Croatia shuts down Messi, Argentina
Lionel Messi’s frustrating international career may be coming to an early and anticlimactic finish after Argentina’s worst loss in World Cup group play in 60 years.
With Diego Maradona watching from the stands, the 2014 runners- up were routed by Croatia 3- 0 Thursday in Russia. The Croats are moving on to the round of 16.
Messi got off only one shot in a defeat that pushed Argentina to the brink of elimination. Messi, who turns 31 on Sunday, has never won a major title with Argentina’s senior national team despite a decade of championships with Barcelona and five player of the year awards.
“He is our captain, he leads the team and we quite simply couldn’t pass to him,” Argentina coach Jorge Sampaoli said. “We work to give Leo the ball, but the opponent also works hard to prevent him from getting the ball.”
Messi also missed a penalty kick in his team’s opening 1- 1 draw against Iceland.
Argentina, hurt by the poor play of goalkeeper Willy Caballero, had not lost by such a large margin in the first round since a 6- 1 defeat to Czechoslovakia in 1958. Caballero gained the starting role because No. 1 keeper Sergio Romero injured his knee last month in the run- up to the tournament.
“We have to swallow the poison,” Argentina midfielder Javier Mascherano said. “The game says it all.”
Argentina, which has not missed making the second round since 2002, has not been eliminated. But the two- time champions need to win their next match against Nigeria on Tuesday, as well as get help from other matches.
Thursday’s humiliating loss came in humiliating fashion for one of soccer’s most storied nations.
Caballero mangled a clearance and kicked the ball toward Croatia defender Ante Rebic, who one- timed it into the net in the 53rd minute. Caballero buried his face in his hands while a giant television screen showed Maradona doing the same.
“After they scored on us, we were emotionally broken,” Sampaoli said. “I had a lot of hope. I am extremely hurt by this defeat, but I probably didn’t understand the match the way I should have.”
And it got worse as Argentina crumbled, frustrated by the Croatian defense. Modric scored with a hooking shot in the 80th and Ivan Rakitic added the third in stoppage time.
Croatia frustrated Argentina throughout the match and never gave Messi space to operate.
France 1, Peru 0
Kylian Mbappe’s first World Cup goal put France into the round of 16. The teenage for- ward tapped in a ball headed toward goal in the 34th minute to give France a 1- 0 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
Mile Jedinak’s penalty kick gave Australia a 1- 1 draw against Denmark and new life.
The 38th- minute penalty was set up after Denmark forward Yussuf Poulsen was called for a handball following a video review. Poulsen was also given a yellow card and will be suspended for the team’s final group match against France because of accumulation.
Christian Eriksen scored in the opening minutes for Denmark, which has gone unbeaten in 17 straight international matches.