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'Mistakes don't come much worse' - Caballero clanger gifts Croatia lead
Argentina are facing the prospect of an early World Cup exit after a dreadful error from goalkeeper Willy Caballero set Croatia on their way to victory and a place in the last 16.
On a night when so much was expected of Argentina captain Lionel Messi, Caballero made the most telling contribution to his team's fate with an attempted chip over Ante Rebic that backfired badly, allowing the striker to volley into an exposed net in the 53rd minute.
Messi - adrift for much of the match, especially during a pedestrian opening half - helped to rally his side after going behind, but neither he nor substitute forwards Gonzalo Higuain and Pablo Dybala could find a way through.
The closest Messi came was a half-chance, a snatch at a rebound from a Maximiliano Meza shot which was blocked by Danijel Subasic and turned behind to safety.
It was a dogged defensive second-half display from Croatia, illuminated by a moment of magic from their own masterful number 10, Luka Modric.
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Modric's 'magnificent' stunner doubles Croatia's lead
His curled shot from range drifted beautifully beyond Caballero's gloves to put his side two ahead, before Ivan Rakitic's injury-time tap-in sealed a victory that moves the Europeans through to the knockout stage and also leaves them in a strong position to win the group.
For Argentina, they are no longer in control of their own destiny.
This defeat follows their opening 1-1 draw with Iceland, in which Messi missed a penalty, and now even a heavy win over Nigeria in their final game on Tuesday may not be enough to send them through to the next round.
Should Iceland beat Nigeria in their second group game on Friday, Iceland would need only a draw against Croatia in their final match.
For Messi, a prolific performer at club level with Barcelona, this was another harrowing chapter in his recent history of pain and disappointment in the international game.
Carrying the expectations of a nation
Before the match as the national anthem played, the camera panned across Messi's face. He looked like a man carrying the expectations of a nation.
He wanted to perform too, to carry his team in the shape of his own greatness like the legacy of Diego Maradona says he must, but this was a long way from a classic Messi display. This is also a long way from a classic Argentina team.
In the first half they were easily exposed on the flanks, conceding three first-half chances behind the full-backs which a more ruthless side than Croatia would have punished.
At the other end, Enzo Perez missed a sitter and looked out of depth in midfield, while Messi was often wandering in empty space with the game played somewhere else.
It was a strange thing to watch, to see the player who is so often nothing less than masterful at the highest level of the club game not stepping forward into the spotlight.
There seems to be real tension - a barrier almost - to success in the blue and white stripes of Argentina.
It has become more pronounced and painful over the past four years, during which Argentina lost three major finals with Messi as captain.
After the most recent of these - defeat by Chile in the 2016 Copa America - Messi announced his international retirement, having missed a penalty in the shootout.
He reversed the decision a month later but now, three days before he turns 31, you feel this really was the last big chance he had of propelling his side to victory on the biggest stage of all.
Even if international success does not come - and it looks a very long way off - he will still be the player who has achieved so much and seduced so many in the 14 years he has shone with Barcelona.
But at this tournament where Cristiano Ronaldo is again dragging Portugal along with his goals and drive, there will forever be regret and a sadness that a player as talented as Messi will always have one thing missing: a World Cup he defined.
Argentina's worst run without a win - the stats
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This was Croatia's first victory in five attempts against a South American team at the World Cup, having lost the previous four.
This was Argentina's heaviest defeat in the first-round group stage of a World Cup since losing 6-1 to Czechoslovakia in 1958.
Argentina have failed to win either of their opening two group stage matches for the first time since 1974.
This was Croatia's joint second biggest World Cup victory; they beat Cameroon 4-0 in 2014 and Germany 3-0 in 1998.
Argentina are without a win in their past four World Cup games (D2 L2), their longest such run in the competition.
This is only the second time Croatia have won their opening two games at a World Cup, after the 1998 tournament that saw them reach the semi-finals.
Ante Rebic's goal was his second for Croatia, and his first since August 2013 in a friendly against Liechtenstein.
Two of Luka Modric's four goals in major tournaments for Croatia (Euros and World Cup) have been from outside the box.
Argentina's Lionel Messi, who had 11 shots in the opening game against Iceland, did not manage a single attempt in goal until the 64th minute.
Messi has had more shots than any other player at this World Cup (12) but has failed to score with any of them.
