blasts well over the crossbar. At the very least he has to hit the target and it causes a sea of Argentina fans to throw their hands behind their heads, including Diego Maradona.

80min: On comes Aguero as Nicolas Tagliafico departs in Argentina's final substitution.

79min: There will be no Dybala for Argentina this evening as Sergio Aguero is preparing to come on. By the way Iceland have equalised against Croatia, but for now at least, that doesn't change anything major in the group.

77min: In the embarrassment of missing, Ighalo claims there was a handball claim against Rojo and while he does handle the ball it was after the ball bounced off his head.

Clearly not deliberate and the referee, having had a check on the screen, agrees. Common sense strikes, unlike Ighalo who may yet be made to rue that miss.

76min: WHAT A CHANCE! Nigeria have a brilliant chance to go ahead as the ball bounces off Marcos Rojo, setting up Ighalo, only for the striker to fire wide with the goal at his mercy. Wait there is a VAR shout here...

75min: Argentina are 15 minutes away from going out of the World Cup. That second chnage for them means that one of Sergio Aguero or Paulo Dybala will not be taking to the field this evening.

72min: Second change for Argentina as Angel di Maria departs to be replaced by Max Meza.

71min: Brilliant move from Nigeria! The calm, composed head of John Mikel Obi starts it all, combining with Musa on the left. The ball is eventually squared to Ndidi whose 25-yard drive just clears the crossbar.

68min: Nigeria's gameplan is in place. Sit back, soak up pressure and break on Argentina.

The trouble is there are a few tired legs in the African team, making part three of that tactic a little tough. Ahmed Musa especially looks like he is running around with concrete books now.

65min: Frustration for Argentina as moments after Pavon is denied a blatant free-kick, Ever Banega is booked for a late challenge on Wilfried Ndidi.

64min: Argentina are increasingly seeing more possession, much in thanks to the introduction of Pavon whose pace is causing Nigeria's defence a few problems right now. Still no chances though, and still no avenue to supply Messi.

61min: Here comes Argentina's first change as Cristian Pavon replaces Enzo Perez.

60min: On the hour and the only place Argentina are going is home. Changes on the way though for the two-time winners who have lacked a spark in this half.

57min: Nigeria have been the better team at the start of this second half - a similar pattern in their win over Iceland last time out. Lionel Messi hasn't had a kick since the break.

54min: As Di Maria goes down claiming a penalty (never in a million years, Angel) here is what this does to the group.

It puts Nigeria back into the seat to face France in the last-16, with Croatia having also scored against Iceland.

51min: After a scuffle before the spot-kick - most delay tactics by Argentina - Victor Moses converts his penalty by sending Franco Armani the wrong way

Is no one learning from anything in this tournament? Javier Mascherano is penalised for holding onto Leon Balogun to give away a spot-kick. It's not exactly manhandling but he was grabbing the defender. Mascherano is also booked for the foul.

Kelechi Iheanacho picked up a knock in an otherwise anonymous first half showing as he is replaced by former Watford striker Odion Ighalo.

Messi's goal is the massive difference so far as it has moved Argentina off the bottom and into the top-two to set up a potential last-16 match with Argentina.

That could all change if Iceland score against Croatia though, as an Iceland goal would see them go into second spot. Don't rule it out either, they were the better team in the first half in Group D's other game.

Maradona was bouncing off the walls after Messi's opener, but as the half drew to a close, not even he could keep his eyes open...

It really is brilliant play from the Barcelona star. Running onto a high ball he controls the ball with his left thigh before, without breaking his stride, he uses his second touch on the volley to play the ball a yard in front, giving him the ideal run-up to slot home across goal. It is pure perfection.

45+1min: We are into two minutes added on as Kelechi Iheanacho is treated following an innocuous kick to the face from Marcos Rojo.

43min: In fact this game needs half-time because I do not think I will easily cope with watching Nigeria toil for another 45 minutes without some sort of Plan B in how they will go about it.

40min: Coming up to half-time and Nigeria need a rethink. This is not the greatest Argentina defence you are ever likely to see yet they have had next to nothing to worry about.

Argentina are sitting back but still look the most likely to score next on the counter attack.

37min: As Nigeria continue to labour in finding an equaliser, here's a quirky little stat from FIFA regarding the scorer of the 100th goal at a World Cup. Seems like it is only reserved for the finest.

34min: So very nearly! Messi strikes his effort across goal with the ball bouncing off the post via the slightest of touches from Uzoho before Nigeria scramble clear.

32min: It's another sizzling through ball from Banega, with Angel di Maria this time the man through on goal. 

Di Maria left Leon Balogun for pace, leading to the defender tripping the PSG midfielder right on the edge of the box in a desperate lunge. A covering defender protects him from a red card as he is booked, but could worse damage be on the way as Messi stands over the 23-yard free-kick?

30min: That goal by the way is the 100th scored at this tournament and here is how the shy and retiring Diego Maradona celebrated it.

27min: Should be 2-0! Messi is involved again as this time he plays Gonzalo Higuain into the box, but Francis Uzoho is quick off his line to narrow the angle and block the Juventus striker - collecting a kick in the face for his troubles.

After a spell of treatment, he is ok to continue.

26min: The game has settled once more, and in truth Nigeria are really not showing much to try and get back into this. Aside from that long range Ahmed Musa shot the Super Eagles have contributed next to nothing going forward.

