Croatia batters Messi's Argentina 3-0 to enter World Cup last 16

"Let's keep our feet firmly on the ground and prepare for the next matches," said Modric, the man of the match. "We should be focused on what awaits. Every next game is going to be more difficult, but our main objective has been reached. It looks easy, but it was not that easy."

Argentina won the World Cup in 1978 and 1986 - the last with Maradona as the star player - but has not won any major title in 25 years. The Argentines also lost in the last two Copa America finals.

GROUP DYNAMICS

Croatia has advanced with six points from two matches in Group D, while Argentina has only one point and is facing elimination.

Iceland also has one point, and Nigeria has zero. Nigeria and Iceland play on Friday.