bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

sponsorType

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

Reuters

Lionel Messi’s man-of-the-match double goal performance in Argentina’s 3-2 win over Nigeria on Wednesday prompted the African champions’ coach Stephen Keshi to suggest the star striker had flown in from “Jupiter”.
The Barcelona superstar joined Brazil’s Neymar at the top of the World Cup scoring charts on four with a goal in the third minute and another, a superbly struck free kick, in first half stoppage time.
These came on top of his match-winning strikes against Bosnia-Herzegovina and Iran.
“Messi is one heck of a player, he’s blessed,” Keshi acknowledged after seeing his side lose but still qualify for the last 16 as runners-up in Group F.
“There are other calibre players in Argentina that are very strong, but Messi is from Jupiter,” Keshi told a post-match press conference.


WATCH: Marcus Rojo scores the winner for Argentina
Any chance Messi had of a hat-trick were dashed when coach, Alejandro Sabella, replaced him with Ricardo Alvarez after an hour.
“It seemed to me at 3-2 that we needed Messi to rest - it was agreed beforehand,” explained Sabella.
Messi, who enjoyed friendly banter with Nigerian keeper Vincent Enyeama during the game, said he was just happy he and his teammates had achieved their objective of qualifying.
“We hope to continue like this, I think today you saw a better Argentina,” he said.
“I’m happy at what we’ve done so far and to finish top of the group. A team like Nigeria play well, if you allow them space they can do you damage.”
The reward for securing the Group F summit is to likely avoid Didier Deschamps’ France side in the second round.
“Now we can’t make any mistakes,” Messi cautioned, “as any error will see us getting knocked out.


WATCH: Lionel Messi makes it 1-0
“There is nothing more beautiful than to be world champion, to achieve that with my country.”
Argentina will be hoping Sergio Aguero’s muscle problem, that forced the Manchester City striker off before half time, is not too serious. Nigeria in the meantime celebrated making it out of the first round for the first time since 1998.


WATCH: Ahmed Musa makes it 1-1
“I’m honoured it’s going our way,” said Keshi who has been in talks to become manager of South Africa after the competition.
On a potential clash with France, the Super Eagles boss remarked: “We know they are a very good, entertaining side, we will have to prepare ourselves to face a very good team for the next game.”


WATCH: Lionel Messi's sensational free-kick
Reflecting on Nigeria’s performance with Ahmed Musa also bagging two goals, Keshi said: “I think we lost the game in the first half, we gave too much respect to the Argentines and didn’t play our game. We were more relaxed and aggressive in the second half, much better.”


WATCH: Ahmed Musa equalises
One cloud on Keshi’s World Cup horizon concerns Ukraine-based forward Michael Babatunde, who had to be stretchered off in the second half.
“Michael’s broken a bone in his hand, he’s gone for surgery. I’m not sure if he can continue in the World Cup, we’ll see how it goes, but it doesn’t look good.”
“We went out for a win, not for a draw, but we lost and we qualify,” said CSKA Moscow striker Musa.


China marks 20 years since reaching its only Fifa World Cup with long wait for return set to go on

On this day: China qualified for its only Fifa World Cup

Hong Kong broadcast rights for Tokyo 2020 and 2022 World Cup up in the air

Xi Jinping’s World Cup dream, tattoo bans and Carlos Tevez: Chinese football in the 2010s

Fifa World Cup 2014

Argentina's Lionel Messi 'from Jupiter' says Nigeria coach as both sides reach last 16

Argentina's keeper goes after the ball after Ahmed Musa scored his first. Photo: AFP

Marcus Rojo celebrates the winning goal. Photo: AFP

Lionel Messi scores his first. Photo: Reuters

Vincent Enyeama can't get near Messi's free-kick. 

Lionel Messi celebrates his second goal. Photo: AP

Lionel Messi takes his free-kick. Photo: AP

Ahmed Musa celebrates his second goal. Photo: AP

‘We’re going to write history’ says coach as Shaqiri hat-trick fires Swiss into final stages

Shaqiri watches his shot fly into the top corner for the first goal. Photo: AP

Shaqiri lets fly to open the scoring. Photo: Reuters

Shaqiri's shot flies into the top corner for 1-0. Photo: Reuters

Shaqiri sidefoots home his second goal. Photo: AP

The ball hits the back of the net for 0-2. Photo: AP

Xherdan Shaqiri and co will have to silence Leo Messi next. Photo: AFP

Shaqiri completes his hat-trick. Photo: AP

Shaqiri puts the keeper the wrong way to score his third. Photo: Reuters

Shaqiri celebrates his second goal with Josip Drmic. Photo:AP

Sport

Football

Marcus Rojo scores the winner after braces from Argentina star and Nigeria youngster 