It is still 0-0 in the other game so as it stands Argentina are now going through to face France in the last-16, with group winners Croatia taking on Denmark.

'Two touches - left thigh, left foot - and right foot finish for Messi. His demeanour has looked different from the start tonight, even in the tunnel. The chant of 'Messi' thundering through the stadium now.'

17min: Argentina look a totally different team to the one that slumped to defeat by Croatia. They continue to attack, and backed by a huge Argentine following inside the Krestovsky Stadium are flying right now. All you can hear are chants of 'Messi! Messi!'

14min: Lionel Messi's World Cup is lift off! It's a brilliant run from the forward who latches on to a 30-yard pass from Ever Banegfa before slotting home across goal.

What a relief for the for forward whose first touch was sublime before converting. Maradona certainly enjoyed that in the stands, pointing to the heavens as if to thank God.

12min: Quite a low key start in Saint Petersburg and that's good news for Nigeria of course who only need a draw to go through (probably).

9min: First shot of sorts on goal, but nothing to test the goalkeeper as Nicolas Tagliafico collects the ball on the edge of the box before slicing wide under pressure.

Ahmed Musa tried his luck from long range at the other end but Franco Armani never looked in trouble as the ball sailed over.

6min: When in doubt, give him a clout. Argentina break down the right, releasing Lionel Messi into a pocket of space. All of a sudden Nigerian players home in on the Barcelona forward, desperate to bring him down at any cost - with John Obi Mikel winning that prize before being given a telling off from the referee.

3min: Positive start for Argentina, who feature Lionel Messi on the right flank. Lots of possession for the two-time winners but no chances yet, certainly nothing to seriously concern Nigeria.

Argentina must win and rely on Croatia avoiding defeat, while Nigeria could book a last-16 place with a draw.

The Group D winners will take on Denmark, the runners-up will face France...

Nigeria: Uzoho, Balogun, Troost-Ekong, Omeruo, Moses, Etebo, Mikel, Ndidi, Idowu, Musa, Iheanacho.
Subs: Ezenwa, Echiejile, Ighalo, Abdullahi, Simy, Obi, Onazi, Iwobi, Ogu, Awaziem, Ebuehi, Akpeyi.

Argentina: Armani, Mercado, Otamendi, Rojo, Tagliafico, Perez, Mascherano, Banega, Di Maria, Messi, Higuain.
Subs: Guzman, Ansaldi, Biglia, Fazio, Acuna, Meza, Salvio, Aguero, Lo Celso, Dybala, Pavon, Caballero.

Referee: Cuneyt Cakir (Turkey)

'Maradona did not look like a God as he grabbed a Nigerian woman and danced with her in the executive seats just now. But the Argentinian fans here chanted his name. They love his spirit and could have used it tonight.'

We know Lionel Messi is no stranger to announcing an international retirement but could this really be his final World Cup game this evening, should Argentina go out?

Hard to see him around for Qatar 2022 when he will be 35-years-old. Not impossible of course but he doesn't seem to exactly be enjoying his international adventures right now.

When Lionel Messi's name was read out on the PA announcer there were huge cheers for the name of Lionel Messi. The same though cannot be said of Argentina manager Jorge Sampaoli, who perhaps had an even louder reception...of jeers.

The keeper is currently warming up before he is thrown into the deep end by making his international debut in a crunch World Cup clash.

The one thought swirling my mind before this game is are Argentina going to have a 'Scott Carson moment' this evening?

For those not familiar by that, I mean Steve McCLaren's costly selection of an inexperienced keeper that cost England a place at Euro 2008. Yep, still hurts.

...where even the Argentina boxes appear to have numbers.

Following their 3-0 humiliation by Croatia last time out, Argentina make five changes including replacing Willy Caballero with the uncapped Franco Armani following the Chelsea keeper's howler last time out.

Also coming into the team are Gonzalo Higuain, Angel di Maria, Ever Banega and Marcos Rojo as Sergio Aguero, Eduardo Salvio, Max Meza and Marcos Acuna make way.

By contrast, Nigeria name the same team that saw off Iceland 2-0 last time out.

Remember you can follow live coverage of Iceland and Croatia on this link with Matt Smith.

For the second time in the group stage Nigeria will be wearing the away strip, which makes them look like they are all prepared for a shift working at a garden retail outfit.

The Super Eagles have arrived at the Krestovsky Stadium in Saint Petersburg.

IAN LADYMAN: The Argentina squad sang Happy Birthday to Lionel Messi after a dinner in his honour on Sunday night but it was a brief moment of harmony in Russia for the 2014 World Cup runners-up.

Messi and his team-mates face Nigeria in St Petersburg this evening knowing only victory will give them a chance of staying in the competition.

A draw with Iceland and then a humiliating 3-0 defeat by Croatia have prompted ridicule at home and mutiny within Jorge Sampaoli’s squad.

Read more here

Well, I hope they produce some real drama anyway after this afternoon's washout. We have had our first 0-0 of the tournament between France and Denmark, a result good enough to send the Danes through as runners-up along with the 1998 champions.

In the day's other game, Peru saw of Australia 2-0 thanks to goals from Andre Carrillo and. Paolo Guerrero Here is how that group ends.

It was close to unthinkable a couple of weeks ago but Argentina are on the brink of going out the World Cup in the group stage as we head into today's final round of matches.

So good evening all and welcome to Sportsmail's live coverage of Nigeria vs Argentina on a night that is sure to produce some real drama.