Day 8 Recaps: Denmark, Australia Draw; France Qualify by Eliminating Peru; Argentina Embarrassed

Another slate of three group stage matches were played today in Russia. The first match, Denmark v. Australia, brought us a draw, with close chances for a winner. Denmark scored first in the 7th minute, when Nicolai Jorgenson made a lay-off to Christian Eriksen in the box, who blasted it into the top of the netting past keeper Mat Ryan for a 1-0 lead. In the 21st minute, Ryan parried away Pione Sisto's strike, preceding the 38th minute equaliser. In the 35th, Denmark's Yussuy Poulson used his hand to block Mathew Leckie's header in the box, and Mile Jedinak converted the ensuing PK. Denmark's keeper Kasper Schmeichel then had an eventful second half, blocking and saving shots to prevent Australia from scoring a second. He stopped shots by Daniel Arzani and Leckie to help preserve Denmark's point, keeping Denmark in top half of the group.

Next up was the other Group C match, Peru v. France. Peru needed a win/tie to stay in the tournament, France a win to qualify to the next round. Early in the game, France's Olivier Giroud had a scorching strike stopped by Peru keeper Pedro Gallese. In the 30th minute, Christian Cueva's shot was blocked by French keeper Hugo Lloris. The breakthrough for France would come four minutes later, when Giroud's strike deflected past Gallese, and 19 year old Kylian Mbappe tapped it in, becoming the youngest Frenchman to score at the World Cup. Lucas Hernandez nearly double the lead, but Gallese stopped it. Peru would struggle in the second half to find a goal, the only chance in the 88th minute from a Paolo Guerrero free kick stopped by Lloris. France is now in first with the 1-0 win, as Peru is now eliminated.

The final match was played between Croatia and Argentina. Argentina, looking for a better performance after a disappointing 1-1 draw with Iceland, had a huge chance missed in the 30th minute when Enzo Perez missed an open net following a defensive gaffe by Croatia. Lionel missed a ball earlier to tap into the net in the 7th minute. Croatia's Mario Mandzukic missed a close range header in the 32nd, and then Croatia dominated the game. The breakthrough would come in the 53rd, when Argentine keeper Willy Caballero gave the ball over to a rushing Ante Rebic, who slammed it home. This came seconds after Sergio Aguero forced a save out of Croatian keeper Danijel Subasic. In the 68th, a cross from Gonzalo Higuain fell to Maximiliano Meza, whose shot was saved by Subasic, and then blocked Messi's point-blank tap in. Luka Modric doubled the lead for Croatia when his 20 yard shot beat Caballero's outstretched right hand. Croatia would embarrass Argentina with a third in stoppage time, when Ivan Ratikic tapped it in past a exhausted Argentine defense. This puts Croatia into the next round, while Argentina need to win next match to have any chances to move on.

Messi (white, #10) in disbelief as Croatia celebrate after their 3rd goal.