Modric scored his side's second goal with a right-footed strike into the right hand corner of the goal from outside the penalty area and was named man of the match.

"We have completed the main goal - we have reached the knockout stage, and we are very happy... Our victory could look easy, but it isn't. We deserve this victory, the first goal was scored after the goalkeeper's mistake and we were lucky. We played perfectly, it was the only way to beat Argentina," Modric told journalists.

The captain added that the team game in the second half helped Croatia to succeed.

Croatia, who top the pool with six points, will next face Iceland in their final group game.

The 2018 FIFA World Cup kicked off on June 14 and will continue until July 15, with the matches set to be played in 11 cities across Russia.