26/06/2014 Match of the Day

Good morning. Welcome to highlights from the World Cup in Brazil. Danny

Murphy here to cast his eye across the games. We watched France against

Ecuador in the beautiful Maracana, Switzerland against ponderous to

come but we start with Argentina, who have been in fine form, Lionel

Messi banging the goals in. Nigeria there opponents. COMMENTATOR: A win

for Argentina would see them top the group with maximum points and

Nigeria know that if they avoid defeat they will also progress

through to the knockout phase and victory in Nigeria would see them

top the group ahead of Argentina. As expected Nigeria are unchanged. The

defence have been solid, not yet conceding. Odemwingie the scorer of

the early goal so far. Just like Nigeria, Argentina name an unchanged

team. They're now Messi has eight goals in his last seven

international appearances. -- Lionel Messi. The goalkeeper and Di Maria

both win their 50th caps for Argentina in this match. Porto

Alegre is about an eight-hour car ride from Argentina and it has been

invaded today by Argentine supporters. That the letter to the

right. Fernandez goes long, away by Joseph Yobo. Century of caps for the

captain today. Di Maria, off the post, off the goalkeeper and away to

safety but in on the rebound, Argentina have the early lead here

in Porto Alegre. Who else? Lionel Messi. The Argentinian talismanic

makes it three in as many matches. Even in their wildest dreams

Argentina surely could not have envisaged a beginning to the match

like this. Di Maria with the shop which cannons off the post not once

but twice. -- shot. Who was going to get there first? Messi was. The

worst possible beginning to Nigeria. Played wide by Babatunde. They have

got an equaliser! Ahmed Musa strikes back almost immediately. What is the

old saying about being vulnerable when you have just scored? It has

just been proved again. Argentina stretched at the back, look at the

room Ahmed Musa has. He cuts away from Zappa letter. Beyond the

goalkeeper, Romero. -- Zappa letter Zabaleta --. Fantastic beginning. 80

seconds was the time Argentina were in front. Any aimer with the saved

from Di Maria. Di Maria showing that our designer will shed whenever they

have the opportunity. Vincent Enyeama in the way. Messi, lovely

through ball side netting. Then is an Higuain, nine goals in

qualifying, set up by Messi. Vincent Enyeama doing enough to force the

striker away from goal. Messi. Di Maria. Just pushed wide. It is

definitely a policy for an girl Di Maria to shoot whenever he has the

opportunity. -- Angel Di Maria. It was heading into the bottom corner

as well until the interception from the goalkeeper. Fernandez. WHISTLE

Argentina free kick. Messi stands behind this. Fernandez and Rocco

have both come forward. Messi goes for gold, pushed away. -- Rojo.

Beautifully struck and well saved. Messi, little bit of room, quickly

closed down. The referee has brought it back, he was trying to play an

advantage. The challenge on Messi, having come close just a moment or

so ago, surely Lionel Messi will try to test Vincent Enyeama once more.

Messi strikes. Extraordinary! Four goals at this World Cup now for

Lionel Messi. Three shots, all on target and two goals. Vincent

Enyeama going across his line, there did seem to be a moment as if he

realised, I am not going to get there. Just everything you want from

a free kick. The noise inside the stadium is incredible. Argentina

have lost just one of their last 14 World Cup group stage matches. Ahmed

Musa. Emenike. He might be away here, Ahmed Musa, 2-2! Extraordinary

start to the match. And an amazing beginning to the second half. Ahmed

Musa, with his second of the match. And twice now he has equalised for

Nigeria. He was through. The only question was, could he finished? The

answer, emphatically, yes. Superb scenes. Among supporters of the

African side. As they draw level. Yellow card for Kenneth Omeruo.

Fernandez coming forward from the back with Ezequiel Garay. Scrambled

clear as far as Di Maria. Pushed away. Angel Di Maria has been denied

by the Nigerian goalkeeper from long range. Lavezzi will take this

corner. Towards Garay, 3-2! Marcos Rojo with the final touch and

Argentina are back in front. The coach does not look happy man, that

the supporters certainly are. Marcos Rojo with his first international

goal. Messi. Able to keep going. Higuain with the run forward.

