In what Luka Modric described as “the perfect match”, he might well have scored his perfect goal. The playmaker admitted his supreme 80th-minute strike in the 3-0 win over Argentina was probably his best for the national team, and that they fully deserved their win.

Modric also played down the importance of the Willy Caballero error that led to Ante Rebic’s first goal, because Croatia had been so superior. Renowned for bringing composure to the side in matches, he said they now have to keep calm for the tournament, as he described the victory as a “kind of euphoria”.

“We know that if you are going to beat Argentina, you have to play the perfect match,” Modric said. “We are very happy with our performance, especially second half. In the first half they had more possession but we did not allow them to have all there space to create any big chances. They created some from our mistakes, but it’s normal that one of the best teams in the world will create some chances. In the first half we had three or four that were very good but we did not take them. In the second half everything went our way.”

Argentina vs Croatia: World Cup 2018 player ratings Show all 22 1 /22 Argentina vs Croatia: World Cup 2018 player ratings Argentina vs Croatia: World Cup 2018 player ratings Danijel Subasic 6 Was solid in goal but not aske to make any difficult saves EPA Argentina vs Croatia: World Cup 2018 player ratings Sime Vrsaljko 7 Utilised the overlap incredibly well and defended okay AFP/Getty Images Argentina vs Croatia: World Cup 2018 player ratings Dejan Lovren 6 Made a quality block to stop Croatia from going behind but made the mistake to let Perez in REUTERS Argentina vs Croatia: World Cup 2018 player ratings Domagoj Vida 6 Worked well with Lovren but had a lapse in judgment that allowed Perez a free shot on call Getty Images Argentina vs Croatia: World Cup 2018 player ratings Ivan Strinic 6 Struggled in defence as he was under a lot of pressure, but he handled it well and gave Argentina nothing REUTERS Argentina vs Croatia: World Cup 2018 player ratings Ivan Rakitic 6 Played very well, he was quick into space and accurate with his balls over the top, broke well on the counter and deserved the third goal Getty Images Argentina vs Croatia: World Cup 2018 player ratings Marcelo Brozovic 6 Was great in mid-field but linked well with the front men when going forward, created chances and tracked back well REUTERS Argentina vs Croatia: World Cup 2018 player ratings Ante Rebic 7 Lucky to avoid a red card but looked good going forward and strung some good passes together to get the ball out wide, great finish to get the first goal EPA Argentina vs Croatia: World Cup 2018 player ratings Luka Modric 8 Was a little quiet in the first half but found Rebic with a beautiful long ball, scored a blinder to give Croatia the win AFP/Getty Images Argentina vs Croatia: World Cup 2018 player ratings Ivan Perisic 7 Missed a great chance to put Croatia in front, but was strong up front and held the ball up well REUTERS Argentina vs Croatia: World Cup 2018 player ratings Mario Mandzukic 7 Missed a great chance to put Croatia in front, but was strong up front and held the ball up well AP Argentina vs Croatia: World Cup 2018 player ratings Willy Caballero 4 Made a great save to stop Mandzukic from scoring but had a howler in the second half to lead to the goal REUTERS Argentina vs Croatia: World Cup 2018 player ratings Eduardo Salvio 6 Very keen to get forward but left gaps at the back that got exploited AFP/Getty Images Argentina vs Croatia: World Cup 2018 player ratings Gabriel Mercado 6 Made some good blocks but the defensive unit was not working together Getty Images Argentina vs Croatia: World Cup 2018 player ratings Nicolas Otamendi 5 Was very poor he wasted possession and took too much time on the ball at the back REUTERS Argentina vs Croatia: World Cup 2018 player ratings Nicolas Tagliafico 6 Struggled to gel with Otamendi, the communication wasn’t there, and they took too many risks at the back Getty Images Argentina vs Croatia: World Cup 2018 player ratings Javier Mascherano 6 Was strong when challenging the mid-field and won more, one on one challenges than he lost AFP/Getty Images Argentina vs Croatia: World Cup 2018 player ratings Enzo Perez 6 Missed an absolute sitter to take the lead, it was an open goal and he put it wide AP Argentina vs Croatia: World Cup 2018 player ratings Marcus Acuna 7 Hit the bar with an intended cross but got forward at any opportunity AFP/Getty Images Argentina vs Croatia: World Cup 2018 player ratings Maximiliano Meza 6 Had a shot saved by Subasic and should have levelled for Argentina AFP/Getty Images Argentina vs Croatia: World Cup 2018 player ratings Lionel Messi 6 Hardly touched the ball but made a good run behind the defence and almost got to a ball that came over the top EPA Argentina vs Croatia: World Cup 2018 player ratings Sergio Aguero 6 Only touched the ball 7 times in the first half but made a great run and won a corner Getty Images

That was never more true than the trajectory of the ball for Modric’s 80th-minute strike.

Luka Modric scored in Croatia's 3-0 victory over Argentina (Getty)

“That goal helped us a lot. We are so happy to be in the next round,” he said. “For sure it will go down as one of my favourites, certainly for the national team it is one of the best goals I have scored. For me what is most important is the victory.”

It was very different to the first goal, which saw Caballero calamitously chip the ball up for Rebic to volley into the net.

“Obviously that mistake helped us a lot, but it is only one goal you have a long time after that and you have to continue to play and we did great, and we grew in our game and scored two more goals,” he added.

Modric was finally asked whether Croatia are now contenders.