Argentina Player Ratings As Lionel Messi Outshone By Team Mate In Comfortable Croatia Win

ARGENTINA (4-4-2)

EMILIANO MARTINEZ 7

Couldn’t bear to watch Messi’s penalty but had his eye on pretty much everything else. Solid show.

NAHUEL MOLINA 6

Croatia had their best plays on his flank and he gave Perisic too much space on occasions. Nothing disastrous though.

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CRISTIAN ROMERO 7

Always watchful for the sort of passing Modric can tear defences apart with, his command of defence was strong.

NICOLAS OTAMENDI 7

Was tested by a determined Kramaric but proved equal to it generally, putting in some strong tackles.

NICOLAS TAGLIAFICO 6

First start in the tournament due to the suspensions it was steady deputy display to see Argentina through.

RODRIGO DE PAUL 6

Probably the quietest of Argentina’s forward-thinking players,

ENZO FERNANDEZ 7

Bent one early shot around the post and great pass to Alvarez to set him on his way to winning the penalty.

LEANDRO PAREDES 6

Had one long-range shot that went straight at the goalkeeper but did a good enough job pinning midfield.

ALEXIS MAC ALLISTER 7

Terrier-like at chasing down any loose ball and might even have scored with a fierce downward header.

LIONEL MESSI 8

The star, inevitably, created space wherever he needed it and showed exactly how a captain should bury a penalty.

JULIAN ALVAREZ 9

Brilliant anticipation to win the penalty. Perseverance got him his first goal and a second tap-in thoroughly deserved.

SUBS

LISANDRO MARTINEZ (for Paredes 62) 6

PALACIOS (for De Paul 74)

DYBALA (for Alvarez 74)

CROATIA

DOMINIK LIVAKOVIC 7

His usual penalty heroics could do nothing to stop Messi and he finally ran out of saves to keep Croatia in it.

JOSIP JURANOVIC 5

Has to be disappointed with his first tackle on Alvarez in the build up to the second goal – Croatia needed better.

DEJAN LOVREN 5

Allowed Alvarez to steal a march on him and run off his shoulder to earn the first-half penalty.

JOSKO GVARDIOL 7

So strong so often at the back, if anything it was the players around him that proved more of a weak link.

BORNA SOSA 5

Got back for the second tackle before the second goal but then did not make it – a lapse that spoiled his night.

LUKA MODRIC 6

A rare moment of miscontrol allowed Argentina to run through Croatia to win the penalty that set them on their way.

MARCELO BROZOVIC 5

Another one who failed to show up for Croatia and his number was up just five minutes into the second half.

MATEO KOVACIC 7

The most industrious and effective of Croatia’s illustrious midfield but he could not do it on his own.

MARIO PASALIC 5

Struggled to get a toehold game and no surprise he was one of those substituted at half time.

ANDREJ KRAMARIC 6

Direct in trying to retrieve the game for Croatia but it was all too little too late.

IVAN PERISIC 6

A neat chip before the penalty could have been the opener but generally he was too clever and not effective enough.

SUBS

18 MISLAV ORSIC (for Sosa, ht) 6

13 NIKOLA VLASIC (for Pasalic, ht) 6

16 BRUNO PETKOVIC (for Brozovic, 50) 6

14 LIVAJA (for Kramaric 72)

PLAYER OF THE MATCH: Julian Alvarez

ATTENDANCE: 88,966

REFEREE: Daniele Orsato (Italy)