Argentina 0Croatia 2 Lionel Messi's Argentina on brink of World Cup exit after Croatia drubbing

Croatia inflicted a brutal 3-0 World Cup defeat on Argentina which will damage the two-time champions' psyche, and may prove fatal to their participation at this tournament. The result means that an Iceland win over Nigeria on Friday and a convenient draw between Croatia and Iceland in their final game would see Argentina eliminated.

Lionel Messi had no answer after a goalkeeping howler from Chelsea's Willy Caballero gave Croatia a 53rd-minute lead in Nizhny Novgorod before Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic compounded Argentina's misery.

In an error-strewn game it was Caballero's mistake which broke the deadlock. The goalkeeper attempted a lob over the head of Ante Rebic, enormously undercooked it and Rebic volleyed the ball home beautifully.

Modric made it 2-0 in the 81st-minute, jinking round his marker and unleashing a gorgeous curling shot.

Rakitic hit the bar from a free kick five minutes later before rolling into an unguarded net in second half stoppage time to complete the rout.