Argentina take on Croatia at the FIFA World Cup, with a place in the final up for grabs.
The teams meet at the Lusail Stadium, with the winners set to return to the 80,000-seater arena in five days’ time.
What promised to be an all-South American semi-final now pits the 2018 runners-up against their 2014 counterparts. Croatia overcame Brazil, on penalties, to send the five-time champions home. Argentina also triumphed from the spot as the Netherlands exited the tournament.
Argentina and Croatia have met twice before at the World Cup, but this will be their first clash in the knockouts. Going back, they met at the 1998 finals as La Albiceleste prevailed, 1-0.
More recently the teams met at the last World Cup in Russia, where the Croatians stormed to a 3-0 victory in the group stage. Argentina subsequently ended runners-up in their group and faced eventual winners France in the last-16, meanwhile the men in white and red famously reached the final albeit a losing effort to the French.
Argentina and Croatia also met 16 years ago, in a friendly, which saw two raw talents make their names known on the international stage.
This fixture not only graced a maiden bow for Luka Modrić (aged 20 at the time) for his senior national team, but it also witnessed a first international goal for 18-year-old Lionel Messi. Lionel Scaloni, current manager of La Albiceleste, was an unused substitute that day in Basel.
In 2006, Argentina faced Croatia in a friendly ⚔️
— 433 (@433) December 12, 2022
🇭🇷 Luka Modrić made his debut for Croatia
🇦🇷 Leo Messi scored his first goal for Argentina
1️⃣6️⃣ years later, they meet in the WC semis 😲 pic.twitter.com/Pnn8Z0gcuM
The losing finalists from the last two World Cup events prepare for battle, and the most recent winners of the Golden Ball award, Messi and Modrić are set to go head-to-head in this hugely significant match-up.
Modrić has earned 160 caps with Croatia, more than any other countryman, while Messi’s 170 caps is the most of any player from Argentina. With both semi-finalists set for two more matches at Qatar 2022, it is not beyond the realms of possibility that both athletes call time on their international careers.
Modrić (37) and Messi (35) were also adversaries in Spain’s biggest derby, El Clásico, from when the former joined Real Madrid in 2012 until the latter’s departure from Barcelona in 2021.
Luka Modric talking about Lionel Messi: “Their best player and we are going to have a lot of difficulties to stop him but we are prepared and we are going to give it our all. I hope it will be enough to be in the final.” Via TNT Sports. pic.twitter.com/kQWrViAmQt
— Roy Nemer (@RoyNemer) December 12, 2022
Having got the better of pre-tournament favourites Brazil and earlier battled past Japan, Croatia advanced from both the last-16 and quarter-finals via penalties.
They are one of two nations to win twice on penalties in a single tournament, a feat they first achieved four years ago after beating Denmark and hosts Russia.
Of their five matches at Qatar 2022, Croatia have won just once in regular time. Of their last nine knockout games at major tournaments, only one (2018 World Cup final versus France) did not roll over into extra-time.
Eight of Croatia’s last nine tournament knockout games have gone to extra-time:
— The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) December 9, 2022
Euro 2008 QF vs 🇹🇷
Euro 2016 R16 vs 🇵🇹
World Cup 2018 R16 vs 🇩🇰
World Cup 2018 QF vs 🇷🇺
World Cup 2018 SF vs 🏴
Euro 2020 R16 vs 🇪🇸
World Cup 2022 R16 vs 🇯🇵
World Cup 2022 QF vs 🇧🇷 #FIFAWorldCup
Argentina beat the Netherlands on penalties, just as they did eight years ago in the semi-finals. Of their last 10 encounters with European nations in the World Cup knockouts, just once have La Albiceleste won in regular time.
No nation has won via penalties in the World Cup semis more times than Argentina, after they did so in 1990 and 2014.
The bookies have Argentina at 1.85 to win in 90 minutes and book their place in the World Cup final. Croatia are priced 5.00 to win in regular time; 3.30 for the contest to end in a draw and be decided on penalties.
(Bet365)
