Argentina and Nigeria have both qualified for the last sixteen despite two Lionel Messi goals condemning the African side to a 3-2 defeat in their final group game. The Barcelona forward netted a fierce opener, but Ahmed Musa equalised within eighty seconds with a curling finish. Messi made it 2-1 before the break with a superb twenty five-yard free-kick, but Musa grabbed his second after bursting through. Marcos Rojo scored Argentina's winner, knocking in a corner with a knee. The result means Argentina finish top of Group F with three wins from three games, while Nigeria qualify in second with four points after Iran failed to defeat Bosnia-Hercegovina. Both teams will, however, need to tighten up if they are to advance to the latter stages of the competition, with neither likely to win any plaudits for their defending. However, the crowd crammed into the Estadio Beira-Rio on Wednesday saw another goal-laden match. It only took three minutes for Messi to arrive like a train and smash home after Angel Di Maria's effort came off a post. The celebrations had barely died down when Nigeria levelled. Midfielder Michel Babatunde - who was later stretchered off with a wrist injury - fed the ball into the left side of the area for Musa, who shifted to his right before curling in. 
It was the first time in World Cup history that two opposing teams had both scored inside the first five minutes. The forwards on show continued to expose the fragility of both defences, but it was not until stoppage time in the first half that the next goal arrived. Messi, who moments earlier drew an exceptional free-kick save from Vincent Enyeama, this time struck his dead ball over the wall and beyond the reach of the Lille goalkeeper. It was the twenty seven-year-old's fourth goal in three matches at Brazil 2014, having scored just once in his first eight World Cup appearances. Nigeria knew that Bosnia-Hercegovina had taken an early lead against qualification rivals Iran, but they did not rest on their laurels and were level within two minutes of the restart. It was Musa again who hit the target. This time the CSKA Moscow forward played a one-two Emmanuel Emenike before slotting the ball past Sergio Romero. Argentina pressed once more, with Di Maria twice forcing Enyeama to make good stops. But the Nigeria goalkeeper was beaten again eventually, when defender Rojo used his knee to convert a corner from the left. A desperate Di Maria was thwarted again by Enyeama in the closing moments, as the match ended in the same thrilling manner in which it began. Nigeria's coach Stephen Keshi claimed Messi 'is from Jupiter' after the match 'Messi is one of heck of a player. He's blessed. You can't take it away from him,' said Keshi. 'There are good calibre players in the team but Messi is from Jupiter.' Keshi, whose team advanced after Iran lost to Bosnia-Hercegovina, added: 'I feel honoured and happy it's going our way, I want to thank the players and the fans and some of the media.'
Iran's hopes of qualifying for the second round ended as they lost to already-eliminated Bosnia-Hercegovina. Carlos Queiroz's Iran side could have progressed to the last sixteen with a win but their hopes were dented when Edin Dzeko gave the Bosnians a deserved lead with a crisp shot from twenty five yards. Roma's Miralem Pjanic slid home a second after the break. Reza Ghoochannejad pulled one back but Avdija Vrsajevic sealed it to give Bosnia their first World Cup win. Their first ever victory in a major tournament at least gives the Bosnians something to show for their efforts in Brazil.
France could not maintain their prolific start to the tournament but still finished top of Group E following a goalless draw with Ecuador which eliminates the South Americans. Antoine Griezmann, Paul Pogba, Karim Benzema and Loic Remy went close as the much-changed French side were frustrated by an Ecuador who had their captain Antonio Valencia sent off. But after impressive victories over Honduras and Switzerland, a point was enough to send Les Bleus through to the last sixteen and a meeting with Nigeria in Brasilia on Monday. Although the full-time whistle was met with jeers from sections of a crowd baying for more goals in a tournament that has already delivered so many, France looked perfectly content. Didier Deschamps made six changes to his starting line-up and, while France lacked a finishing touch, they looked no less organised or physically imposing than in their previous two games. With Bacary Sagna, Laurent Koscielny, Morgan Schneiderlin and Pogba among those to come in, Les Bleus illustrated a strength in depth that could prove vital in the knockout stages.
