A horror mistake from Willy Caballero and cool finishes from the talismanic Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic helped Croatia to a 3-0 victory over Argentina in Nizhny Novgorod on Thursday as the 'Albiceleste' edged towards an early World Cup exit.
The game always looked like being one that would decide who would finish top of Group D, but it may have had much more serious repercussions in the end.
Onlookers were treated to a cagey affair during the first half, with either side having a couple of excellent chances to break the deadlock, though neither was successful.
Croatia were the first to threaten after just five minutes as Ivan Perisic was granted the freedom of the left flank to advance forward and fire low across goal, but Caballero was equal to his effort on that occasion.
Despite that save, there were signs of shakiness from Caballero, who almost allowed Croatia in when he sold Nicolas Tagliafico short.
For all their struggles in the first half, with one stat showing that Sergio Aguero failed to touch the ball in the last 21 minutes of the first 45, it was Argentina who went closest as Marcos Acuña's cross clipped the top of the crossbar on its way over.