Lionel Messi has said he always had confidence that Argentina would prevail against Nigeria, despite the game coming down to a nail-biting finish and a stunning late winner from the unlikeliest of sources.
Marcos Rojo volleyed home at the death to send Argentina through at the expense of the Nigerians and World Cup debutants Iceland, who lost 2-1 to Croatia. But despite the tense finale, Messi told television cameras post-match that he knew his team would pull through.
“We were sure that we were going to win this game,” he said. “It’s marvellous to have been able to win in this way. It’s a deserved happiness. I knew that God was with us and that he wasn’t going to let us go out.”
Argentina were cheered on by an enormous travelling support, a huge band of sky blue and white who have been the noisiest and most numerous of the visiting groups in Russia this month. And Messi took time to pay tribute to their efforts in spurring Argentina on.
“I would like the to thank all the people here, for all their sacrifice, and all of those in Argentina who were always with us. This shirt is above everything.”