For Argentina - Croatia World Cup 2018 match video highlights - http://bestfbkl.blogspot.com/2018/06/world-cup-2018-match-schedule-in.html
Argentina 0-3 Croatia: Lionel Messi and Co on the brink of World Cup group stage elimination after Willy Caballero blunder, Luka Modric piledriver and Ivan Rakitic tap-in send them crashing to defeat
- Argentina's hopes of reaching the second round of the World Cup have been left hanging by a thread
- Ante Rebic thumped home a volley after a horrendous miskick from Argentina goalkeeper Willy Caballero
- Under no pressure Caballero miscued a clearance into the midfielder's path and he found the roof of the net
- Luka Modric then crashed home a powerful drive from 25 yards out to double the lead for the Croats
- Ivan Rakitic then tapped home from close range as Croatia broke with Argentina chasing the game
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When the brutal indignity of it all had ended, Lionel Messi was the first off the pitch. He walked with his head down, casting just the briefest look behind him to be sure that others were following, because it was nothing less than an embarrassment: a display of tactical and technical ineptitude which leaves Argentina's presence here in extreme peril and marks the end of a generation.
The team's presence in Russia is hanging by a thread, though the inquisition into how a generation of gilded players has failed to lift silverware will run for years, along with question of why a manager tactically so unsuited to their talents came to be installed.
Not since a 6-1 defeat to Czechoslovakia in 1958 have Argentina lost so heavily in the group stage of a World Cup. But never have they suffered embarrassment like this.
Ivan Rakitic confirmed the three points for Croatia with a simple tap-in from only six yards out as Argentina tired late on
Barcelona midfielder Rakitic is joined by Mario Mandzukic in celebrating a big win over group rivals Argentina
Luka Modric lets fly after getting the better of Nicolas Otamendi to double Croatia's lead against Argentina on the night
Modric's effort bends inside the post and nestles into the back of the net despite the best efforts of Willy Caballero
Modric celebrates his spectacular strike which found the back of the net and put Argentina on the brink of elimination
The Croatian players surround Luka Modric after he doubled their lead just 10 minutes from time in Nizhny Novogrod
Ante Rebic holds his hands to his ears as he celebrates putting Croatia ahead against Argentina in the second half
Rebic hit a crisp volley on the full into the roof of the net after Willy Caballero miscued a clearance straight into his path
Caballero watches in vain as Rebic's volley soars over his head and into the roof of the net to put Croatia ahead
The Argentina goalkeeper grimaces after his horrendous mistake left them facing defeat against Croatia in Group D
Caballero holds his head in his hands after gifting Croatia the opening goal and the initiative in Thursday night's game
Rebic is surrounded by Croatian team-mates as they celebrate taking a shock lead against Argentina on Thursday night
Argentina captain Lionel Messi looks furious after seeing his side go behind in farcical circumstances to Croatia
Diego Simeone looks on in disbelief as Argentina crash to their heaviest group stage defeat in 60 years at the World Cup
There had been the usual wild Argentinian bombast on the planes, the trains and the streets of this city all day, though it masked some existential questions about an ageing team which has not won a trophy of any description for 25 years and is being coached by a man, Jorge Sampaoli, whose pressing ethos runs against the nature of the players.
The pained look behind Messi's eyes - a struggle to raise a smile when he finally emerged; the closed eyes as he mouthed some words - telegraphed the apprehension.
His individual struggle and penalty miss in the opening draw against Mexico has been the source of such a national inquisition that his mother has taken it upon herself to speak for him this week.
If it is true, as they say, that he has been withdrawn in these past days, then it did not take long for his worst fears about the Argentinian team to be confirmed.
The logic behind Sampaoli's reversion to a three-man defence was that a width would be generated to stretch the pitch and help the talisman, though instead it exposed the South American nation as defensively inept - opening vast open spaces in the wide areas for their opponents to exploit.
The nervous tension bordered on blind panic in the first half hour, by which time they would have conceded twice had Croatia's finishing not been equally grim.
With Diego Maradona, Sampaoli's arch critic, helpfully gesticulating up in the stands, the right wing back Eduardo Salvio was nowhere to be found in the game's opening minutes as Ivan Perisic race down the left and dispatched a shot which Willy Caballero palmed away.
