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Croatia eviscerated a disjointed Argentina side 3-0 in their World Cup Group D encounter to become the fourth team to book their spot in the Round of 16. Three second-half goals from Ante Rebic, Luka Modric, and Ivan Rakitic put to bed any chance of Argentina topping the group.
La Albiceleste are also now in danger of being eliminated in the group stage of the World Cup. Here are the major talking points from the game.
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#1 Croatia expose Argentina's three-man defence
One major change Argentina coach Jorge Sampaoli made for this game was the switch to three at the back in defence. Playing a 3-4-2-1 to give Lionel Messi some more freedom in attack, the South American side deployed Nicolas Otamendi in central defence with Gabriel Mercado and Nicolas Tagliafico alongside him.
With Eduardo Salvio and Marcos Acuna playing as wing-backs, they had to ensure they never lost possession in dangerous positions when the wing-backs were positioned higher up the pitch. However, all it took was five minutes before Argentina were exposed on the counter-attack.
One of Croatia's strengths is their width and Ivan Perisic managed to cut in behind the defence to get a shot off and could have made it 1-0 if not for Willy Caballero's save.
Even their full-backs were keen to get in on the action and easily found space behind Argentina's defence with Sime Vrsaljko timing his run well to latch on to a diagonal ball and square it to his teammates but fluffed his pass.
Together, the wide forwards and full-backs overlapping constantly helped Croatia stretch Argentina's defence, allowing midfielders such as Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic to use space to dribble or make runs into. Diagonal crosses into the box easily exposed the defence too.
The forwards even pressed the Argentine defenders when they tried to play out from the back, giving Sampaoli and fans a couple of heart-attacks when they were pressed into making what could have turned out to be costly mistakes.
#2 Argentina struggle to adapt to Sampaoli's system
The 3-4-2-1 system was supposed to make Argentina a bit more fluid in attack but all it did was leave them vulnerable at the back. Moreover, it was designed to ease the pressure on Messi and give him a little more freedom to work his magic.
It was anything but that. The first half saw Argentina take only two shots on goal - none of which were on target. The shots were also gifted to them rather than by their own design when Croatia's defence fell asleep.
Apart from leaving Argentina unprotected on the flanks, the burden of creativity fell on midfielders who weren't technically adept at creating chances. Without much help coming from out wide, Argentina fashioned zero chances in the first half - understandable when you have two defensive midfielders in Javier Mascherano and Enzo Perez in the centre.
Sergio Aguero and Lionel Messi combined for a total of 20 passes in the first half and neither of them was able to even get a shot on goal, let alone receive a pass in a dangerous area.
Sampaoli was seen as the Messiah to save Argentina from depending too much on Messi but the tactics (or the lack of them) on display were painful to comprehend.
#3 Willy Caballero's brain-fade moment
Oh, Willy.
Just when it looked like Argentina were trying to get back into the game, Caballero made arguably the biggest blunder at the World Cup so far.
What seemed to be an innocuous back-pass from Mercado turned out to be Caballero's worst nightmare. Under pressure from Ante Rebic, the Chelsea goalkeeper tried to chip the ball over the onrushing Rebic and back to Mercado.
Unfortunately, the ball looped in the air and went straight to Rebic instead. On his part, the Croatian kept his eyes on the ball and volleyed it goalward with superb technique before Caballero could even think about making a response.
All he could do was watch it sail into the back of the net before he sank to his knees, pounding the pitch as Croatia celebrated an incredible gift.
You simply do not make such mistakes at a World Cup.
#4 Sampaoli panics and Argentina collapse
After going 1-0 down, Sampaoli lost it. He prowled up and down the touchline, discarded his jacket, and wore a frown that would put a mafia boss to shame.
With no other go but to chase a goal, Sampaoli threw on three attacking players and sacrificed midfield control. Sergio Aguero, Eduardo Salvio, and Enzo Perez were withdrawn. On came Gonzalo Higuain, Cristian Pavon, and Paulo Dybala.
If the 3-4-2-1 formation was confusing to his own team, this was more so. Javier Mascherano was the only midfielder shielding a back-three while six players looked to attack!
As a result, it was Croatia captain Luka Modric who suddenly found a lot of space to work with. Receiving the ball outside the box, he let fly a shot that beat Caballero and snuck in near the post to give Croatia a 2-0 lead. Otamendi had no chance to come out and block that shot.
By stoppage time, Croatia had made it 3-0. And they reserved the most humiliating goal of the lot for the very end. Argentina's players who had poured forward were nowhere to be seen while three Croatian players toyed around with Caballero to slot the ball into an empty net.
Mascherano, who was the deepest outfield player only stood and watched while raising his arm for a non-existent offside.
It was just plain embarrassing to watch and Argentina fans were seen crying in the stands at what was a hopeless performance on the pitch.
#5 Argentina in danger of getting knocked out in the group stage
They were World Cup finalists in 2014. They were Copa America finalists in 2016 and 2017. And yet, they could make a hasty group stage exit this year.
Make no mistake, Argentina still have a chance to go through. But their fate is no longer in their own hands.
Iceland and Nigeria have a game in hand and Argentina will be nervously tuned in to this game now if they are to have any hopes of qualifying.
If Iceland manage to beat Nigeria on Friday, they will be on four points. That still doesn't mean they have qualified since all Argentina has to do is beat Nigeria.
But if Croatia and Iceland play out a draw on the final matchday of their group, both Croatia and Iceland will qualify for the Round of 16 in first and second place respectively.
And Messi's chance at redemption will meet a premature end.
