Messi’s humbled as Modric turns screw
THEY WERE two moments of sublime skill, a stunning volley and a glorious drive. But though the crowd may have expected Lionel Messi to be behind such brilliance, it was Ante Rebic and Luka Modric who provided the star turns to put Argentina on the brink of elimination.
Croatia are through to the knock-out stages but Argentina’s fate may end up being out of their hands.
If Iceland beat Nigeria today, they will only need a point against Croatia to put Messi’s men out.
The lasting images of this night were not of Argentine celebrations but despair, with Messi looking down, probably in disbelief, while keeper Willy Caballero was left with head in hands after a mistake which will take some time to forget.
His error saw Rebic put Croatia in front eight minutes into the second half before Modric drove home a stunning second and then, with moments left, Ivan Rakitic converted an easy third.
Messi might have been the star who had secured Argentina their place in Russia with a hat-trick against Ecuador in their final qualifier, but his team were over-run by a Croatian side who will be thinking they can match the glory of the boys of 1998 who reached the semi-finals.
Pablo Zabaleta, West Ham’s former Argentina defender, said: “I’ve never seen a performance like this by Argentina. Never before. There was a lack of spirit and it’s very strange to see.”
Croatia were livelier from the off and in their first attack, Ivan Perisic’s shot was well saved by Caballero.
But in the 53rd minute, Chelsea’s Caballero attempted to clear a back pass, totally mishitting the ball inside his six-yard area and watching it spin to Rebic.
The Eintracht Frankfurt star did not hesitate, spinning and volleying the ball back over Caballero to break the deadlock. Seconds earlier, Sergio Aguero went close after a good turn and shot and then Messi himself was denied. But after the way Cristiano Ronaldo, his great rival as the world’s finest player, has already lit up this tournament scoring all of Portugal’s four goals, Messi’s side have a loss to go alongside their 1-1 draw with Iceland, when their main man had a penalty saved.
Ten minutes from time, Modric found space on the edge of the area and curled home a classic before one final Croatian move ended with the ball at Rakitic’s feet eight yards out from an open goal and the outcome was simple. Croatia were home, and Argentina might be home too.