Argentina talisman Lionel Messi is tracked by three Croatian runners as he tries to take the ball upfield early in the game
Argentina midfielder Eduardo Salvio attempts to get the ball under control as Croatian Ivan Strinic keeps a close eye
Croatia and Juventus striker Mario Mandzukic challenges for an aerial ball against Argentina's Nicolas Tagliafico
Croatian winger Ivan Perisic broke through on the left-hand side and was allowed an early sighter on the Argentina goal
Argentina and Chelsea goalkeeper Willy Caballero was able to get a hand to the shot and push it behind for a corner kick
Argentine captain Lionel Messi stretches to try and get a boot to the ball as it bounces loose in the penalty area
Croatia's Sime Vrsaljko attempts to block a shot from Argentina's Maximiliano Meza during the first half in Nizhny Novgorod
Croatian midfielder Ivan Rakitic squirms in agony after he was on the receiving end of a foul from Enzo Perez
Argentina players remonstrate with the referee after he blew his whistle for a foul against them during the first period
Better opportunities than that were spurned with the Albiceleste back line oblivious to the Croatians racing in behind them. Mario Mandukic was alone at the back post when Marcos Acuna allowed Sime Vrsaljiko time and space to send a cross from the right which reached him.
He closed his eyes and dived to send wide a header which they'll be replaying for years after this tournament is finished. Croatia's own defence hardly looked indestructible. Enzo Perez was given free sight of goal after Domagoj Vida headed straight into his path and fire wide.
But with Messi and Sergio Aguero bystanders this looked a deperately poor team and the first half concluded with another Argentine gift. Eduardo Salvio crashed a shot over after another ball across the back line was allowed to run through to him.
The goal, when it eventually came, was as pitiful as the performance had been. Caballero's own anxiety had revealed itself early on, as he played out weakly to an unsuspecting Nicolas Tagliafico, who was nearly charged down by Mandzukic.
But what transpired on 53 minutes was catastrophic - the Chelsea goalkeeper receiving a back pass as Croatia pushed up after a long ball and attempting to lift a return pass to Gabriel Mercado. He succeeded only in delivering it up into the ambit of Ante Rebic, who span on it and sent back an imperious, dipping volley over the goalkeeper's head.
Argentina midfielder Javier Mascherano argues with the official, Ravshan Irmatov, after being called for a foul on Luka Modric
Enzo Perez slumps to his knees after missing an open goal to put Argentina ahead in the opening stages against Croatia
Minutes later Croatia striker Mario Mandzukic missed a free header at the back post to give the European side the lead
Argentina defender Gabriel Mercado receives medical assistance after being on the wrong side of a collision in the first half
Argentina boss Jorge Sampaoli makes a VAR signal with his hands after an over the top challenge from Ante Rebic
Dejan Lovren cannot stop Sergio Aguero getting a shot off at goal but the striker's effort is easily saved by Danijel Subasic
Croatia goalscorer Ante Rebic leaves the field after picking up an injury shortly after his spectacular second half strike
Croatia midfielder Ivan Rakitic dives in with a last-ditch block to prevent Lionel Messi from equalising for Argentina
Lionel Messi argues with his Croatian counterparts after the referee stopped play with Argentina in the opposition half
A mass brawl breaks out on the pitch after Nicolas Otamendi kicked the ball into Ivan Rakitic's head as he lay on the ground
Rebic should have been dismissed soon afterwards for a dreadful challenge on Salvio - for which VAR was not called in - and he was substituted because of it.
The breakthrough also did finally bring a fleeting vim into Argentina's game. Gonzalo Higuain arrived for Aguero, who had been anonymous, and there was the trademark Messi slalom run down the left side of the Croatian box just beyond the hour, with Croats in pursuit before he laid it off to the substitute, whose cross was poor.
Then Higuain, making an immediate impression, cut back a ball Enzo Perez laid into the left side of the area. Maxi Meza made a half connection, Daniel Subasic saved with his knees and Messi was almost able to pounce before the ball ran out of play.
Paulo Dybala, whose arrival for Enzo Perez also provided Messi with a better supply line, began contributing. But Argentina now found themselves up against the dimension which they most palpably lack - a muscular defensive shield.
There were many Croatian heroes in this famous victory but Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic were the prime ones, calm and assured as they held the line.
The game had ten minutes to run when Modric finished it. Again, no defensive cover where the right back should have been, from where the ball was delivered square for the Real Madrid player, who drifted easily inside Nicolas Otamendi and Nicolas Tagliafico and with his second touch arced a shot low to Cabellero's right.
There was still time for Rakitic to curl a free kick onto Caballero's cross bar and then for Rakitic to race through the space where a South American defence should have been, exchange passes with substitute Mateo Kovacic, and tap in a third. Ecstasy for Croatia. An era-defining and era-ending defeat for the vanquished side.
Lionel Messi looks crestfallen at the end as Argentina face a humiliating group stage exit after their heavy defeat by Croatia
Argentina legend Diego Maradona was in the stands in Nizhny Novgorod on Thursday to watch his countrymen in action
