Argentina vs Croatia Review

Argentina 0-3 Croatia 

Argentina are facing the shock prospect of an early 2018 World Cup exit after a dreadful error from Chelsea goalkeeper Willy Caballero set Croatia on their way to a well deserved victory and a place in the last 16.

On a night when so much was expected of Argentina captain Lionel Messi, and their terrifying attack which includes Sergio Augero, Gonzalo Higuaín, Paulo Dybala and Angel Di Maria, not all who played in this game, was not meant to be, as Caballero made a dreadful error, attempting a chip over Ante Rebic that badly backfired allowing the striker to volley into a practically empty net in the 53rd minute.

Messi, who was almost invisible for much of the match, especially during a fairly pedestrian opening half  but neither he nor substitute forwards Gonzalo Higuain and Pablo Dybala could find a way through in Nizhny Novgorod.

The closest that Lionel Messi came was a half-chance, that being a snatch at a rebound from a Maximiliano Meza shot which was blocked by Ivan Rakitic and turned behind to safety.