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The 2018 FIFA World Cup continued on Thursday, June 21 evening with Croatia shocking former champions Argentina in a deserving 3-0 win at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium.
Croatia had a plan to block Argentina in the middle of the park and take out Lionel Messi as much as possible, while also going forward to hurt the Albiceleste and it worked for most of the match.
The first half was like a boxing match with hard and tough tackles flying at both ends with limited chances at both ends with Croatia the better of the two sides, so it ended goalless.
The second session started off with Sergio Aguero having a chance for Argentina, but at the other end in a massive blunder keeper Willy Caballero tried to chip a charging Ante Rebic, but he enabled Rebic to volley home Croatia’s lead.
Argentina tried their best to break down a resolute Croatia, but only had a double chance through Higuain and Messi which was ended by Rakitic.
Croatia meanwhile was waiting for the kill and they hit Argentina’s heart in the 80th minute when their captain Luka Modric fired in a low drive past Caballero, which took the fight of Argentina. Rakitic then first hit the crossbar in the 86th minute and then sealed a memorable 3-0 in the first minute of added minute with an easy tap in into an empty goal.
While Croatia have confirmed their qualification for the knockout stages, Argentina are staring at potential elimination.
FIFA World Cup Russia 2018 – Group D
Argentina 0-3 (0-0) Croatia
Goals: 0-1 Ante Rebic (53′), 0-2 Luka Modric (80′), 0-3 Ivan Raketic (90’+1)
Argentina: Willy Caballero – Mercado, Otamendi, Tagliafico – Salvio (56′ Pavon), Mascherano, Perez (68′ Dybala), Acuna – Messi, Meza – Aguero (54′ Higuain)
Subs: Armani, Guzman, Ansaldi, Fazio, Rojo, Banega, Biglia, di Maria, Lo Celso
Croatia: Subasic – Vrsaljko, Lovren, Vida, Strinic – Rakitic, Brozovic – Rebic (57′ Kramaric), Modric, Perisic (82′ Kovacic) – Mandzukic (90’+3 Corluka)
Subs: L. Kalinic, Livakovic, Caleta-Car, Jedvaj, Pivaric, Badelj, Bradaric, Pjaca
Referee: Ravshan Irmatov (Uzbekistan)
Man of the Match: Luka Modric (Croatia)
Simply incredible from #CRO as they seal their place in the knock-out stages with a historic victory!
Take a bow, @HNS_CFF ??????#ARGCRO pic.twitter.com/pW9hyQGCAa
— FIFA World Cup ?? (@FIFAWorldCup) June 21, 2018
