Game 3: Argentina v Croatia
Argentina v Croatia
Group D, match 3
21st June 2018, 1900
Nizhny Novgorod
Result:
Argentina 0
Croatia 3
I remembered there was a reason I don’t particularly like Argentina - two words: Diego Maradona - and ostentatiously kissing a Lionel Messi shirt won’t make me like him any more.
Argentina looked very nervous during the warm up, the anthems and the early stages. That said, Croatia didn’t look composed themselves.
First Half
In the 30th min an error from Lovren and chaos in the Croatia defence led to a decent chance and a terrible miss from Perez. All Perez needed to do was put it in the empty net but instead put it wide, while at the other end Mandžukić also missed a good chance. Towards the end of the second half Ante Rebić was fortunate not to be sent off for a dangerous tackle on Eduardo Salvio; it was reviewed by the VAR but a red wasn’t thought to be necessary although it was a nasty tackle.
The first half was absorbing but both teams were nervous, in fact Argentina looked positively terrified and their manager Jorge Sampaoli looked like a man about to face a firing squad.
Half time 0-0 although Croatia could have scored in added time. Lionel Messi and Sergio Agüero were anonymous although they haven’t had the service. Messi touched the ball no more than 20 times in the first half and Agüero had even fewer touches.
Second Half
OOPS! After a right clanger and a half by Argentine keeper Willy Caballero in the 53rd minute, Croatia went 1-0 up with a cracking volley from Rebić. While Croatia were celebrating, Agüero, who’d done nothing all game, was replaced by Gonzalo Higuain.
Argentina improved slightly as the half went on and had a good chance through Messi in the 64th minute, which was saved. The TV pictures showed Diego Maradona looking aggrieved and covering his face, while Sampaoli paced up and down on the touch line, looking like he was about to spontaneously combust.
A cracker of a shot by Luka Modrić in the 80th minute made the score line 2-0 and looking like no way back for a disappointing and clueless Argentina side.
Croatia nearly had a third in the 85th minute when Rakitić’s free kick hit the crossbar but the follow up header went well over.
However, Rakitić made it three in the first minute of the four added on and by then even Sampaoli had stopped marching up and down the technical area, no doubt resigned to Argentina’s fate, while their fans slumped in total devastation. Argentina were a shambles and deserved nothing from the game. Their small improvement didn’t last long and Croatia thoroughly deserved their win.
Conclusion
Argentina aren’t out - yet - but their fate is out of their hands; they need to beat Nigeria and hope that Iceland don’t get four points from their next two games.
Group D, match 3
21st June 2018, 1900
Nizhny Novgorod
Result:
Argentina 0
Croatia 3
I remembered there was a reason I don’t particularly like Argentina - two words: Diego Maradona - and ostentatiously kissing a Lionel Messi shirt won’t make me like him any more.
Argentina looked very nervous during the warm up, the anthems and the early stages. That said, Croatia didn’t look composed themselves.
First Half
In the 30th min an error from Lovren and chaos in the Croatia defence led to a decent chance and a terrible miss from Perez. All Perez needed to do was put it in the empty net but instead put it wide, while at the other end Mandžukić also missed a good chance. Towards the end of the second half Ante Rebić was fortunate not to be sent off for a dangerous tackle on Eduardo Salvio; it was reviewed by the VAR but a red wasn’t thought to be necessary although it was a nasty tackle.
The first half was absorbing but both teams were nervous, in fact Argentina looked positively terrified and their manager Jorge Sampaoli looked like a man about to face a firing squad.
Half time 0-0 although Croatia could have scored in added time. Lionel Messi and Sergio Agüero were anonymous although they haven’t had the service. Messi touched the ball no more than 20 times in the first half and Agüero had even fewer touches.
Second Half
OOPS! After a right clanger and a half by Argentine keeper Willy Caballero in the 53rd minute, Croatia went 1-0 up with a cracking volley from Rebić. While Croatia were celebrating, Agüero, who’d done nothing all game, was replaced by Gonzalo Higuain.
Argentina improved slightly as the half went on and had a good chance through Messi in the 64th minute, which was saved. The TV pictures showed Diego Maradona looking aggrieved and covering his face, while Sampaoli paced up and down on the touch line, looking like he was about to spontaneously combust.
A cracker of a shot by Luka Modrić in the 80th minute made the score line 2-0 and looking like no way back for a disappointing and clueless Argentina side.
Croatia nearly had a third in the 85th minute when Rakitić’s free kick hit the crossbar but the follow up header went well over.
However, Rakitić made it three in the first minute of the four added on and by then even Sampaoli had stopped marching up and down the technical area, no doubt resigned to Argentina’s fate, while their fans slumped in total devastation. Argentina were a shambles and deserved nothing from the game. Their small improvement didn’t last long and Croatia thoroughly deserved their win.
Conclusion
Argentina aren’t out - yet - but their fate is out of their hands; they need to beat Nigeria and hope that Iceland don’t get four points from their next two games.