The danger France pose going forward - constantly interchanging attacking positions and pressing high up the pitch - has led many to install them as title contenders and the way they controlled possession, probed for a breakthough and defended as a team was impressive. But they seemed to be playing within themselves and clear-cut openings were scarce. Pogba's header was tipped over the bar by Alexander Dominguez and Moussa Sissoko volleyed straight at the goalkeeper, before Enner Valencia drew a sharp save from Hugo Lloris at the other end. The match became more stretched after half-time and Griezmann's volley was pushed on to a post by Dominguez before The Scum's winger Valencia was dismissed for a late challenge on Lucas Digne. Ecuador responded positively, Cristhian Noboa wasting a glorious opportunity after Enner Valencia's break, but France then showed more energy and cranked up the pressure. Pogba had a powerful drive blocked, Blaise Matuidi was denied by Dominguez after a neat exchange with Benzema and then Pogba somehow missed with a free header from close range. Lloris was forced to repel Alex Ibarra's strike before Dominguez thwarted Benzema, who linked well with substitute Olivier Giroud but could not score his tenth goal in nine international appearances. Giroud, fellow replacement Loic Remy and Pogba all tried to force a winner, only for Ecuador to hold the 1998 champions to a stalemate that will give them little cause for concern.
In the aftermath of France's qualification for the second round on Wednesday evening, BBC reporter Anna Holligan was strategically placed in a bar in Paris - and, hey, why ever not?! - to do a piece to camera about the reaction of French fans whilst surrounded by revellers bellowing a stirring rendition of La Marseillaise. Just like in that scene in Casablanca, so it was. Total credit to Anna, she managed to finish her summary of the French performance. Now, that's professionalism worthy of Didier Deschampes classy squad their very selves.
A hat-trick from Bayern München's Xherdan Shaqiri saw Switzerland beat Honduras to set up a tie with Argentina in the second round. The Europeans took an early lead as Shaqiri scored with a fine twenty five-yard strike, before he twice converted Josip Drmic passes to make it 3-0. Jerry Bengtson had the best chance for Honduras but his shot was cleared off the line by defender Ricardo Rodriguez. Honduras finished bottom of Group E with three defeats from three matches. The result saw their fifty four-year-old coach Luis Fernando Suarez resign immediately after the game, saying that 'a change was necessary for the benefit of the Honduran team.' Shaqiri, who can play on the left wing or through the middle, was the difference between the sides with his first World Cup goals. He has been linked with a move to the Premier League, with Liverpool Alabama Yee-Haws and The Scum reported to be interested in signing him, and he impressed with his clinical finishing. Switzerland, ranked sixth in the world and the top-seeded team in the group, began the day in third, but needed to win and hope Ecuador failed to beat France. With the South Americans only managing to draw 0-0 in Rio, that left an opportunity for Ottmar Hitzfeld's Swiss team to move into the last sixteen for the third time in six tournaments. After losing 5-2 to France in their last match, Switzerland produced a much better performance in Manaus and went ahead with Shaqiri's sixth-minute opener. 
Three Honduras defenders backed off as the twenty two-year-old cut in from the right, allowing him space to curl an effort past Noel Valladares. The game looked to be over after thirty minutes when poor defending from Honduras allowed Drmic to collect Gokhan Inler's ball from defence and square it for an unmarked Shaqiri, who converted calmly. From then on, Switzerland's hopes were resting on events at the Maracana, but Ecuador's failure to match their result meant that the Swiss advanced to face Argentina in Sao Paulo on Tuesday. Honduras have now failed to win any of their nine World Cup matches in three separate tournaments. The tough-tackling Central American side struggled on a pitch that was cutting up even inside the opening ten minutes at Arena Amazonia on a night when humidity was measured at eighty eight per cent. Wigan Not Very Athletic's Juan Carlos Garcia dragged a shot wide and Brayan Beckeles also missed when well placed in the Hondurans' only notable efforts of the opening forty five minutes. But they produced a greater threat after the break and Bengtson was unlucky as he took the ball around goalkeeper Diego Benaglio, only to shoot against Rodriguez. Suarez's side were then denied a penalty when substitute Jerry Palacios was bundled over by Johan Djorou and any faint hopes they may have had ended when Shaqiri scored his third in the seventy first minute. He collected another Drmic pass and finished past Valladares to complete his treble.
