Nigeria, who have three points after playing two group-stage matches and are second in the Group D standings, will face Argentina in St. Petersburg on Tuesday. The South American side are bottom of the group with just a point from their first two games.

"We love this great player, Messi. The question for us not if it is the last World Cup or not for him, the question is for us to be qualified. You know, in football there's no mercy, no pity. You cannot make any gifts even if you like him so much, this player. We will try to have good organization defensively," Rohr told journalists.