Vincent Enyeama again with another important save for Nigeria. Ahmed

Musa. Just like Messi, he is on a hat-trick. Nigeria get the corner.

Yobo forward to add his presence. Babatunde with the corner. Towards

Yobo. Rojo with the header. Ambrose, it might drop for Nigeria. John Obi

Mikel with the opportunity and it was an excellent chance as well.

Alvarez takes a tumble, there is no Messi now to take this free kick for

Argentina. Di Maria towards Lavezzi, Vincent Enyeama with the save.

Lavezzi again goes down in the area, appeals from the fans, it has to be

said, none at all from any of the players. Inventive set piece.

Vincent Enyeama able to keep Argentina at bay once more. Di

Maria. Higuain waiting in the middle. For the little pull-back.

Still he waits. Alvarez eventually gets a corner. All five of Argentina

's previous World Cup matches against African sides have been one

by one goal margin. -- won by a one goal margin. That is just off

target, what a chance from Garay. Higuain. Di Maria. He might be away

here. Angel Di Maria. He must be sick of the site of Vincent

Enyeama. The goalkeeper makes a save from Di Maria yet again. Victory has

been confirmed here in Porto Alegre with a final blast of the referee 's

whistle. Lionel Messi with two goals for Argentina. To inspire them to

victory. Ahmed Musa with two for Nigeria as both halves started in

spending asylum -- in splendid style. STUDIO: Messi inspired

Argentina make it three out of three, Argentina losing left the

door open for Iran to join the South Americans in the last 16 but only if

they could beat Bosnia. Commentary on that one from Dave Woods.

COMMENTATOR: For Bosnia today it is a case of repairing a bruised

reputation, for Iran it is the small matter of May be creating a little

bit of Iranian football history. Five changes for Bosnia, two players

get their first taste of this World Cup. Significantly, Ibisevic returns

to the starting line-up today. He has scored Bosnia's only goal so

far. No surprises in this Iranian side, they are unchanged from the

team that lost to Argentina, again there coach reckoned they should

have drawn. The skipper one of three starters who have yellow cards to

their name and could miss out on any knockout game if they are through.

The early opportunity. He has gone down. Hoping that the Spanish

referee would give him the decision but it is not coming. Spahic came

across him but I do not think there was any intent or any real

connection. Just a Bosnia threatening. Jacko. -- leading

Jacko. He has forced a save. Ten goals in qualifiers for Edin Dzeko

but yet to strike on the World Cup final stage itself. They are trying

to create some liveliness from their side. Leading Jacko. On the left

foot! Leading Jacko, wonderful strike. -- leading Jacko Dzeko gets

his side 's second of the tournament. Finding absolute

pinpoint precision. Iran's job just got a whole lot harder because of

that man. Alireza Haghighi Came racing out to remonstrate with his

own players. Almost an equaliser, the flag up so even though he was

there looking to apply the finishing touches the flag had already gone

out. Had it gone in it would have counted but when it comes back to

Ghoochannejhad he is clearly offside. Does well to spurn the

offer of a second, Dzeko laid it on a plate. Given it away in the

dangerous position. Dzeko prods it forward, there with Merrill Lynch

and edge -- can Pjanic. Might have been the case for offside against

Pjanic when it came to him. Bosnia now have a 2-0 lead. Nekounam

Trying to push aside forward again. Support arriving on the far side.

Blocked away bravely by the Bosnian defence. Another chance but he pulls

it just wide. Of a deflection, so it is a corner. -- off a deflection.