The England team have returned to the UK after being knocked out of the World Cup at the group stage for the first time since 1958. The plane arrived in Manchester from Brazil to drop off the Northern-based players before landing at Luton airport with the rest of the squad. England failed to win a single game during a disappointing campaign. They ended the tournament with a dull stalemate against Costa Rica on Tuesday before leaving their base in Rio.
More than one hundred gamblers have, reportedly, cashed in following Luis Suarez's apparent bite on the Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini. Online bookmaker Betsson had offered one hundred and seventy five to one on Suarez biting an opponent during the competition and, it is claimed, paid out forty four grand to one hundred and sixty seven punters, the biggest individual win being two grand. The firm paid out despite FIFA still investigating the incident.
Suarez, of course, has quite a bit of previous, having twice been banned before for biting opponents - once as an Ajax player and once with the Liverpool Alabama Yee-Haws.
It was the first time in World Cup history that two opposing teams had both scored inside the first five minutes. The forwards on show continued to expose the fragility of both defences, but it was not until stoppage time in the first half that the next goal arrived. Messi, who moments earlier drew an exceptional free-kick save from Vincent Enyeama, this time struck his dead ball over the wall and beyond the reach of the Lille goalkeeper. It was the twenty seven-year-old's fourth goal in three matches at Brazil 2014, having scored just once in his first eight World Cup appearances. Nigeria knew that Bosnia-Hercegovina had taken an early lead against qualification rivals Iran, but they did not rest on their laurels and were level within two minutes of the restart. It was Musa again who hit the target. This time the CSKA Moscow forward played a one-two Emmanuel Emenike before slotting the ball past Sergio Romero. Argentina pressed once more, with Di Maria twice forcing Enyeama to make good stops. But the Nigeria goalkeeper was beaten again eventually, when defender Rojo used his knee to convert a corner from the left. A desperate Di Maria was thwarted again by Enyeama in the closing moments, as the match ended in the same thrilling manner in which it began. Nigeria's coach Stephen Keshi claimed Messi 'is from Jupiter' after the match 'Messi is one of heck of a player. He's blessed. You can't take it away from him,' said Keshi. 'There are good calibre players in the team but Messi is from Jupiter.' Keshi, whose team advanced after Iran lost to Bosnia-Hercegovina, added: 'I feel honoured and happy it's going our way, I want to thank the players and the fans and some of the media.' Iran's hopes of qualifying for the second round ended as they lost to already-eliminated Bosnia-Hercegovina. Carlos Queiroz's Iran side could have progressed to the last sixteen with a win but their hopes were dented when Edin Dzeko gave the Bosnians a deserved lead with a crisp shot from twenty five yards. Roma's Miralem Pjanic slid home a second after the break. Reza Ghoochannejad pulled one back but Avdija Vrsajevic sealed it to give Bosnia their first World Cup win. Their first ever victory in a major tournament at least gives the Bosnians something to show for their efforts in Brazil.
