Summary
A mediocre performance by Lionel Messi and his Argentina team-mates on Monday at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium ensured that Croatia retained their place at the summit of Group D following a 2-0 win over the South Americans in their second Group D game of the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Lionel Messi drew blanks for the second game running and was unable to lift his side as they crumbled to a Luka Modric-inspired Croatia.
Captain Luka Modric fired in an absolute stunner after goalkeeper Willy Caballero fumbled a routine pass for Croatia’s opener. Ivan Rakitic got a third to make sure the star-studded Argentina side failed to avoid a 44-year old World Cup record, and that the European side win back-to-back World Cup games for the first time since 1998. The last time Argentina failed to win either of their first two World Cup games was in 1974. Croatia is already through to the round of 16 in Russia with a game against Iceland to spare.
Moments
5′ Perisic takes a low drive which needs the fingertips of Willy Caballero to push it round for a corner.
12′ Messi fails to get on the end of a lovely through ball from midfield13′ Dejan Lovren in the right place to block Maximiliano Meza’s goal-bound strike
21′ Acuna’s cross form the left hits the bar
29′ Enzo Perez fails to put the ball in an empty net after Meza draws goalkeeper Subasic off his line
32′ Vrsaljko delivers a wonderful cross from the right but Manzukic glances his diving header wide
53′ GOAL! Argentina 0-1 Croatia. Ante Rebic volleys the ball into the back of the net after goalkeeper Wilfredo Caballero miskicks into the path of the striker
63′ Higuain does well to cut back for Lionel Messi’s whose first time shot is blocked crucially by Rakitic
66′ Mandzukic almost extends Croatia lead
80′ GOAL! Argentina 0-2 Croatia. Sensational striker from Luka Modric from a square ball by Brozovic on the right.
85′ Otamendi get a booking after he kicks the ball at a Croatian player resulting in a scuffle erupts between the two teams
90+1′ GOAL! Argentina 0-3 Croatia. Rakitic, Kovacic and Mandzukic break from the centre circle, Rakitic’s shot is deflected to Kovacic who squares it back to Rakktic to slot home
Match Stats
Playing Ratings
Line up
Your Comment Here …It’s unfortunate Messi is not finding his rhythm at the world cup. I think it is true that those that he plays with in Barcelona are working for him. He is just an ordinary player without Barcelona team mates.