Croatia have reached the knockout stage of the 2018 World Cup after inflicting a 3-0 defeat on Argentina on Thursday with sublime display.
The result puts the two-time world champions on the brink of elimination if they don’t win Nigeria in their final group match and hope Iceland does not get a more favourable result.
Lionel Messi had no answer after a goalkeeping howler from Chelsea’s Willy Caballero gave Croatia a 53rd-minute lead in Nizhny Novgorod before Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic compounded Argentina’s misery.
In an error-strewn game it was Caballero’s mistake which broke the deadlock. The goalkeeper attempted a lob over the head of Ante Rebic, enormously undercooked it and Rebic volleyed the ball home beautifully.
Modric made it 2-0 in the 81st-minute, jinking round his marker and unleashing a gorgeous curling shot.
Rakitic hit the bar from a free kick five minutes later before rolling into an unguarded net in second half stoppage time to complete the rout.
