World Cup Warm-Up: Marcos Rojo carries Leo Messi through; Viva Maradona

Nobody ever digs Messi out of a hole.

Nobody pops up in a key game to give him the helping hand even the best players need.

Among the many condemnations of Argentina after their defeat to Croatia, this one stood out.

Zidane had Thuram, Maradona had Burruchaga… Cristiano Ronaldo had Eder, for god’s sake. But who ever stepped up for Messi?

Last night, somebody did.

It wasn’t the reliably Toblerone-booted Gonzalo Higuain, and certainly not Angel Di Maria or Sergio Aguero... it was Marcos Rojo, a centre-back arriving in the Nigerian box in direct contravention of about 15 of Jorge Sampaoli’s tactical instructions, who volleyed Argentina into the second round.

Sympathy, of course, goes to Nigeria and their excellent fans – this young, energetic and fun team embody much that Argentina lack. Sadly for them they don’t have the world’s best player. And the tournament is richer for Argentina’s continued involvement – even if current form suggests they’ll be very lucky to get beyond the last 16.

It was another night of drama in a group stage that has already given us Harry Kane v Tunisia, Toni Kroos, Xherdan Shaqiri, Monday’s VAR drama and a host of last-gasp goals.

Back in the goalfest that was Brazil 2014’s group stage, Rob Smyth wrote that anointing the greatest tournament ever before the knockout rounds was "barely more logical than hailing the best sex you’ve ever had during foreplay."

He’s right, of course – but while Russia 2018 has provided relatively little open-play excellence and a VAR penalty every 32 seconds, it has delivered unrelenting spectacle. If this continues until the end, we could be edging towards GOAT World Cup (not a Rob Smyth phrase) territory.

They said it was hard for David Moyes, managing Manchester United with Sir Alex Ferguson looming silently in the posh seats at Old Trafford.

Well, what must it be like for Leo Messi, carrying the weight of Argentine expectations while Diego Maradona delivers his one-man show up in the stands?

Last night Maradona was by turns hilarious, unhinged and a little bit alarming. Post-match footage showed him being armed away from his seat after the game, while conflicting reports swirled over whether or not he had been taken to hospital.

The Warm-Up wishes Maradona the best of health, naturally, but it can’t help feeling the ‘sad to see what he’s become’ reaction misses the mark.

He was always like this – passionate, deranged, and possessing precisely zero f***s if the world’s cameras caught his antics. This was pure, uncut Diego Armando Maradona.

It’s surely no coincidence that the word ‘ennui’ is French.

The Oxford Dictionary defines it as “a feeling of listlessness and dissatisfaction arising from a lack of occupation or excitement” – they could save themselves a few words by just putting “France 0-0 Denmark”.

The tournament’s first goalless draw came to a soundtrack of jeers from disgruntled French fans as the two sides played out a mutually convenient stalemate.

Once it became clear that Australia would not pull off an applecart-upsetting win over Peru, all sense of urgency seeped out of a much-changed French side.

France now face Argentina in a battle of lumbering big beasts, while Denmark take on Croatia and their 100% record.

A warning to Gareth Southgate – that although squad rotation keeps legs fresh and defeat potentially delivers a favourable draw, the positive momentum England possess is more valuable and should not be given up easily.

Has The Simpsons predicted the World Cup final? (SPOILER: No.)

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Bye bye Iceland

This is what happens when you don’t qualify for the World Cup.

Judging by the ‘Welcome to FC Barcelona’ YouTube compilations, the Warm-Up isn’t the only one to notice that Cristian Pavon is a proper baller.

Inserted into a nerve-shredding situation last night, Pavon immediately came off the bench and started nutmegging people. Delightful. More please.

No, you’re getting emotional.

It's going to be another good one! First up, we have Mexico v Sweden and South Korea v Germany - wins for Germany and Sweden would make things very, very interesting.

And later on it’s Serbia v Brazil and Switzerland v Costa Rica. Again, it’s two from three – a point is enough for Brazil.