El Dorado News-Times

Croatia takes on Argentina in World Cup group play.

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NIZHNY NOVGOROD, Russia (AP) — Lionel Messi and his Argentina teammates are on the verge of World Cup eliminatio­n. Croatia is moving on.

Argentina was handily beaten by Croatia 3-0, a loss that makes advancemen­t very difficult with only one group match remaining.

It was Argentina's worst loss in group play in 60 years.

Messi, who turns 31 on Sunday, failed to get even one shot off against Croatia on Thursday, five days after he missed a penalty in the team's opening 1-1 draw against Iceland.

Croatia frustrated Argentina throughout the match and never gave Messi space to operate.

The humiliatin­g loss came in humiliatin­g fashion for one of soccer's most storied nations.

Argentina goalkeeper Wilfredo Caballero miss-kicked a clearance and Croatia defender Ante Rebic recovered the ball before sending it into the net in the 53rd minute.

Luka Modric scored another with a hooking shot in the 80th and Ivan Rakitic added the third in stoppage time.

Croatia advanced to the round of 16 with six points from two games in Group D.

Argentina has only one point and will next face Nigeria on Tuesday in St. Petersburg.

Argentina has won two World Cups — the last in 1986 — but has not won any major title in 25 years.

It lost the World Cup final to Germany four years ago in Brazil.

It worst loss in group play came in a 6-1 defeat against Czechoslov­akia in 1958.

Croatia, a 1998 World Cup semifinali­st, reached the knockout stage for only the second time.

FRANCE 1, PERU 0

YEKATERINB­URG, Russia (AP) — Kylian Mbappe's first World Cup goal put France into the round of 16.

The teenage forward tapped in a ball headed toward goal in the 34th minute to give France a victory over Peru.

At 19 years and 183 days, Mbappe became the youngest scorer in France's World Cup history.

With two wins from two matches in Group C, France is through to the next round with a match to spare while Peru has been eliminated.

AUSTRALIA 1, DENMARK 1

SAMARA, Russia (AP) — Mile Jedinak's penalty kick gave Australia a draw against Denmark and new life at the World Cup.

Christian Eriksen scored in the opening minutes for Denmark, which has gone unbeaten in 17 straight internatio­nal matches.

But Jussuf Poulsen's handball after a video review set up Jedinak's opportunit­y in the 38th minute.

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