Unlikely hero Rojo sends Argentina into round of 16 with late volley

Just how everyone drew it up.

Marcos Rojo's right-footed volley in the 86th minute saved Argentina, giving La Albiceleste a 2-1 win over Nigeria on Tuesday and a spot in the round of 16 thanks to Croatia's win over Iceland by the same scoreline.

Argentina is now set up for a juicy encounter with France in the knockout stage, while Croatia will meet Denmark.

Argentina's match got off to a resounding start when Lionel Messi finally scored his first goal of the 2018 World Cup, expertly bringing down Ever Banega's lob over the Nigerian defence and firing a right-footed attempt past 19-year-old goalkeeper Francis Uzoho.

Pressure quickly shifted back onto the shoulders of Jorge Sampaoli's men in the 51st minute, however, when Victor Moses calmly slotted home a penalty after Javier Mascherano was whistled for bringing down Leon Balogun.

Following Gylfi Sigurdsson's (temporarily) game-tying penalty against Croatia for Iceland in the 76th minute, Argentina looked set to finish last in Group D until right-back Gabriel Mercado delivered a cross into the box that set up Rojo's late heroics.

Argentina's progression marks the fourth consecutive time it has survived the group stage at the World Cup. The two-time World Cup winner has failed to advance past the opening round in just four of its 17 appearances at the summer tournament.