Match Review: Croatia v. Argentina
Croatia v Argentina
Score: 3-0
Goals: Rebic 53', Modric 80', Rakitic 90+1'
Possession: 42-58
Shots: 15-10
Man of the match: Luka Modric
Croatia put out a statement as they blew by Argentina to progress to the knockout stages. The match started off with both sides going at it. The first opportunity of the match fell to Ivan Perisic, who was played in by Ivan Rakitic. He was able to shift the ball onto his left foot and sent a piledriver towards the far post. Unfortunately, Chelsea back up keeper Willy Caballero was equal to it and pushed it out for a corner. The next chance fell to the Argentines. It started through a beautiful run down the right-hand side from Meza. He was able to look up and found a streaking Eduardo Salvio who had seemingly an open look at goal. But then a flying Dejan Lovren came in for a goal-saving challenge which kept the score at 0-0. The next chance for Argentina really didn't look like a chance, to begin with. Left winger/back Marcos Acuna swung in what seemed like to be a poor ball, but it curled and smacked onto the bar creating many worries for Croatians, but fortunately, it did go out for a goal kick. At this point, Argentina started to look pretty decent applying terrific pressure to the Croatian backline. They were able to force a turnover on the left side an forced a good save out of charging Subasic. The ball was cleared by Vida and fell right to Enzo Perez. Perez had a first time effort that went just wide of the open goal. Croatia then responded with a fantastic chance of their own. When a free kick was given away the ball was whipped into the far post. For some reason, no one was marking Juve striker Mario Mandzukic who somehow headed wide. This ended a very back and forth first half and the second half seemed like it was anyone's match. Although it is important to point out the lack of Leo Messi in that first half who was almost nonexsistent. The second half started off, and one of the mistakes of the tournament opened the scoring. During Croatia's press the Argentina defense was forced to play the ball back to keeper Willy Caballero who looked really good up until this moment. His clearance though was Karius esque, as he kicked it straight to the charging Rebic who volleyed the ball out of the air so crisply and over the keeper and into the back of the net. It was a terrible mistake that made the Argentine team look like dead men walking for the rest of the match. They created almost next to nothing throughout the rest of the second half. Finally, in the 80' minute, Luka Modric had enough with the jeopardy of the result and decided to put an end to it. He picked up the ball about 25 yards out and put his shoulder down took a touch towards goal. He had the step on Otamendi and decided to have a hit, and what hit it was. The ball sailed past the fingertips of Caballero and into the back of the net. It sent the Croatians into absolute EUphoria and put a nail in the coffin in regards to the match. The Croatians didn't stop there as Ivan Rakitic had a thirty yard free kick clang off the bar. Then finally got his deserved goal with some beautiful unselfishness from the Croatians. Real Madrid midfielder was played in and was 1v1 vs. the keeper but saw his mate Rakitic just to the side of him and squared it to him beautifully. Rakitic made no mistake and sealed their place in the knockout stage. For Argentina, they are gonna need a lot of help to progress, but it all starts with a win against Nigeria. For Croatia, it is their first knockout stage appearance since 1998 to the delight of their supporters.
Score: 3-0Goals: Rebic 53', Modric 80', Rakitic 90+1'
Possession: 42-58
Shots: 15-10
Man of the match: Luka Modric
Croatia put out a statement as they blew by Argentina to progress to the knockout stages. The match started off with both sides going at it. The first opportunity of the match fell to Ivan Perisic, who was played in by Ivan Rakitic. He was able to shift the ball onto his left foot and sent a piledriver towards the far post. Unfortunately, Chelsea back up keeper Willy Caballero was equal to it and pushed it out for a corner. The next chance fell to the Argentines. It started through a beautiful run down the right-hand side from Meza. He was able to look up and found a streaking Eduardo Salvio who had seemingly an open look at goal. But then a flying Dejan Lovren came in for a goal-saving challenge which kept the score at 0-0. The next chance for Argentina really didn't look like a chance, to begin with. Left winger/back Marcos Acuna swung in what seemed like to be a poor ball, but it curled and smacked onto the bar creating many worries for Croatians, but fortunately, it did go out for a goal kick. At this point, Argentina started to look pretty decent applying terrific pressure to the Croatian backline. They were able to force a turnover on the left side an forced a good save out of charging Subasic. The ball was cleared by Vida and fell right to Enzo Perez. Perez had a first time effort that went just wide of the open goal. Croatia then responded with a fantastic chance of their own. When a free kick was given away the ball was whipped into the far post. For some reason, no one was marking Juve striker Mario Mandzukic who somehow headed wide. This ended a very back and forth first half and the second half seemed like it was anyone's match. Although it is important to point out the lack of Leo Messi in that first half who was almost nonexsistent. The second half started off, and one of the mistakes of the tournament opened the scoring. During Croatia's press the Argentina defense was forced to play the ball back to keeper Willy Caballero who looked really good up until this moment. His clearance though was Karius esque, as he kicked it straight to the charging Rebic who volleyed the ball out of the air so crisply and over the keeper and into the back of the net. It was a terrible mistake that made the Argentine team look like dead men walking for the rest of the match. They created almost next to nothing throughout the rest of the second half. Finally, in the 80' minute, Luka Modric had enough with the jeopardy of the result and decided to put an end to it. He picked up the ball about 25 yards out and put his shoulder down took a touch towards goal. He had the step on Otamendi and decided to have a hit, and what hit it was. The ball sailed past the fingertips of Caballero and into the back of the net. It sent the Croatians into absolute EUphoria and put a nail in the coffin in regards to the match. The Croatians didn't stop there as Ivan Rakitic had a thirty yard free kick clang off the bar. Then finally got his deserved goal with some beautiful unselfishness from the Croatians. Real Madrid midfielder was played in and was 1v1 vs. the keeper but saw his mate Rakitic just to the side of him and squared it to him beautifully. Rakitic made no mistake and sealed their place in the knockout stage. For Argentina, they are gonna need a lot of help to progress, but it all starts with a win against Nigeria. For Croatia, it is their first knockout stage appearance since 1998 to the delight of their supporters.
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