Argentina v Iran, 21 June 2014

Kick-off 1.00pm local (5.00pm BST) Man of the Match: Lionel Messi (Argentina) Assistant referees: Milovan Ristić (Serbia) Dalibor Đurđević (Serbia) Fourth official: Norbert Hauata (Tahiti) Fifth official: Aden Range (Kenya) The two teams had met in one previous match, in a friendly in 1977, won on penalties by Argentina after a 1–1 draw. In a match where Argentina dominated in terms of possession and shots, they scored the only goal one minute into second half injury time when Lionel Messi received a pass from Ezequiel Lavezzi on the right wing, dribbled inside and curled a left-footed shot past the outstretched hands of the Iranian keeper Alireza Haghighi. Before the goal, Iran had chances to score, but Argentina goalkeeper Sergio Romero was able to save Ashkan Dejagah's header and Reza Ghoochannejhad's shot, and Dejagah also had a penalty appeal turned down when Argentina defender Pablo Zabaleta tackled him in the area but only just got his toe to the ball. With the win, Argentina were guaranteed to advance to the knockout stage. Two days after the match, the Iranian Football Federation filed an official complaint to FIFA over Mažić's refereeing. Signed by the Federation's general secretary Mehdi Mohammad Nabi, among other things it read, "Unfortunately the referee’s mistake altered the outcome of the game and helped the Argentine side edge past us".