Not sure it took a deflection off any of the Bosnian corners but it

has -- players but it has given them a corner. It is off Dzeko and out

for a corner kick. Good header away. There is no flank here, and a goal

for air an! Ghoochannejhad! There might have been some question of

offside, but Ghoochannejhad on the end of it. It an suddenly have the

sense that they might still have some football to play at this

tournament. Salihovic Lays it forward, and Bosnia breaking Iranian

hearts just when they had started to beat again. Vrsajevic, what a

smasher! Vrsajevic With his big finish has put it beyond doubt

again. So in an's fate is sealed. A win today could have put them

through but they have failed to deliver. -- Iran's fate. Three goals

for Bosnia today, started by Dzeko. Ghoochannejhad's goal back giving

Iran hope but that Vrsajevic goal made it 3-1. No joy for Iran who not

only failed to qualify but finished bottom of the group. The result has

more significance for Nigeria, who join Argentina in the knockout

stages. Everyone expected Argentina to be a real force in this world

group -- in this World Cup group, and Messi helps them get through.

I'm glad he did because I backed them to win. He has shown that he

can light up games. He can change games in an instant. To score four

goals in his first three games and look as sharp as he does is a worry

for other people. The worry for Argentina is defensively. They are

shaky at the back, aren't they? Yes, we have seen that. If you play an

attacking style, you will be susceptible defensively but that is

something they will have to put up with. In one of the newspapers,

someone has likened them to Donald Trump's hair, great at the front,

not much happening at the back! What about Nigeria and the African teams

in general? Do you think we're going to see an African team Duberry well

at this World Cup and progressed to the latter stages of the tournament?

I doubt it. They have shown glimpses of Proliant at times. Ghana's game

was full of skill. -- glimpses of great talent. I just think that

against good quality opposition, concentration levels sometimes

switch off defensively. They make some bad decisions sometimes. I

would be surprised to see an African team in the latter stages to be

honest. Switzerland against Honduras will be coming your way in a few

minutes. But what about the free scoring French? Could they make it

three wins out of three against Ecuador? We will find out because

commentary comes from Philip Neville and Steve Wilson.

COMMENTATOR: The group winners in Group E will play Colombia on Monday

and the runners-up will take on Argentina in Sao Paulo on Tuesday.

The onus is on Ecuador. They could lose and go through or they could

win and go out but if they get nothing, they are relying on

Honduras for favours against Switzerland. In Antonio Valencia

they have pace and strength and Enner Valencia has scored twice

already at the World Cup. Hugo Lloris is the captain for France, in

goal. Lucas Digne is in. Paul Pogba returns and so does Antoine

Griezmann. They could join the Netherlands and Colombia as the only

sides to reach the last 16 so far with 100% records. Excellent control

by Matuidi. Griezmann. Matuidi. Benzema making a run in the middle.

It won't reach him. That is put behind for a French corner, off

Guagua. He has so much energy, Matuidi. French corner, Griezmann to

take. Cleared away by Valencia. Sakho was a bit naughty then, he

threw an elbow out. He was lucky that the referee did not spot it or

he would have been off. Sakho for France, looking composed. Pogba

forward. Griezmann trying to regulate through to Karim Benzema.

The shot did not really trouble Alexander Dominguez in the Ecuador

goal. But he does see things and the opportunity to get the shot away

early. It just goes to show how things can change. Didier Deschamps

lost five of his first 11 games as the manager of France. Now

everything appears to be going swimmingly. Matuidi's ball into the

box was not bad but not well dealt with, terrific drive from Sissoko on

the volley. Great drive from Sissoko and a good save. Ecuador are playing

so deep, so difficult to get the ball through to Enner Valencia.

Nicely done by Griezmann. Free kick. Caught between a rock and a

hard place, Ecuador. They are working overtime just to keep the

French out. They obviously cannot lose the game but they also need to

win it. If Ecuador fall behind, the last bit of belief might ebb away.

Good save by Dominguez. Paper early on header by Paul Pogba. I think

that slave was one for the cameras. -- is a good header by Paul Pogba.

