2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia June 14-July 15,2018 - Match 23 Group D Argentina Vs Croatia @Nizhny Novgorod Stadium@23.30 IST Thursday June 21,2018

The 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia June 14- July 15,2018 will be the 21st edition

FIFA World Cup  Winners from 1930 to 2014

Year	Host Country	Winner	Score
2014	Brazil	Germany	Germany beat Argentina 1-0
2010	South Africa	Spain	Spain 1-0 Netherlands
2006	Germany	Italy	Italy 1-1 (5-3) France
2002	Japan / S. Korea	Brazil	Brazil 2-0 Germany
1998	France	France	France 3-0 Brazil
1994	US	Brazil	Brazil 3-2 Italy
1990	Italy	Germany	Germany 1-0 Argentina
1986	Mexico	Argentina	Argentina 3-2 Germany
1982	Spain	Italy	Italy 3-1 Germany
1978	Argentina	Argentina	Argentina 3-1 Holland
1974	Germany	Germany	Germany 2-1 Holland
1970	Mexico	Brazil	Brazil 4-1 Italy
1966	England	England	England 4-2 Germany
1962	Chile	Brazil	Brazil 3-1 Czechoslovakia
1958	Sweden	Brazil	Brazil 5-2 Sweden
1954	Switzerland	Germany	Germany 3-2 Hungary
1950	Brazil	Uruguay	Uruguay 2-1 Brazil
1946	not held
1942	not held
1938	France	Italy	Italy 4-2 Hungary
1934	Italy	Italy	Italy 2-1 Czechoslovakia
1930	Uruguay	Uruguay	Uruguay 4-2 Argentina

This will be the first World Cup held in Europe since the 2006 FIFA WC held in Germany,the first ever to be held in Eastern Europe and the 11th time that it has been held in Europe.

2018 FIFA World Cup tournament will involve 32 national teams, which include 31 teams determined through Qualifying Competitions  and the automatically qualified Host Team - Russia

Of the 32 teams, 20 will be making back-to-back appearances following the last tournament in 2014, including defending champions  Germany

Iceland and Panama will both be making their first appearances at the 2018 FIFA WC in Russia.

A total of 64 matches will be played in 12 venues located in 11 cities

2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia June 14-July 15,2018 - Match Results

Match 01 Group A  Hosts Russia beat Saudi Arabia 5-0 
Match 02 Group A Urugua beat Egypt 1-0 
Match 03 Group B Iran beat Morocco 1-0
Match 04 Group B Portugal Vs Spain - Match ended in a 3-3 draw
Match 05 Group C France beat Australia 2-1
Match 06 Group D Argentina Vs Iceland - Match ended in a 1-1 draw
Match 07 Group C Denmark beat Peru 1-0
Match 08 Group D Croatia beat Nigeria 2-0
Match 09 Group E Serbia beat Cost Rica 1-0
Match 10 Group F  Mexico beat Germany 1-0
Match 11 Group E Switzerland drew with Brazil 1-1
Match 12 Group F Sweden beat South Korea  1-0
Match 13 Group G Belgium beat Panama 3-0
Match 14 Group G England beat Tunisia 2-1
Match 16 Group H Senegal beat Poland 2-1
Match 17 Group A Russia beat Egypy 3-1
Match 18 Group B Portugal beat Morocco 1-0 
Match 19 Group A Uruguay beat  Saudi Arabia 1-0
Match 20 Group B  Spain  beat Iran 1-0
Match 21 Group C Australia drew with Denmark 1-1  
Match 22 Group C France beat Peru 1-0 
 Match 23 Group D  Croatia beat Argentina 3-0

 

 Match 23 Group D  Croatia beat Argentina 3-0

Croatia handed Argentina a 3-0 drubbing to claim a place in the World Cup knockout stage thanks to goals by Ante Rebic, Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic in their Group D match on Thursday.

Rebic seized on a gaffe by keeper Willy Caballero to open the way to victory for the Balkan side before a superb strike from outside the area by captain Modric 10 minutes from time with Rakitic putting the icing on the cake in added time.

Twice champions Argentina face a struggle to reach the last 16 even with Lionel Messi in their ranks after taking one point from their first two games. Croatia top the group with six.

Argentina's woes began when Caballero picked up a backpass and inexplicably lobbed it towards Rebic, who twisted in the air to whack in a volley in the 53rd minute.

Argentina's worst run without a win - the stats

• This was Croatia's first victory in five attempts against a South American team at the World Cup, having lost the previous four.
• This was Argentina's heaviest defeat in the first-round group stage of a World Cup since losing 6-1 to Czechoslovakia in 1958.
• Argentina have failed to win either of their opening two group stage matches for the first time since 1974.
• This was Croatia's joint second biggest World Cup victory; they beat Cameroon 4-0 in 2014 and Germany 3-0 in 1998.
• Argentina are without a win in their past four World Cup games (D2 L2), their longest such run in the competition.
• This is only the second time Croatia have won their opening two games at a World Cup, after the 1998 tournament that saw them reach the semi-finals.
• Ante Rebic's goal was his second for Croatia, and his first since August 2013 in a friendly against Liechtenstein.
• Two of Luka Modric's four goals in major tournaments for Croatia (Euros and World Cup) have been from outside the box.
• Argentina's Lionel Messi, who had 11 shots in the opening game against Iceland, did not manage a single attempt in goal until the 64th minute.
• Messi has had more shots than any other player at this World Cup (12) but has failed to score with any of them.