Sweden's preparations may have been hit by illness and injury but team captain Andreas Granqvist still believes that his side can score a first competitive win over Germany since 1958 to send the defending champions home early from the World Cup.

Argentina denied reports Friday that players want coach Jorge Sampaoli sacked before their final World Cup group game against Nigeria after a humbling 3-0 defeat by Croatia.

Captain Luka Modric hailed his Croatia side's "deserved" 3-0 victory over Argentina on Thursday but called on them to keep their feet on the ground after qualifying for the World Cup knockout rounds.

On Thursday's white night at the Saint Petersburg Fan Fest Zone, not many fans in white and sky blue were in attendance during

Paul Pogba paid tribute to fellow midfielder N'Golo Kante after France sealed their place in the World Cup last 16 on Thursday, saying: "He has 15 lungs."

Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone said Argentina look lost and have no leadership after the 3-0 loss to Croatia which left them on the verge of a disastrous early exit from the World Cup, in an audio message leaked to Spanish and Argentine radio stations.

Brazil coach Tite has said Neymar will need time to find his best form at the World Cup after he scored in a 2-0 win over Costa Rica on Friday.

What a shocker it was! No football buff, I believe, saw this coming. Argentina, the powerhouse of world football, are on the brink of elimination this early from the World Cup in Russia.

Nigeria beat Iceland 2-0 to revive their hopes of advancing into the knockout stages of the World Cup in Russia on Friday as striker Ahmed Musa dramatically marked his return to the team with two fine second-half goals.

Brazil had to battle until injury time against a dogged Costa Rica on Friday before Philippe Coutinho and Neymar scored, putting the five-time World Cup winners back on track for the last 16.

Brazilians watched their team's hard-fought win Friday over Costa Rica in a cold sweat but it was Neymar's hot tears that really made the footballing-mad nation sit up.

Romelu lukaku

Egypt will formally protest to FIFA about the performance of Paraguay referee Enrique Caceres whose decisions they feel prejudiced the outcome of their World Cup game against hosts Russia in St Petersburg on Tuesday.

France have booked their spot in the World Cup last 16 but a team forged in the image of coach Didier Deschamps is unlikely to win many friends or admirers.

A brace from Ahmed Musa handed Nigeria a 2-0 win over Iceland, which keeps Argentina's hopes of progressing to the 2018 World Cup round of 16 alive.

Sweden's preparations for their World Cup clash against Germany hampers by a stomach bug that prevents three players from travelling to Sochi, where Saturday's game will be played.

Argentina denied reports that players want coach Jorge Sampaoli sacked before their final World Cup group game against Nigeria after a humbling 3-0 defeat by Croatia.

Extra time goals from Philippe Coutinho and Neymar handed Brazil a 2-0 win over Costa Rica in their 2018 World Cup match at Saint Petersburg stadium.

"We can't sleep, we can't talk, we can't do anything," said Sebastian, a 34-year-old lawyer who had travelled to Russia from Rosario.

Egypt will formally protest to FIFA about the performance of Paraguay referee Enrique Caceres whose decisions they feel prejudiced the outcome of their World Cup game against hosts Russia in St Petersburg.