France could not maintain their prolific start to the tournament but still finished top of Group E following a goalless draw with Ecuador which eliminates the South Americans. Antoine Griezmann, Paul Pogba, Karim Benzema and Loic Remy went close as the much-changed French side were frustrated by an Ecuador who had their captain Antonio Valencia sent off. But after impressive victories over Honduras and Switzerland, a point was enough to send Les Bleus through to the last sixteen and a meeting with Nigeria in Brasilia on Monday. Although the full-time whistle was met with jeers from sections of a crowd baying for more goals in a tournament that has already delivered so many, France looked perfectly content. Didier Deschamps made six changes to his starting line-up and, while France lacked a finishing touch, they looked no less organised or physically imposing than in their previous two games. With Bacary Sagna, Laurent Koscielny, Morgan Schneiderlin and Pogba among those to come in, Les Bleus illustrated a strength in depth that could prove vital in the knockout stages.
The danger France pose going forward - constantly interchanging attacking positions and pressing high up the pitch - has led many to install them as title contenders and the way they controlled possession, probed for a breakthough and defended as a team was impressive. But they seemed to be playing within themselves and clear-cut openings were scarce. Pogba's header was tipped over the bar by Alexander Dominguez and Moussa Sissoko volleyed straight at the goalkeeper, before Enner Valencia drew a sharp save from Hugo Lloris at the other end. The match became more stretched after half-time and Griezmann's volley was pushed on to a post by Dominguez before The Scum's winger Valencia was dismissed for a late challenge on Lucas Digne. Ecuador responded positively, Cristhian Noboa wasting a glorious opportunity after Enner Valencia's break, but France then showed more energy and cranked up the pressure. Pogba had a powerful drive blocked, Blaise Matuidi was denied by Dominguez after a neat exchange with Benzema and then Pogba somehow missed with a free header from close range. Lloris was forced to repel Alex Ibarra's strike before Dominguez thwarted Benzema, who linked well with substitute Olivier Giroud but could not score his tenth goal in nine international appearances. Giroud, fellow replacement Loic Remy and Pogba all tried to force a winner, only for Ecuador to hold the 1998 champions to a stalemate that will give them little cause for concern. In the aftermath of France's qualification for the second round on Wednesday evening, BBC reporter Anna Holligan was strategically placed in a bar in Paris - and, hey, why ever not?! - to do a piece to camera about the reaction of French fans whilst surrounded by revellers bellowing a stirring rendition of La Marseillaise. Just like in that scene in Casablanca, so it was. Total credit to Anna, she managed to finish her summary of the French performance. Now, that's professionalism worthy of Didier Deschampes classy squad their very selves.
Three Honduras defenders backed off as the twenty two-year-old cut in from the right, allowing him space to curl an effort past Noel Valladares. The game looked to be over after thirty minutes when poor defending from Honduras allowed Drmic to collect Gokhan Inler's ball from defence and square it for an unmarked Shaqiri, who converted calmly. From then on, Switzerland's hopes were resting on events at the Maracana, but Ecuador's failure to match their result meant that the Swiss advanced to face Argentina in Sao Paulo on Tuesday. Honduras have now failed to win any of their nine World Cup matches in three separate tournaments. The tough-tackling Central American side struggled on a pitch that was cutting up even inside the opening ten minutes at Arena Amazonia on a night when humidity was measured at eighty eight per cent. Wigan Not Very Athletic's Juan Carlos Garcia dragged a shot wide and Brayan Beckeles also missed when well placed in the Hondurans' only notable efforts of the opening forty five minutes. But they produced a greater threat after the break and Bengtson was unlucky as he took the ball around goalkeeper Diego Benaglio, only to shoot against Rodriguez. Suarez's side were then denied a penalty when substitute Jerry Palacios was bundled over by Johan Djorou and any faint hopes they may have had ended when Shaqiri scored his third in the seventy first minute. He collected another Drmic pass and finished past Valladares to complete his treble. The England team have returned to the UK after being knocked out of the World Cup at the group stage for the first time since 1958. The plane arrived in Manchester from Brazil to drop off the Northern-based players before landing at Luton airport with the rest of the squad. England failed to win a single game during a disappointing campaign. They ended the tournament with a dull stalemate against Costa Rica on Tuesday before leaving their base in Rio.
