ARGENTINA vs CROATIA PREVIEW
Lionel Messi and Luka Modric would once more be adversaries; each have waged a warfare for eternity – the engine of Barcelona (Messi is now not in Catalunya to the dismay of many) and Real Madrid in one in every of soccer’s best membership rivalries. Now, they face off in one other bitter battle on the grand settings of the Lusail Stadium, the hopes of their nations to make it to one more World Cup remaining.
Both have come shut however faltered ultimately – Messi in 2014 and Modric the heartbreak (2018) is newer. They have aged since, and their video games are actually completely different.
Modric, maybe troubled by the years of these niggles, can hardly final a full sport however nonetheless runs the Croatian play with an ideal partnership with Marcelo Brozovic and Mateo Kovacic within the center. The 37-year-old accomplished 103 of his 115 tried passes (essentially the most by a participant within the quarterfinal towards Brazil), whereas the trio regained possession 21 instances, appearing as a wall forward of its defence to cease the Brazilians from creating bother within the essential remaining third.
“Mateo, Luka and Marcelo are the best Croatia midfield in history. I don’t think it can be repeated. When you pass them the ball it is safer than having your money in the bank,” defender Josip Juranovic mentioned. “I don’t think we need to fear anybody. We need to look at ourselves to play our best game. I would say the secret of our success is our togetherness, our unity. The fact that we act and play as a family.”
Messi, too, has modified and waits for his moments as his boys’ dash, sort out and jostle to present their captain an additional sliver of house. At 35, he’s lastly having a World Cup of his desires. His decisive interventions – the cross to Nahuel Molina towards the Dutch or the purpose by means of the legs of Australia’s Harry Souttar – have elevated a bunch of middling stars very similar to Diego Maradona did to Argentina of 1986.
“Leo is our leader, who is pushing and motivating us, and he gives us that special advantage. We know we have Messi on the pitch and that inspires us. And all of us try to work in the same direction and do it with Messi by our side,” mentioned Nicolas Tagliafico, who will take the place of Marcos Acuna, suspended after receiving two bookings.
Croatia, a rustic of 4 million, has already achieved the exceptional and the emergence of RB Leipzig centre-back Josko Gvardiol, carrying a price ticket of GBP 70 million, has additional strengthened its defence. Goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic made 11 saves towards Brazil and stopped the Rodrygo’s penalty that took Croatia to consecutive semifinals within the quadrennial occasion. They will make Argentina’s life depressing, providing a staunch rear-guard that might be exhausting to interrupt. Zlatko Dalic’s aspect reached the 2018 World Cup remaining with out successful any of its knockout video games in regulation time and can look to repeat the efficiency once more.
Argentina, although, has regarded extra cohesive in assault since introducing Julian Alvarez upfront, and Enzo Fernandez, too, has made an influence and had essentially the most ahead actions (51) within the win over the Netherlands.
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Argentina has misplaced solely one in every of its final 41 worldwide matches (W28 D12) - ⦿
Eight of Argentina’s final 14 FIFA World Cup knockout-stage matches towards European nations have required extra-time - ⦿
Lionel Messi will be a part of Lothar Matthäus because the joint document appearance-maker in FIFA World Cup historical past if he performs right here in what could be his twenty fifth match - ⦿
Argentina has by no means misplaced a World Cup semifinal - ⦿
Croatia has misplaced solely one in every of its final 12 FIFA World Cup matches (W5 D6) - ⦿
Croatia has been profitable in eight of its ten FIFA World Cup knockout-stage ties - ⦿
Five of Croatia’s final six FIFA World Cup knockout-stage matches have gone into extra-time - ⦿
The groups are evenly matched traditionally, each when it comes to total matches, with two wins apiece and one draw, and on the FIFA World Cup, with one group-stage victory every. Argentina prevailed 1-0 in 1998 whereas Croatia gained 3-0 in 2018
The availability of a fit-again Rodrigo De Paul and Angel Di Maria would supply extra choices to teach Lionel Scaloni, who is anticipated to go for a again 4 after utilizing a 5-3-2 system towards the Dutch. “Both the players are fit and have trained. and we will need to see how many minutes they can play,” he mentioned.
Dalic may be tempted to introduce Bruno Petkovic from the beginning rather than Andrej Kramaric after his dramatic equaliser towards Brazil, however Croatia’s modus operandi would at all times be to take this sport deep and depend on Livakovic’s heroics.
It will proceed to play the position of the underdog and depend on the collective to take a step nearer to redemption and cease Messi’s quest for a similar.
– Ayon Sengupta
ARG vs CRO PLAYING XI PREDICTION
Argentina: Emiliano Martinez; Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Nicolas Otamendi, Nicolas Tagliafico; Angel Di Maria, Rodrigo De Paul, Enzo Fernandez, Alexis Mac Allister; Lionel Messi, Julian Alvarez.
Croatia: Dominik Livakovic; Josip Juranovic, Dejan Lovren, Josko Gvardiol, Borna Sosa; Mateo Kovacic, Marcelo Brozovic, Luka Modric; Mario Pasalic, Andrej Kramaric, Ivan Perisic.
PLAYERS WHO MAY MISS THE ARG vs CRO GAME
Argentina’s Marcos Acuna and Gonzalo Montiel gained’t have the ability to take to the pitch in the course of the semifinal towards Croatia, having picked up two yellow playing cards every in numerous video games.
Acuna’s first yellow card had come towards Poland, whereas Montiel was booked for the primary time towards Mexico, each group stage video games of Argentina.
During the quarterfinal towards Netherlands, Acuna fouled Netherlands defender Jurrien Timber within the forty third minute and Montiel reacted aggressively, following a nudge from Cody Gakpo, after approaching from the bench within the 106th minute. Referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz, who went on a cautioning spree that night time, fed their names into the guide as nicely.
Injury considerations: Only Alejandro ‘Papu’ Gomez is uncertain towards Croatia, with the winger recovering from an ankle harm.
