Argentina 0 Croatia 3 Croatia: Rebic (53'), Modric (80'), Rakitic (90'+1) It was billed as Lionel Messi’s latest shot at redemption.
Five days on from his missed penalty against Iceland, four years and 21 successive shots since scoring at a World Cup, 13 years since his Argentina debut and three Copa America final defeats later and a World Cup one, too.
The supposed greatest player in football history without football’s greatest trophy. So Argentina’s second Group D encounter provided Messi the platform to again prove his worth, even if that felt an absurdity in itself.
After the missed penalty and the 1-1 draw with Iceland, the two dropped points he conceded afterwards were because of him, the interim period between Iceland and Croatia that he apparently cut a relatively isolated figure around camp, Messi needed a performance as much as this mishmashed Argentina needed a performance from Messi. _____________________ More from 2018 World Cup: Mohammed Abdullah Hassan an authoritative figure as referee for France v Peru Richard Jolly: Kylian Mbappe the history-maker for France as Peru exit World Cup Lowdown: Reports, blogs, galleries, videos and where to watch in UAE Gary Meenaghan: Tite will not blame referee after Brazil are held by Switzerland in World Cup opener _____________________ Yet it never came.