Argentina are confronting the possibility of an early World Cup exit after a terrifying mistake from goalkeeper Willy Caballero set Croatia on their approach to triumph and a place in the last 16.

On a night when so much was anticipated from Argentina commander Lionel Messi, Caballero made the most advising commitment to his group’s destiny with an endeavored chip over Ante Rebic that exploded backward severely, enabling the striker to volley into an uncovered net in the 53rd moment.

Messi – uncontrolled for a significant part of the match, particularly amid a walker opening half – encouraged his side, however neither he nor substitutes advances Gonzalo Higuain and Pablo Dybala could discover a path through in Nizhny Novgorod.

The nearest Messi came was a half-possibility, a grab at a bounce back from a Maximiliano Meza shot which was hindered by Ivan Rakitic and swung behind to security.

It was a resolute protective second-half show from Croatia, enlightened by a display of enchantment from their own particular breathtaking number 10, Luka Modric.

His twisted shot from extend floated delightfully past Caballero’s plunge to put his side two ahead, before Rakitic’s damage time tap-in fixed a triumph that moves the Europeans through to the knockout stage and furthermore abandons them in a solid position to win the gathering.

Argentina are never again responsible for their own particular fate. This thrashing takes after their opening 1-1 draw with Iceland, in which Messi missed a punishment, and now even a substantial prevail upon Nigeria in their last diversion on Tuesday may not be sufficient to send them through to the following round.

Should Iceland beat Nigeria in their second Group D match on Friday, Iceland would require just an attract against Croatia their last match.

For Messi, a productive entertainer at club level with Barcelona, this was another nerve racking section in his ongoing history of torment and dissatisfaction in the worldwide match.