At Arroyo. Enner Valencia, back post! Lloris with the save. Smashed

away by Sakho. Look at the leap here by Enner Valencia. That is

incredible, how high he gets off the floor. Quite a simple save for

Lloris in the end. Lost it. Benzema. Great change of direction

and good curl on it too, but straight to the goalkeeper from

Karim Benzema. We have seen a couple of these in this tournament, where

you set it up outside the post. The keeper read it well. No half-time

changes from either manager. Karim Benzema finding Pogba. That good

header in the first half, Pogba. In by Bacary Sagna! Excellent save of

the inside of the post, Griezmann denied. Terrific stop. Wonderful

technique. Griezmann just flicks it off the side of his foot. That is

pure instinct from Dominguez. Antonio Valencia Hitler.

-- Antonio Valencia here. This is what went on there. Valencia on

Lucas Digne. His foot lands on the ball first, but then ouch. The

referee is now calling over Antonio Valencia, who is sent off. The

skipper is now gone and maybe with him have gone their chances of

progressing in this World Cup. Antonio Valencia, red card. A good

tackle by he did brilliantly. He has put it

wide! What a chance. He can't believe it. He is complaining about

that pass, he just checked his stride and played behind him. In the

end, he is falling as he hits it. They have lost possession here.

Karim Benzema into Matuidi! Big chance. Dominguez is there again. He

made that look like child's play. Great wait on the past by Benzema.

-- a great weight on the pass. Sissoko. Giroud once the pass. He

gets it. He is an side, is he? He settles for a corner. Sagna. A

chance, Pogba at the back post! Can't believe he has missed it.

Cannot believe he has missed it. Lovely ball to the back post from

Bacary Sagna. It is almost three against two.

Enner Valencia is there. White shirts have retreated. Schneiderlin,

one of them, got in the way. It was a good height for Hugo Lloris. If he

had kept that bound it could have nestled into the bottom corner. This

is going to be end to end stuff for the last few minutes. Pogba feeds

Benzema. Benzema finding Olivier Giroud. The keeper is there yet

again. Well, he has had a match to remember. The man in goal for

Ecuador, Alexander Dominguez. It was a great pull-back by Olivier Giroud.

Here is Benzema. Finding Loic Remy. Loic Remy goes alone. Guess who is

there once again? The goalkeeper has had a wonderful night. Look at this

from Olivier Giroud. He knows what he is doing, there. Here is Sagna.

Olivier Giroud! Is there a magnet in that ball and his gloves? He was in

the right place at the right time. And the referee blows his whistle

and France have one Group E -- France have

France are unbeaten in their final game and the group. They top the

group but can Ecuador joined them in qualifying? Switzerland need to win

against Honduras to make it to the last 16.

You sense it is now or never for Switzerland. I was there to see the

first and only meeting between these nations in South Africa when

Switzerland had the opportunity to win the game and progress in the

tournament and fails to take that opportunity and went home. Will they

be able to avoid a repeat of that scenario this and evening? Wilson

Palacios returns to the midfield after missing the defeat to France

through suspension. The centre of defence once again marshalled by

Figueroa of Hull City. And the reaction to defeat by France is to

make two changes for Switzerland, one of the men forced as Steve von

Bergen fractured an eye socket against the French so incomes Fabian

Schar of Basel, who was their top scorer in qualified. Ottmar Hitzfeld

retiring after this one and. -- this tournament.

Lichtsteiner. Good balance from Shaqiri, decent try! What a goal! A

dream start for Switzerland. Unstoppable. From the Bayern Munich

man. They needed goals and stepped up and provided a sublime one. KEVIN

KILBANE: he fully exploited the space he was given. Brilliant strike

from Shaqiri, what a goal, into the top corner, outstanding finish.

Brilliant, quite brilliant. Ottmar Hitzfeld was offered a contract

extension before the tournament began. You always feel with Honduras

to expect the unexpected. You cannot relax against them, that is for

sure. A little unlucky not to get a draw against Ecuador in the end.

