2018 World Cup today: Croatia surpries Argentina
Thursday is Matchday Two for Groups C and D. With wins on Wednesday, France and Denmark would both be guaranteed to advance out of Group C. Argentina has the chance to do the same in Group D.
2018 World Cup Standings
Here are the current standings. Teams are awarded three points for a win and one for a tie. (win - loss - tie)
Group A Standings
- Russia (2-0-0) 6 points
- Uruguay (2-0-0) 6 points
- Saudi Arabia (0-0-2), 0 points
- Egypt (0-0-2) 0 points
Group B Standings
- Portugal (1-1-0 ) 4 points
- Spain (1-1-0) 4 points
- Iran (1-0-0), 3 points
- Morocco (0-0-2) 0 points
Group C Standings
- France(2-0-0) 6 points
- Denmark (1-1-0) 4 points
- Australia (0-1-1), 1 point
- Peru (0-0-2) 0 points
Group D Standings
- Croatia (2-0-0) 6 points
- Argentina (0-1-1) 1 point
- Iceland (0-1-0) 1 point
- Nigeria (0-0-1) 0 points
Group E Standings
- Serbia (1-0-0) 3 points
- Brazil (0-1-0) 1 point
- Switzerland (0-1-0) 1 point
- Costa Rica (0-1-0) 0 points
Group F Standings
- Mexico (1-0-0) 3 points
- South Korea (1-0-0) 3 points
- Germany (0-0-1) 0 points
- Sweden (0-0-1) 0 points
Group G Standings
- Belgium (1-0-0) 3 points
- England (1-0-0) 3 points
- Tunisia (0-1-0) 1 point
- Panama (0-0-1) 0 points
Group H Standings
- Japan (1-0-0) 3 points
- Senegal (1-0-0) 3 points
- Poland (0-0-1) 0 points
- Colombia (0-0-1) 0 points
World Cup matches Thursday
*all times Eastern
Denmark vs. Australia
With the draw, both teams gain a point in the Group C standings, brining Denmark to four points and Austraila with the lone point. Depending on the outcome of the France-Peru match, the point for the Aussies means they may have a chance. Australia has the sole lead, for now.
Goals
- 7' - Christian Eriksen (DEN)
- 38' - Mile Jedinak (AUS)
Cards
- 37' - Yussuf Poulsen (DEN)
- 84' - Pione Sisto (DEN)
Full match recap and live blog
- Follow: Denmark vs. Australia live blog (CBS Sports)
France 1 – 0 Peru
France's win gives them six points and sole possession of first place in Group C. But don't count them champions of the group just yet; they play Denmark next week on Matchday 3.
Mbappe got the lone French goal in the 34th minute. It was an easy tap-in from a Paul Pogba shot that was deflected by Peru's keeper.
Peru had a few chances, including a shot from Aquino that rattled off the woodwork. But nothing went in for them. With their second loss, Peru is now mathematically out of the running.
France is by no means the clear group winner yet either. If Denmark wins the head-to-head match next week, they can still win the group.
Goals
- 34' - Kylian Mbappe
Cards
- 16' - Blaise Matuidi (FRA)
- 23' - Paolo Guerrero (PER)
- 80' - Pedro Aquino (PER)
- 86' - Paul Pogba (FRA)
Full match recap and live blog
- Follow: France vs. Peru live blog (CBS Sports)
Argentina vs. Croatia
Croatia was on fire today taking the win from Argentina earning a second win. They now have six points and sit head and shoulders above the rest in Group D. In fact, after today, they are mathematically secure to advance to the group stage.
A mistake in the back by Caballero in the 53rd minute got the ball rolling. Rebic, with great form, shot an errant pass from the Argentine keepr and lobbed it into the back of the net. It was a horrible mistake by the keeper that Croatia converted well.
what. a. howler. pic.twitter.com/QxPWWBa9W3
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 21, 2018
Luka Modric tallied Croatia's second from distance, surprising Argentina yet again. Two goals down, the game started to get chippy with two Argentine players receiving cards over the next seven minutes.
Rakatic sealed the game in stoppage time. Outclassing Caballero again, three Croatian players overpowered the Argentine keeper and a lone defender. The play needed a the video referee assistant to veryify it was not an offside play. In the end, the goal stood.
Croatia wins and is mathematically guaranteed to move on past the group stage. If Argentina were to win their next match, they would only have four points and their current -3 goal differential could make a big difference.
Goals
- 53' - Ante Rebic (CRO)
- 80' - Luka Modric (CRO)
- 90' +3' - Ivan Rakitic (CRO)
Cards
- 51' - Gabriel Mercado (ARG)
- 39' - Ante Rebic (CRO)
- 58' - Mario Mandzukic (CRO)
- 67' - Sime Vrsaljko (CRO)
- 85' - Nicolas Otamendi (ARG)
- 87' - Marcos Acuna (ARG)
- 90' +4' - Marcelo Brozovic (CRO)
Full match recap and live blog:
- Follow: Argentina vs. Croatia live blog (CBS Sports)
Download a printable World Cup bracket
CBS Sports has created a downloadable World Cup bracket for you to follow along every World Cup match. The bracket contains all teams within all eight groups and how they place into the round of 16 in the knockout stage.