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Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text
Line-ups
Argentina
23Caballero
2MercadoBooked at 51mins
17OtamendiBooked at 85mins
3Tagliafico
18SalvioSubstituted forPavónat 56'minutes
15PérezSubstituted forDybalaat 68'minutes
14Mascherano
8AcuñaBooked at 87mins
10Messi
13Meza
19AgüeroSubstituted forHiguaínat 54'minutes
Substitutes
1Guzmán
4Ansaldi
5Biglia
6Fazio
7Banega
9Higuaín
11Di María
12Armani
16Rojo
20Lo Celso
21Dybala
22Pavón
Croatia
23Subasic
2VrsaljkoBooked at 67mins
6Lovren
21Vida
3Strinic
11Brozovic
18RebicBooked at 39minsSubstituted forKramaricat 57'minutes
10Modric
7Rakitic
4PerisicSubstituted forKovacicat 82'minutes
17MandzukicBooked at 58minsSubstituted forCorlukaat 90+2'minutesBooked at 90mins
Substitutes
1Livakovic
5Corluka
8Kovacic
9Kramaric
12L Kalinic
13Jedvaj
14Bradaric
15Caleta-Car
19Badelj
20Pjaca
22Pivaric
Referee:
Ravshan Irmatov
Match Stats
Home TeamArgentinaAway TeamCroatia
Possession
Home58%
Away42%
Shots
Home10
Away14
Shots on Target
Home3
Away5
Corners
Home5
Away2
Fouls
Home16
Away22
Live Text
Posted at
Match ends, Argentina 0, Croatia 3.
Full TimePosted at 90'+5'
Second Half ends, Argentina 0, Croatia 3.
Posted at 90'+4'
Foul by Nicolás Tagliafico (Argentina).
Posted at 90'+4'
Danijel Subasic (Croatia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
BookingPosted at 90'+4'
Vedran Corluka (Croatia) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Posted at 90'+4'
Lionel Messi (Argentina) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 90'+4'
Foul by Vedran Corluka (Croatia).
SubstitutionPosted at 90'+2'
Substitution, Croatia. Vedran Corluka replaces Mario Mandzukic.
Goal!Posted at 90'+1'
Goal! Argentina 0, Croatia 3. Ivan Rakitic (Croatia) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Mateo Kovacic following a fast break.
Posted at 90'+1'
Attempt saved. Ivan Rakitic (Croatia) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Andrej Kramaric.
Posted at 90'+1'
Corner, Argentina. Conceded by Domagoj Vida.
Posted at 90'+1'
Attempt blocked. Maximiliano Meza (Argentina) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Lionel Messi.
Posted at 89'
Attempt missed. Luka Modric (Croatia) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
Posted at 89'
Attempt blocked. Mario Mandzukic (Croatia) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Mateo Kovacic.
Posted at 89'
Foul by Nicolás Tagliafico (Argentina).
Posted at 89'
Mario Mandzukic (Croatia) wins a free kick on the right wing.
BookingPosted at 87'
Marcos Acuña (Argentina) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Posted at 87'
Foul by Marcos Acuña (Argentina).
Posted at 87'
Sime Vrsaljko (Croatia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 86'
Attempt missed. Mateo Kovacic (Croatia) header from the centre of the box is high and wide to the left following a set piece situation.
Posted at 86'
Ivan Rakitic (Croatia) hits the bar with a right footed shot from outside the box from a direct free kick.
BookingPosted at 85'
Nicolás Otamendi (Argentina) is shown the yellow card.
Posted at 85'
Foul by Javier Mascherano (Argentina).
Posted at 85'
Ivan Rakitic (Croatia) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 84'
Foul by Gabriel Mercado (Argentina).
Posted at 84'
Mateo Kovacic (Croatia) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Posted at 84'
Attempt saved. Gonzalo Higuaín (Argentina) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Posted at 83'
Maximiliano Meza (Argentina) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Posted at 83'
Foul by Mateo Kovacic (Croatia).
SubstitutionPosted at 82'
Substitution, Croatia. Mateo Kovacic replaces Ivan Perisic.
Goal!Posted at 80'
Goal! Argentina 0, Croatia 2. Luka Modric (Croatia) right footed shot from outside the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Marcelo Brozovic.
Posted at 80'
Attempt blocked. Ivan Rakitic (Croatia) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Andrej Kramaric.
Posted at 79'
Marcos Acuña (Argentina) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 79'
Foul by Ivan Perisic (Croatia).
Posted at 78'
Corner, Argentina. Conceded by Dejan Lovren.
Posted at 77'
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Posted at 76'
Delay in match Ivan Rakitic (Croatia) because of an injury.
Posted at 73'
Lionel Messi (Argentina) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 73'
Foul by Ivan Strinic (Croatia).
Posted at 72'
Foul by Maximiliano Meza (Argentina).
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Source: bbc.com
Source: bbc.com