Bad news for Messi, Argentina as Croatia threatens rotation

They are hardly the words Lionel Messi and Argentina wanted to hear with their World Cup future hanging in the balance.

Dejan Lovren raised the likelihood of Croatia resting players for its last group game against Iceland, as much to protect the six who are threatened by suspension via an accumulation of yellow cards than to rest anyone ahead the knockout stage.

That is bad news for Argentina, which needs to beat Nigeria in St. Petersburg and hope that Croatia avoids a loss against Iceland in Rostov in games that are being played simultaneously. Croatia is already guaranteed a place in the last 16 after two wins, while Argentina and Iceland are tied on one point.

"I fully understand Argentina's concerns and their wish for us to play a full team for the next game as well," Lovren said through a translator today at Croatia's training base in Roschino, outside St. Petersburg.

"But we must also think about the fact that we should not be playing the players who have yellow cards. That's also our concern we need to keep in mind. The head coach is the one who will make the final decision. All of our players are ready."
"Right now, no one is showing on the pitch that they are far superior than any other team. Right now, Croatia is a dark horse, a bit of an underdog."