Lionel Messi’s Argentina were on the brink of a humiliating World Cup exit on Thursday, after they were humbled 3-0 by Croatia on a dramatic day that saw the European side join France in the knockout rounds.
Argentina knew they had to chase a win after their 1-1 opening draw against Iceland, but instead collapsed in the second half to leave their campaign in tatters.
A horrendous mistake by goalkeeper Willy Caballero and two goals from Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic mean the two-time former champions have to rely on an unlikely sequence of results if they are to progress.
Photo: EPA
It was the heaviest defeat for the team in the first-round group stages of a World Cup since they lost 6-1 to Czechoslovakia in 1958.
Croatia sit at the top of Group D with six points. Iceland have one point, the same as Argentina, and Nigeria have no points, but both teams have a game in hand on the South Americans.
“I had to devise a plan for this match. If I had set things up differently, things might have turned out much better. I don’t think it’s realistic to put the burden on Caballero,” Argentina coach Jorge Sampaoli said. “I think because of the reality of the Argentinian squad, it clouds Leo’s brilliance. Leo is limited, because the team doesn’t gel ideally with him as it should.”
Photo: Reuters
Sampaoli’s remarks implying that Messi’s teammates were to blame drew a blunt response from striker Sergio Aguero, hinting at internal tensions.
“Let him say what he wants,” Aguero said.
It is the first time that Croatia have progressed past the World Cup group stages since their third-placed debut in 1998.
Photo: AFP
“From day one I’ve trusted my team. I didn’t believe we would be through after the second game, but I believed we would be through eventually,” Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic said. “Argentina weren’t confused — we were excellent.”
However, a fierce post-mortem was already underway in Argentina, where the press tore into Messi and his team.
“Catastrophe against Croatia, Argentina disappoints and is on the way out of the World Cup,” Clarin wrote on its Web site.
“Argentina were ridiculed by Croatia and has jeopardized its future in the competition,” La Nacion added.
Meanwhile, France earlier joined Russia and Uruguay in the last 16 with a 1-0 win against Peru, who cannot now progress from the group stage after two defeats.
Kylian Mbappe tapped into an empty net in the 34th minute in Yekaterinburg and the South Americans were unable to respond.
Mbappe is now the youngest French goalscorer at a World Cup, aged 19 years and 183 days, beating David Trezeguet’s record of 20 years and 246 days.
Denmark, also in France’s Group C, stayed on course for the knockout rounds after drawing 1-1 with Australia in the early game of the day in Samara.
Christian Eriksen’s half-volley was canceled out by Mile Jedinak’s video-assisted penalty after Yussuf Poulsen’s handball, giving Denmark four points, while Australia are stuck on one point.
Australia coach Bert van Marwijk said the “last piece of the puzzle” — goals — was missing for his side, who had several chances to win the game.
“We had chances to win and we deserved to win, so I’m disappointed,” the Dutchman said.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen go into today’s match at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim stung from their first league defeat in 16 months. Leverkusen were beaten 3-2 at home by RB Leipzig before the international break, the first loss since May last year for the reigning league and cup champions. While any defeat, particularly against a likely title rival, would have disappointed coach Xabi Alonso, the way in which it happened would be most concerning. Just as they did in the Supercup against VfB Stuttgart and in the league opener to Borussia Moenchengladbach, Leverkusen scored first, but were pegged back. However, while Leverkusen rallied late to
The lights dimmed and the crowd hushed as Karoline Kristensen entered for her performance. However, this was no ordinary Dutch theater: The temperature was 80°C and the audience naked apart from a towel. Dressed in a swimsuit and to the tune of emotional music, the 21-year-old Kristensen started her routine, performed inside a large sauna, with a bed of hot rocks in the middle. For a week this month, a group of wellness practitioners, called “sauna masters,” are gathering at a picturesque health resort in the Netherlands to compete in this year’s Aufguss world sauna championships. The practice takes its name from a
Japanese players are moving to English soccer in record numbers and more look set to follow with clubs attracted by their quality, strong work ethic and value for money. Kaoru Mitoma is the standout talent of five Japanese players in the English Premier League, with eight more in the Championship and two in League One. Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo, the captain of Japan, believes his compatriots are “being held in higher esteem” by English clubs compared with the past. “The staff at Liverpool ask me about lots of Japanese players, not necessarily with a view to a transfer, but just saying this or
Taiwan yesterday survived Bosnia and Herzegovina to win their Davis Cup World Group I tie at the Taipei Tennis Center. The tight series started on Saturday with world No. 123 Jason Tseng losing 3-6, 7-5, 6-4 to Mirza Basic in the opening singles matchup. However, teammate Tony Wu kept the tie even, dominating world No. 86 Damir Dzumhur 6-2, 6-1. Yesterday, 24-year-old Ray Ho and partner 25-year-old Hsu Yu-hsiou kept up the momentum, making short work of Basic and Nerman Fatic, winning 6-3, 6-4. Tseng then suffered another defeat, losing 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 to Dzumhur in a brutal match that lasted more than two