Evening all, and welcome to the biggest match of the World Cup so far. Argentina need this; Lionel Messi needs this; but so do Croatia. It's true that Argentina could lose tonight and still qualify for the last 16, but they're absolutely desperate for some form. If Croatia beat them, it'll take a major effort to turn things around. And the hope is that it'll be fun to watch them both try; both teams have brilliant attacking players, and it's hard to see either sitting back; but we've said that before, haven't we. This is going to be great ... maybe.
World Cup / Group Stage
Nizhny Novgorod Stadium / 21.06.2018
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- A. Rebic(53')
- L. Modric(80')
- I. Rakitic(90+1')
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Updated 21/06/2018 at 20:56 GMT+1
49'
Modric handles and Argentina take the free-kick quickly, Meza ramming a shot into the nearest defender. Great stuff.
49'
Argentina knock it about without penetrating. This half is yet to get going properly.
47'
If Argentina draw here, and Iceland beat Nigeria, Argentina will have problem. Iceland finished above Croatia in qualifying, so are well capable of beating them here.
46'
Come on, lads.
20:00
20:00
19:59
19:49
Both sides have missed sitters here, and neither side looks comfortable. There've been pockets of quality, but isolated pockets, and neither side is defending properly ...yet, despite the standard of attackers on view, chances have been few. It's been strange, basically, and Argentina in particular need to make a change or two because Messi and Aguero are basically not playing.
19:49
Half-time: Argentina 0-0 Croatia
45+2'
Lovely from Modric, a raking pass finding Rebic galloping away! But his first touch is nonsense, the ball catching under his feet so he's forced to check ... to waft a curler plenty wide.
45+1
There's not been much quality, but that's been militated to significant degree by the quantity of nasty tackles. Only one booking is odd.
45'
There shall be two added minutes.
45'
Meza flies at Vrsaljko, flying through the air to land on his trailing leg. That looked a right sair yin, but neither ref nor VAR have a strong opinion on the matter.
44'
Sampaoli is getting eggy on the touchline, stomping up and down. Sadly, though, he's wearing a jacket and not a muscle shirt - but there's time yet.
43'
Perisic turns up on the right and swings a ball to the far post, where Salvio runs him out of it, just about. They're nurturing a nice little piece of animus, these two, which augurs well for the second half.
42'
There are so many good players on the pitch, doing so few good things. It's a thrill of sorts. Sorry, that's all I've got.
39'
Rebic races into a challenge with Salvio and spins so he can stamp on him; cunning. He's booked, and Sampaoli is urging the ref to check VAR to see if it's a red. It isn't.
36'
Rebic flies into a challenge with Mercado in pursuit of an aerial ball, ploughing through him; he's somehow penalised but not booked, and there's a pause while treatment is administered.
35'
32'
OH! OH! Vrsaljko is given an aeon to lift a ball to the back post, Argentina step up because they can't be arsed defending properly, and Mandzkic is there, alone and palely loitering! But he dives to head wide! He looks totally baffled by it all, and well he might.
32'
Argentina have Dybala and Banega on the bench. Both would be handy here.