They missed some good chances in that badge. Bernardez missed that

and here is Shaqiri with a real chance! -- in that match. His and

Switzerland's second. Shaqiri doubles their advantage. Clinical

again from the 22-year-old. Two for him and two for Switzerland. They

cannot live with his movement. A good ball played through from Drmic

to Shaqiri come he just waited, didn't he, waited for ballot no

valid Rodriguez on the line to deny Hunter Russell goal, the closest the

Central Americans have come. Wilson Palacios, chadors goes for the

return, that is a goal kick. They cannot get many more of these

chances and keep missing them. Again it was very simple, rounding the

keeper, excellent play from Rodriguez, the left-back, getting

back across and covering for his goalkeeper. Shaqiri on the move, an

side. Men he went for Shaqiri. Denied by Valladares, hat-trick

goal. So, so easy, wasn't it? Shaqiri makes it look so easy the

way that he plays, such an elegant player. Palacios, there is no foul.

There might be now. What is the referee going to do? Nothing.

Honduras furious. Dot-macro again Djourou is susceptible to the

diagonal ball, not able to get his body shape right. When you get the

wrong side of the defender you are always in trouble, I think it is a

penalty, I really do. Rodriguez with the long ball. Drmic is not offside.

Shaqiri is available square for him. Shaqiri still waiting, here is

Shaqiri for the hat-trick! All three goals from Shaqiri. He acknowledges

the path that Josip Drmic played in that third goal. You can safely say

is Switzerland have done their job now. They hat-trick for showdown

chair Dan -- Shaqiri. Great goal, really is a

simple finish in the end, Drmic's movement was quite brilliant, really

was, good goal, comfortable for Switzerland. I think this is quite

clever from Ottmar Hitzfeld because he is removing Shaqiri with four

minutes to go and all of the Swiss supporters, let me tell you, the

neutrals as well, giving him a standing ovation, what a

performance. We came here looking for him to produce all we knew he

was the star player in the side and he certainly has done that, three

brilliant goals today. He will remember the day in Manaus in Brazil

when he scored a World Cup hat-trick. Outstanding, full credit

to him, not many players can say that and it is an outstanding

achievement for him. Full-time in Manaus, Switzerland have done their

job and convincingly courtesy of a hat-trick from Shaqiri. That is what

it means to Ottmar Hitzfeld, Honduras well beaten. All of that

means that the group finally looks like this: France the group winners

but because Ecuador failed to beat the French, 6-point ease macro --

six points from Switzerland is enough to say them into the next

round for the first time since 1994. France end up topping the group but

it was a tough watch at times. It was fascinating as well. We thought

he was unlucky when his foot slipped off the ball, but they've all

actually got themselves in some really good positions. But did not

quite have enough. The French had chances, played within themselves a

little bit, a lot of their squad players given a game and none of

them were overly impressive. I still think the French have a few gears to

go into. We saw against Switzerland how good they can be in front of

goal and I would fancy them to beat Nigeria. The one thing Didier

Deschamps learned is that his first was 11 is his first was 11? Yes, it

is difficult for players to come in and the final game and get to the

pace of it quickly but I think some of those players should really have

been putting in better displays to try to displace those or at least

show the manager they are ready if needed. They got better nearer the

end which you expect against ten men but overall I don't think many of

those players will give the manager the headache tonight. Switzerland

managing to edge out Ecuador and I think the 50th World Cup hat-trick,

from Shaqiri, they now face Argentina. Can you see any way for

them to get past them? Most prediction so far I have done have

been wrong. I actually think Argentina will beat them. What

Switzerland have God is one or two players especially Shaqiri, who can

really cause Argentina problems. Defensively we saw against the

French they were all over the place. Argentina's firepower, I

cannot see them not getting chances and scoring goals. I am looking

forward to that, it will be an open and attacking game. Great stuff,

Danny, thank you for watching as well. Coming up later you can see

Germany taking on the USA, led by a German, fantastic game to keep you

going. We shall be back with highlights tomorrow warning. We will

see you soon.