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A20 SPORTS
Friday 22 June 2018
Messi, Argentina beaten 3-0 at World Cup, Croatia advances

By STEPHEN WADE hurt by this defeat, but I
NIZHNY NOVGOROD, Rus- probably didn't understand
sia (AP) — Lionel Messi's the match the way I should
frustrating international ca- have."
reer may be coming to an And it got worse as Argenti-
early and anti-climactic fin- na crumbled, frustrated by
ish after Argentina's worst the Croatian defense. Mo-
loss in World Cup group dric scored with a hooking
play in 60 years. shot in the 80th and Ivan
With Diego Maradona Rakitic added the third in
watching from the stands, stoppage time.
the 2014 runners-up were Croatia frustrated Argen-
routed by Croatia 3-0 Thurs- tina throughout the match
day. The Croats are moving and never gave Messi
on to the round of 16. space to operate.
Messi didn't get a single "Argentina wasn't con-
shot off in a defeat that fused. We were excellent,"
pushed Argentina to the Croatia coach Zlatko Dal-
brink of elimination. Messi, ic said. "We beat a great
who turns 31 on Sunday, Argentina with the best
has never won a major player in the world playing,
title with Argentina's senior Croatia's Luka Modric scores his side's second goal during the group D match between Argentina Messi."
national team despite of and Croatia at the 2018 soccer World Cup in Nizhny Novgorod Stadium in Nizhny Novgorod, Croatia, which reached
decade of championships Russia, Thursday, June 21, 2018. the 1998 World Cup semifi-
with Barcelona and five Associated Press nals but has not advanced
player of the year awards. past the group stage since
"He is our captain, he leads poor play of goalkeeper since failing to qualify for clearance and kicked the then, will face Iceland on
the team and we quite sim- Willy Caballero on Thurs- the 1970 World Cup, has ball toward Croatia de- Tuesday in Rostov-on-Don.
ply couldn't pass to him," day, had not lost by such not been eliminated. But fender Ante Rebic, who "Let's keep our feet firmly on
Argentina coach Jorge a large margin in the first the two-time champi- one-timed it into the net in the ground and prepare for
Sampaoli said. "We work to round since a 6-1 defeat ons need to win their next the 53rd minute. the next matches," said Mo-
give Leo the ball, but the to Czechoslovakia in 1958. match against Nigeria on Caballero buried his face dric, the man of the match.
opponent also works hard Caballero gained the start- Tuesday, as well as get help in his hands while a giant "We should be focused on
to prevent him from getting ing role because of an in- from other matches. television screen showed what awaits. Every next
the ball." jury to No. 1 keeper Sergio Thursday's humiliating loss Maradona doing the same. game is going to be more
Messi also missed a penalty Romero in the run-up to the came in humiliating fashion "After they scored on us, we difficult, but our main ob-
kick in his team's opening tournament. for one of soccer's most sto- were emotionally broken," jective has been reached.
1-1 draw against Iceland. Argentina, which has not ried nations. Sampaoli said. "I had a lot It looks easy, but it was not
Argentina, hurt by the missed the second round Caballero mangled a of hope. I am extremely that easy."q

France defense excels in 1-0

victory over Peru in Group C

"Unlike their other games, upfront was visible. France compact, to work togeth-
France had very strong was more fluid than in the er. It was very important to
tactical discipline to neu- 2-1 victory over Austra- have very solid defense."
tralize Peru. Something that lia and the cooperation France neutralized Guerre-
wasn't visible in their other between midfielders Paul ro to a single chance in the
matches." Pogba and Ngolo Kante first half. But goalkeeper
After Peru lost its open- with the attackers resulted Hugo Lloris, who made his
ing game to Denmark 1-0, in a number of scoring op- 100th international appear-
France's Kylian Mbappe scores his side's opening goal during it needed a least a point portunities. But when Peru ance, saved his low shot
the group C match between France and Peru at the 2018 soccer
World Cup in the Yekaterinburg Arena in Yekaterinburg, Russia, against France to stay in was on a desperate at- from close range.
Thursday, June 21, 2018. contention following a 36- tack, they all were ready to In the second half, France
Associated Press year absence from the help at the back. kept Peru at a distance,
tournament. With striker It was not just defenders allowing mostly only long
By KAREL JANICEK Thursday after his team lost Paolo Guerrero back in the Benjamin Pavard, Rapha- range attempts on goal.
YEKATERINBURG, Russia 1-0. starting lineup, Peru's play- el Varane, Samuel Umtiti Even such an offensive ace
(AP) — With all its attack- "I think France did some ers used any and every op- and Lucas Hernandez who as Kylian Mbappe, who
ing talent, France proved it outstanding work of de- portunity to put France un- were solid for the second scored the winning goal in
also has class in defense. fense," said Gareca, whose der pressure. straight game. the first half, came to help.
Other coaches might envy team was eliminated while It didn't work. "It doesn't come only from "If the team needs it, you
Didier Deschamps, who has the French advanced to Deschamps made two the French defense," Des- need to sacrifice yourself,"
a forward line bursting with the knockout stage. tactical changes for the champs said. "The attack- Mbappe said. "Today,
skill, speed and goals. But "Credit needs to be given game, using Olivier Giroud ing players did what they sometimes we didn't need
Peru coach Ricardo Gare- to France, it's not that Peru and Blaise Matuidi in the had to do. They made an to be up the field ... this is
ca looked at the other end fell short," Gareca said. starting line-up. The result effort for the team to be what I did."q