Croatia inflicted a brutal 3-0 World Cup defeat on Argentina which will damage the two-time champions’ psyche, and may prove fatal to their participation at this tournament. It was the biggest defeat in the group stage for Argentina in 60 years.

The result means that an Iceland win over Nigeria on Friday and a convenient draw between Croatia and Iceland in their final game would see Argentina eliminated.

Lionel Messi had no answer after a goalkeeping howler from Chelsea’s Willy Caballero gave Croatia a 53rd-minute lead in Nizhny Novgorod before Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic compounded Argentina’s misery.

In an error-strewn game it was Caballero’s mistake which broke the deadlock. The goalkeeper attempted a lob over the head of Ante Rebic, enormously undercooked it and Rebic volleyed the ball home beautifully.

Modric made it 2-0 in the 81st-minute, jinking round his marker and unleashing a beautiful curling shot.

Rakitic hit the bar from a free kick five minutes later before rolling into an unguarded net in second half stoppage time to complete the rout.