Day 3 Recaps: France Pull Away, Argentina Held to a Draw, Peru Heartbroken, Croatia Get Must-Win

There were 4 games played today in the group stage. First was France-Australia, a favorite vs. an underdog. After a scoreless first half, in which Australia keeper Mat Ryan snuffed out three chances by France in the first ten minutes by French stars Kylian Mbappe, Paul Pogba, and Antoine Griezmann, France got on the board via PK. A foul in the box in the 55th minute was initially not called, but after VAR review, the call was overturned and Griezmann put France ahead. Just minutes later, a Australia free kick sent in by Aaron Mooy hit French defender Samuel Umtiti's hand led to a PK that Mile Jedinek converted in the 62nd to make it 1-1. France got the winner when a give-and-go between Olivier Giroud and Pogba led to a Pogba chip that hit the underside of the crossbar before landing behind the goal line for a moment, enough for the ref to confirm that it was indeed a goal. France played not beautifully, but good enough for a win.

After that game was Argentina-Iceland. Argentina, huge favorites to win the group and this match, was humbled by Icelandic keeper Hannes Þór Halldórsson, Iceland's defense and bunker-down strategy. Iceland had the best chance of the 1st half in the 9th minute when Birkir Bjarnason missed a shot wide. Argentina took a 1-0 lead when Sergio Aguero controlled the ball in the box, turning towards goal, and blasting it home in the 19th minute. 4 minutes later, Iceland tied it up when a low Gylfi Sigurdsson cross was blocked by keeper Willy Caballero before Alfred Finnbogason tapped it in the net. Argentina, most specifically Lionel Messi, would have his shots off target, blocked, or saved by Halldorsson for the remainder of the game. The most important save was a PK taken by Messi in the 63rd minute when Halldorsson guessed right on Messi's shot to parry it away. In the end, Iceland's defensive approach was enough for a point.

Two teams with nearly no difference in quality between them (according to FIFA rankings), faced off in the 3rd match, Peru v. Denmark. Peru played the more aggressive side throughout it, with more shots overall. In the 43rd minute, Peru's Christian Cueva forced a foul in the box that VAR confirmed, only to attempt his PK similar to kicking a field goal. The shot landed in the stands and it remained scoreless at the half. Even with Peru dictating play, including Andre Carrillo and Edison Flores missing shots in the 57th, Denmark struck first in the 59th when a beautiful through ball by Christian Erikson led to a Yussuf Poulson goal to put them ahead. Paolo Guerrero came in for Peru in the 60th minute, but his few chances included a header straight at Denmark keeper Kasper Schmeichel and a back heel just wide of frame. Peru were completely frustrated that they got no points from the match.

The last match was Nigeria-Croatia. Croatia struggled to get shots on target regardless of how far away the shot was taken, though they dictated possession in the game. Their breakthrough came in the 32nd minute when a corner connected with Mario Mandzukic before the ball took a redirection off Nigerian mid Oghenekaro Etebo's foot and in the net. After 68 minutes of play Croatia still had no shots on target however. Their first shot on target was via converted PK by Luca Modric in the 71st minute, in which was caused by Nigerian defender William Troost-Ekong tackling Mandzukic in the box off a corner. Their other lone shot on target was in stoppage time.

France celebrating after Pogba's winner