Argentina - Croatia (Group D)

Time and Date: 21-06-2018, 11.30 pm
City: Nizhny Novgorod

Much, much pressure on Messi to perform, to live up to his name!

First Half:

00: Game begins. Argentina in traditional striped blue, Croatia in black
05: Perisic's (CRO) shot deflected by Caballero (ARG GK) to concede a corner. Play was limited to midfield so far
09: Match is still low-key with no real moves
10: Tense moments in Argentine box, but nothing happens
12: Messi (ARG) narrowly misses to connect a lobe in front of the goal
13: Meza's (ARG) shot blocked by Croatian defence to concede a corner
19: Play again retreated to the midfield for some time
21: Acuna's (ARG) cross glides across the goal and grazes the cross bar
27: Aguera (ARG)'s shot deflected out by Strinic (CRO), conceding a corner, which is wasted
29: Possession so far ARG 57%, CRO 43%
30: Chaos in Croatian box. Perez (ARG)'s shot misses the goal
33: Mandzukic (CRO)'s header narrowly misses the goal
37: Mercado (ARG) injured in a collision
39: Rebic (CRO) gets yellow card. Play gets rough for a few minutes

Rebic scores from Argentine goalkeeper's mistake

45+2: Croatia wastes a good chance by hitting out
45+2: A lackluster first half ends after 2 added minutes (0-0)


Second Half:

50: Ball yet to reach the penalty box of either team in the second half!
51: Mercado (ARG) shown yellow card for bringing down the charging Croatian player
53: Big mistake by Caballero (ARG GK). Rebic (CRO) shoots the reflected ball into Argentine net (0-1)

Modric scores Croatia's second goal

55: Aguero (ARG) replaced by Higuain
56: Another Croatian attack. ARG concedes a corner. 
56: Salvio (ARG) replaced by Pavon

57: Rebic (CRO) is replaced by Kramaric
58: Mandzukic (CRO) shown the yellow card
63: Chaos in CRO box, nothing happens
64: Another anxious moment for CRO, this time by Messi. They concede a corner
67: Vrsaljko (CRO) shown yellow card for another needless foul
71: Pavon (ARG)'s shot flies over the cross bar
73: Croatian attack again. Fails to capitalize
78: CRO concedes another corner
80: Modric (CRO)'s blistering shot reaches Argentine net (0-2)
83: Pericic (CRO) replaced by Kovacic

Rakitic making it 0-3

85: Spar between players. Otamendi (ARG) yellow carded for kicking fallen down CRO player
86: Rakitic (CRO)'s powerful free kick hits cross bar
87: Acuna (ARG) shown yellow card
90: Meza (ARG)'s shot blocked by CRO defender
90+1: Rakitic (CRO) scores from a break on a defenseless goal (0-3)
90+4: Brozovic (CRO) shown yellow card
90+4: Argentina beaten (0-3) by Croatia after 4 added minutes