Thursday June 21st

Group C

Video keeps Oz alive

Denmark 1 Australia 1 (Samara)
Australia converted a video-assisted penalty to draw 1-1 with Denmark and keep their World Cup hopes alive. Denmark took an early lead when Jorgensen skilfully knocked the ball on for Christian Eriksen to slam in with a rising volley from inside the area in the 7th minute, but in the 37th minute the referee awarded a penalty to Australia for handball after reviewing the incident on the touchline and Mile Jedinak sent Schmeichel the wrong way with a concentrated spot kick. In the 71st minute a rasping shot from Mooy flew over the crossbar and with 2 minutes remaining, Schmeichel beat away Arzani's angled shot towards the far post and clawed out Leckie's effort from the top corner.

Group C

Peru fall short

France 1 Peru 0 (Ekaterinburg)

France are through to the next round after a 1-0 win over Peru that ends the South American team's hopes of progress in the World Cup. A daisy-cutter on the volley from Griezmann was blocked by the knees of the keeper in the 16th minute and in the 31st minute Guerrero touched the ball past a defender in the box, but his shot was blocked by Lloris. Three minutes later, an attempt from Giroud was deflected over Gallese for Kylian Mbappe to tap over the line and 2 minutes before the break, after some good football by France, Gallese put his hands up to stop a Hernandez shot from the left. Aquino let fly in the 50th minute but his swerving shot came off the angle of the woodwork and with Peru creating no more chances their fate was sealed.

Group D

Croatia rattle Argentina

Croatia 3 Argentina 0 (Nizhny Novgorod)

A goalkeeping howler by Argentina's Willy Caballero opened the door to Croatia who took full advantage of their South American opponent's frailties. In the 5th minute a shot across goal by Perisic was touched away for a corner while on the half hour-mark Argentina came close when after a defensive mix-up the ball fell to Perez who with the goal gaping couldn't hit the target; and 3 minutes later, at the other end Mandzukic dived to put a free-header wide from Inside the 6-yard box. In the 53rd minute Calallero sliced a back-pass into the air and Ante Rebic volleyed over him leaving the keeper with egg on his face and Croatia a goal up. In the 64th minute Higuain cut the ball back for Meza to shoot but his effort was blocked on the line by Subasic and 2 minutes later Mandzukic hit the side netting for Croatia. With 10 minutes to go, Luka Modric curled to ball past the diving Caballero from 25 yards out and in the 87th minute Rakitic curled a free-kick onto the crossbar. In stoppage time Croatia broke through and Caballero saved a shot from Rakitic but Kovacic picked up the rebound and squared it back to Rakitic who rolled in the 3rd for Croatia.