Daily Digest: Diego Costa scores as Spain beat Iran, Lionel Messi and Argentina face major obstacle in Croatia

Sport360 staff 08:28 21/06/2018
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  • Hey guys, it’s David Cooper here giving you a bitesize look at what’s going on this morning in the world of sport including all the major World Cup news from Russia.

    TOP STORY 

    Spain coach Fernando Hierro has warned his players to take nothing for granted despite a 1-0 win over Iran which puts them on the brink of qualifying for the World Cup knockout stages.

    Diego Costa’s fortuitous 54th-minute strike proved enough to see off the Iranians and means Spain will guarantee a top-two finish in Group B if they take a point off already-eliminated Morocco.

    Hierro said in the post-match press conference: “I think there are 32 great teams here at this World Cup and no-one is giving anything away, so anyone who thinks it is going to be very easy to score and win by a landslide is wrong.

    “In some groups two teams have already qualified, but our group is very tough. Morocco lost 1-0 to Portugal but they were fighting to the end.”

    Check out our ratings and player focus from the game in Kazan.

    WORLD CUP

    In yesterday’s games Uruguay booked their place in the knockout stages with a workmanlike 1-0 victory over resurgent Saudi Arabia.

    And while La Celeste sealed their passage to the next round, Morocco were the first team to fall out of the competition after a Cristiano Ronaldo bullet header consigned the a second straight 1-0 defeat. With four goals in two games, read our reasons why the Real Madrid superstar is already a shoe-in for the golden boot.

    In other news, Argentina coach Jorge Sampaoli again defended Lionel Messi and said his side’s World Cup match against Croatia was effectively a must-win. Read our talking points ahead of the match tonight (22:00).

    In today’s other games, France will be hoping to make it two wins in two when they take on Peru (19:00).

    Les Bleus didn’t exactly set the stage alight with their performance against Australia and will hope to put in a more dominant display. Here’s our talking points ahead of the encounter.

    Meanwhile, in the early kick-off Denmark take on Australia (16:00).

    CRICKET

    Austtalia’s new coach Justin Langer compared England’s powerhouse top order of Jonny Bairstow, Jason Roy and Alex Hales to the famed trio of his contemporary compatriots – Matthew Hayden, Adam Gilchrist and Ricky Ponting who were an irresistible force so long.

    Bairstow (139), Roy (82) and Hales (147) helped England register the highest ever score in men’s ODI, surpassing their own record of 444-3 in Tuesday’s third ODI. England ended up crushing the Wallabies by 242 runs.

    In other news, Rohit Sharma cleared a fitness test yesterday and will join India’s tour of the United Kingdom, bringing relief to the selections after two others recently failed to pass muster.

    FEATURE OF THE DAY

    Our man Matt Monaghan previews tonight’s big match between Argentina v Croatia

    SOCIAL MEDIA ROUND-UP

    WHAT’S ON

    Denmark v Australia (16:00)
    France v Peru (19:00)
    Argentina v Croatia (22:00)

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