World Cup diary, day 9: Argentine angst as Messi & Co capitulate in Nizhny

South Amercian fans are carrying this World Cup. Their relentless noise and dedication to the cause can only be admired, with not a hint of trouble in the air.

Another day, another city for me. This time, it is Nizhny Novgorod, Russia’s fifth largest city, but not after a ridiculous flight connection in Moscow.

Russia has actually got many things right in this tournament. The majority of the media facilities at stadiums are well organised, the internet always works very well, which in the Premier League is not always a given, and locals have been as hospitable as possible.

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Logistics were always going to be difficult in a country of this size, but you would think that budget airlines would have upped their game to get fans across the country with ease? No chance.

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Almost every flight between cities other than Moscow and Saint Petersburg has to go through Moscow. Rostov-On-Don and Nizhny Novgorod are major cities. Ordinarily, not a well-trodden route I am sure, but in a country of Russia’s vast size, you would think that for at least this month, with fans going everywhere, more intercity flights would be provided, even for the sake of their own profits!

It just adds unnecessary time onto the journey, and made my excruciating red-eye flight all the more tiring. Do I sound grumpy much?

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After a quick(ish) nap, I headed for the magnificent Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, where two major rivers, the Volga and the Oka meet, for another meeting of two powerful forces – Croatia and Argentina.

Something had to give. Argentina were woeful in their tournament opener against Iceland, while a win for Croatia would seal their profession to the last 16 with a game to spare. I was certainly not confident of Argentina finding what they needed to secure victory, but I could not see what was coming, that’s for sure.

The noise in the stadium was incredible. Both Argentina and Croatia fans are a vibrant bunch, and having the two of them there together made for a colourful spectacle, all again conducted in the best spirit possible.

Even as Argentina capitulated, their fans kept singing, probably in delirium more than anything else. One Argentinian journalist flung his TV on the desk in frustration. He was not even sorry.

After the game, the reaction was somewhat of shock among many journalists, but I was not joining in their surprise – this had been coming for some time. This is the worst Argentina side in decades, Lionel Messi aside.

We waited for two hours for the players to come through the Mixed Zone, but not one Argentina player stopped, instead all marching past like some form of funeral procession, head in hands.

The Croatian players, though, were more than happy to talk. We could not stop Dejan Lovren talking, while Luka Modric walked straight for us. Unprecedented. Now, to write it all up. No sleep until July 15th.