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Italian Soccer Serie A Blog supports Italian Serie A players in the World Cup
57% Ball Possession ARGENTINA and 43% Ball Possession CROATIA
Argentina 0 – 3 Croatia 
. 53′ Ante Rebic
. 80′ Luka Modric
. 91′ Ivan Rakitic
Stats BEFORE the game.
Croatia, 1st position with 3 points and a positive goal difference of +2
Argentina, 2nd position with 1 point and 0 goal difference
A tough battle for Argentina falling down. Croatia demolishing Argentina with a goleada winning the First Stage Group D game on Thursday 21 June at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia. Croatia qualifying to the knockout stages while Argentina is suffering their worst nightmare beside having one of the best footballers in the world Lionel Messi. Argentina still with chances to qualify remaining with 1 point and facing Nigeria without points in the last game. Croatia with 6 points will face Iceland having 1 point.
It is Croatia to open the score in the 53rd minute. Here is the situation. What a mess for Argentina’s goalkeeper Wilfredo Caballero making an error resulting in the goal… the ball on the way of “kick me, I am ready for the goal.” It was just a matter of being at the right place at the right moment for Ante Rebic to smack the final right footed shot in the center, BAM!. Mamma miaaaaa Caballero in total disbelief holding his head with both hands while there was a closeup from Argentina coach Sampaoli… upset with this error.
Total chaos for Argentina! Croatia scoring another goal in the 80th minute. It is the “guy from Real Madrid” Luka Modric to crush Argentina’s dreams to grab this victory turning into a nightmare. Modric defeating goalkeeper Caballero with a right footed shot in the bottom right corner. The assist is by Inter midfielder Marcelo Brozovic
Say no more.. chaos, total chaos for Argentina. Croatia smacking a third goal in the 91st minute following a fast break. Ivan Rakitic defeating Caballero with a right footed shot in the bottom left corner. The assist is by Mateo Kovacic following a fast break.
Here is ARGENTINA official starting lineup – formation by Head Coach Sampaoli:
ARGENTINA (3-4-2-1): Caballero; Mercado, Otamendi, Tagliafico; Salvio, Mascherano, Pérez, Acuña; Messi, Meza; Agüero.
Here is CROATIA official starting lineup – formation by Head Coach Dalić:
CROATIA (4-2-3-1): Subašić; Vrsaljko, Lovren, Vida, Strinić; Rakitić, Brozović; Rebić, Modrić, Perišić; Mandžukić.
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Italian Serie A Players with Argentina and Croatia
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- Argentina National team: 5 Italian Serie A players, AS Roma defender Federico Fazio, Torino defender Cristian Ansaldi, AC Milan midfielder Lucas Biglia, Juventus forward Gonzalo Higuain, and Juventus forward Paulo Dybala.
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- Croatia National team: 6 Italian Serie A players: Sampdoria defender Ivan Strinic, Fiorentina midfielder Milan Badelj, Inter midfielder Marcelo Brozovic, Juventus forward Mario Mandzukic, Inter forward Ivan Perisic, and AC Milan forward Nikola Kalinic
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A Derby….. Argentina Captain Lionel Messi from Barcelona Croatia Captain Luka Modric from Real Madrid.
2018 FIFA World Cup
First stage – Group D
Argentina 0 – 3 Croatia
June 21 June 2018
Nizhny Novgorod Stadium
Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
21:00
Referee: Ravshan Irmatov (UZB)
Assistant Referee 1: Abduxamidullo Rasulov (UZB)
Assistant Referee 2: Jakhongir Saidov (UZB)
Fourth Official: Norbert Hauata (TAH)
5to: Bertrand Brial (NCL)
Goals: 53′ Ante Rebic (C), 80′ Luka Modric (C), 91′ Ivan Rakitic (C)
Official lineups – formations:
ARGENTINA (3-4-2-1): Caballero; Mercado, Otamendi, Tagliafico; Salvio, Mascherano, Pérez, Acuña; Messi, Meza; Agüero.
Subs: Guzmán, Armani, Ansaldi, Fazio, Rojo, Banega, Biglia, Salvio, Di Maria, Lo Celso, Pavón, Dybala, Higuaín.
Coach: Sampaoli.
CROATIA (4-2-3-1): Subašić; Vrsaljko, Lovren, Vida, Strinić; Rakitić, Brozović; Rebić, Modrić, Perišić; Mandžukić.
Subs: Livaković, Ćorluka, Kovačić, Kalinić L., Jedvaj, Bradarić, Ćaleta-Car, Badelj, Kramarić, Pjaca, Pivarić.
Coach: Dalić.
Referee: Ravshan Irmatov (UZB)
Brazil – Costa Rica 
France 1 – 0 Peru 