Photographs: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images
"There are good calibre players in the Argentina team but Messi is from Jupiter," Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi said.
"Messi is one heck of a player," Keshi, whose side joined the South Americans in the last 16 despite Wednesday's reverse, added.
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'We didn't choose him to be a philosopher or to have good manners - he's a great player'
Photographs: Carlos Barria/Reuters
Uruguay's President Jose Mujica weighed into the global controversy over footballer Luis Suarez on Wednesday, saying it was unfair to judge him retrospectively for biting an Italian player when other incidents went unreviewed.
"We didn't choose him to be a philosopher, or a mechanic, or to have good manners - he's a great player," said Mujica, echoing the protective attitude towards the brilliant but volatile striker felt around his homeland.
"I didn't see him bite anyone. But they sure can bash each other with kicks and chops," he added to reporters.
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'Best team of the group did not qualify '
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"The best team of the group did not qualify, Bosnia showed they have great players, great team with a lot of experience. Today they raised their levels and when that happened they gave us no chance," Iran coach Carlos Queiroz said.
"My players went to the limit of our mental capabilities, fitness and I'm very proud, very, very proud."
-Bosnia dash Iran hopes, record first World Cup win
'Nothing will spoil our satisfaction tonight'
Photographs: Julian Finney/Getty Images
"Nothing will spoil our satisfaction tonight. We were there to qualify for the last 16 and we finished top of the group. We were up against a team that was strong in defence even with 10 men," France coach Didier Deschamps said.
A second-string France side clinched top spot in World Cup Group E while Ecuador, who had captain Antonio Valencia harshly sent off, were eliminated after a sprightly 0-0 draw at the Maracana stadium on Wednesday.
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