Croatia have defeated Argentina 3-0 in their World Cup group stage clash in Nizhny Novgorod.

Goals from Luka Modric, Ante Rebic and Ivan Rakitic were enough for the Vatreni to book their place in the knockout rounds.

The first-half ended with neither side taking control and chances few and far between.

Eight minutes after the restart, it was Rebic who stunned the 43,319 crowd at Nizhny Novgorod Stadium.

The Eintracht Frankfurt winger capitalised on Willy Caballero's tame backpass to volley home the opener. The Argentina goalkeeper tried to be cute with his exit from defence but couldn't clear past Rebic, who volleyed home over his head.

Argentina tried to get back into the game but it was seemingly put of reach with ten minutes remaining thanks to Luka Modric's wonderstrike.

The Real Madrid midfielder, at his mercurial best, gave himself a yard from 25-yards before curling a fierce strike into Cabellero's bottom corner.

Lionel Messi and his teammates look dejected after Croatia's second. But their troubles were only compounded when his Barcelona teammate in Rakitic fired home the final goal of the game.

Argentina will now have to rely on other results from them to have a chance of booking their place in the knockout rounds.

Jorge Sampaoli's side paint a stark contrast to Croatia, who will no doubt celebrate long into the night after beating the 2014 finalists.

WORLD CUP - GROUP D

Argentina - 0

Croatia - 3 (Rebic 53', Modric 80', 90+1')