Barcelona boys battle for WCup golden boot
Print Edition
THE race for the World Cup golden boot turned into a Barcelona battle on Wednesday as Lionel Messi scored twice to lead Argentina to an entertaining 3-2 win over Nigeria and match Neymar’s tournament-leading four goals in three games for Brazil.
Xherdan Shaqiri also vaulted into contention by scoring a hat trick as Switzerland beat Honduras 3-0 to qualify second in Group F. He joined Karim Benzema and Enner Valencia, who could not add to their three tournament goals each as France played out a 0-0 draw against 10-man Ecuador that ensured the French won Group E.
Bosnia recorded its first ever World Cup victory in the day’s other match, downing Iran 3-1 as both teams exited the tournament.
The Swiss will next face Messi and Argentina on Tuesday in Sao Paulo. France plays Nigeria in Brasilia on Monday.
Messi drew level with Barcelona teammate Neymar when he pounced on a rebound in the 3rd minute and then curled in a freekick shortly before halftime.
“Messi is one of heck of a player, he’s blessed. You can’t take it away from him,” Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi said. “Messi is from Jupiter, he is different.”
The 22-year-old Neymar is relishing playing the World Cup at home and thriving on the pressure that it brings.
“I’m doing what I’ve always wanted to do since I was a little kid,” he said. “Today my dream is coming true, I’m playing the matches that I’ve always wanted to be playing.”
Ahmed Musa matched Messi goal for goal in Porto Alegre, equalizing just a minute after Messi opened the scoring and levelling again in the second half after Messi’s perfectly curled free kick shortly before the break had put Argentina ahead again. Marcos Roja finally sealed Argentina’s win in the 50th.
In Salvador, Edin Dzeko, Miralem Pjanic and Avdija Vrsajevic got Bosnia’s goals in its historic win and Reza Ghoochannejhad scored for Iran, which had to win and hope Nigeria lost to progress.
Iran coach Carlos Queiroz quit following his team’s exit, as did Japan’s Italian manager Alberto Zaccheroni and coach Luis Suarez of Honduras. Their Portugal counterpart Paul Bento, however, said he would stay on even if his team fails to qualify for the round of 16.
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