Croatia a Cup dark horse
Argentina on brink of an early exit
CROATIA might have been under the radar coming into the World Cup finals but there will be few sides relishing the possibility of playing them after they displayed their quality with a 3-0 thumping of Argentina in Group D.
The convincing result put Croatia into the second round for the first time since their run to the semi-finals in their maiden World Cup appearance in France in 1998.
The latest generation, headlined by the attacking skills of Luka Modric, driving play of Ivan Rakitic and imposing presence up front of Mario Mandzukic, will be looking to emulate the achievement of 20 years ago and will be fully entitled to do so on the basis of their showing in Russia so far.
“This result and Argentina’s poor display was due to our good game, our compact block all over the pitch, particularly when we didn’t have the ball,” said Modric.
“We cut off the lines of passing, we wanted to avoid Messi getting the ball... I believe that we played a fantastic game.”
Thursday’s victory followed an efficient display in their opening 2-0 win game against Nigeria.
Croatia had shown glimpses of their potential at the last European Championships in France two years ago when they beat Spain but went out in the second round to eventual winners Portugal after conceding in extra time.
They recovered from a patchy start, and brought in Zlatko Dalic as coach late last year, to finish behind Iceland in their qualifying group for Russia but in the November play-offs easily disposed of Greece over two legs.
Croatia now look ahead to playing Iceland again in their last Group D match in Rostov on Tuesday and if they top the standings will return to Nizhny Novgorod on July 1 to play the runner-up in Group C in the last 16.
“I think that we will win over additional fans. Whoever watched this match, whoever watched Croatia play, will surely start rooting for Croatia,” said Dalic.
Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone said Argentina look lost and have no leadership after the loss to Croatia which left them on the verge of a disastrous early exit, in an audio message leaked to Spanish and Argentine radio stations.
Simeone’s sensational tirade, reported to be an audio message sent on mobile platform Whatsapp to Atletico assistant coach German ‘Mono’ Burgos, emerged hours after Argentina’s heaviest defeat in a World Cup group stage since 1958.
Simeone’s press spokesman and Atletico’s head of communications did not respond to requests to verify the audio.
“What’s happening to the team right now is what has happened to Argentina in these last four disgraceful years: anarchy, no leadership from the players, coaches or directors. The team is lost,” former Argentina international Simeone can be heard saying.
“Right now in the dressing room they are coming to blows. Someone needs to stand up and fight.”
Simeone also appeared to call into question the true quality of Argentina’s usual talisman Lionel Messi, who has had a minimal impact at the tournament in Russia and missed a penalty against Iceland in the Group D opener, while his rival Cristiano Ronaldo has scored four times for Portugal.
“Messi is very good but he is very good because he is accompanied by extraordinary footballers. If you have to choose between Messi and Ronaldo in a normal game, who would you choose?” said Simeone.
The Atletico coach appears to be talking to his assistant Burgos, a former goalkeeper, when he criticises Argentina keeper Willy Caballero for gifting the opening goal in the game to Croatia winger Ante Rebic.
Simeone said: “The goalkeeper has done this before hasn’t he German? He did it against Spain, against Italy when they hit the post, and if you slip up like that in a World Cup, it’s a goal.” – Reuters