Croatia bid to reach its second consecutive showpiece by ousting another South American giant Argentina in the semifinals.
La Albecieste withstand late drama from the Netherlands to beat them 4-3 on penalties whereas the Checkered Ones dumped Brazil out of the competition by doing the heroics in the penalty shootout again.
ARG vs CRO Match Details
Date: Tuesday, 13 December 2022 / Wednesday, 14 December 2022
Time: 22:00 (AST) / 00:30 (IST)
Venue: Lusail Iconic Stadium, Lusail
ARG vs CRO Match Preview
Argentina looked to be comfortably sailing towards the last four 2-0 up with goals from Nahuel Molina pouncing on a mesmerizing pass from Lionel Messi who then converted from the spot in the 73rd minute. But then Netherlands roared back with substitute Wout Weghorst scoring a late brace, the equalizer coming in the last minute of stoppage time. It forced an unlikely of extra time but Argentina managed to hold their nerves. After Enzo Fernandez’s long-shot hit the base of the post towards the end of extra time, penalties became inevitable which La Albecieste triumphed on. Coach Lionel Scaloni cannot be a fan of the way his team lacked persistence in maintaining their healthy lead at the end of normal time but will give credit to the fightback of the team even in dire strait. The Copa America winners are now just a step away from the grand final which they lost to Germany in 2014 in heartbreaking fashion. Before all that, Argentina have to make sure of not losing concentration at any second against an expert controlling side like Croatia as their rivals Brazil got to understand. Forcing opposition to extra time and then nullifying them in shootouts has turned into norm for Zlatko Dalic’s side. Argentina cannot make the same mistake as the Canaries in taking the Croats lightly. Although, Albecieste carry a spellbinding record of advancing from the semifinals of the World Cup each of the five times they reached this stage. Also, they have won more shootouts than any other nation in the competition history making them a capable customer should Croatia manage to hold a game until the tiebreakers again.
These records going to trouble less for Croatia as they are the masters of extra time and after beating Brazil from a losing position, their confidence is soaring. The resplendent gloves of Dominik Livakovic came to the fore again in denying Neymar and co time and time again throughout the match and in the shootout to send the Checkered Ones through. While the Brazilian star managed to make a way to strike past the Dinamo Zagreb number one, the call for his statue to be erected in his homeland should not vanish. That goal came in the last minute of the first half in extra-time but that did not diminish the hopes of Zlatko Dalic’s side who were excellent in their resistance of keeping Brazil’s drum-beating attack quiet in front of the enormous support. Bruno Petkovic’s 117th-minute leveler was a reliever from which Croatia went on to 4-2 on penalties. The 2018 finalists are now on the verge of making it to another showpiece final for back-to-back editions. They will be the third nation in World Cup history to do so. The disappointment of a 4-2 loss to France four years back which ended their fairytale run in the competition should be on their minds before taking on another South American heavyweight in the last four. Croatia are not new to comebacks as they did at this stage four years back in defeating England after going down inside five minutes. The 3-0 win over Argentina in the group stage of the same edition will serve as inspiration although Lionel Scaloni’s team are divergent from the fragilities shown back then.
World Cup Form
ARG: DWWWL
CRO: DDDWD
ARG vs CRO Team News
Argentina will have to make decisions on their full-back areas after Gonzalo Montiel and Marcos Acuna extended the limit of yellow cards by getting booked against Netherlands in the quarterfinals. While Nahuel Molina remains the first choice at the right-back position, the latter will be displaced by Nicolas Tagliafico who is set to earn his second start of the tournament. Alejandro Gomez is doubtful due to an ankle injury. However, the main talking point is whether Lionel Messi could make the lineup against Croatia as he awaits a decision from FIFA’s disciplinary committee after he confronted referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz in the last match. Should that violate any code of misconduct, the Argentinian superstar can receive a one match-ban although it is unclear till now.
Check here Argentina’s Squad for FIFA World Cup 2022 & Team Profile , FIFA World Cup 2022: Argentina - World Cup Records and Stats and FIFA World Cup 2022 - Argentina records in World Cup knockout stages
Croatia have a fully fit squad available as no injury concerns picked up from the quarterfinal clash against Brazil. Borna Sosa and Mirslav Orsic recovered from illness to make the squad with the former continuing at left-back in place of Borna Barisic. Zlatko Dalic will stick to the same eleven in the semi-final keeping Andrej Kramaric up top despite Bruno Petkovic scoring the dramatic equalizer in the last match as a substitute.
Check here Croatia’s Squad for FIFA World Cup 2022 & Team Profile and FIFA World Cup 2022: Croatia - World Cup Records and Stats
ARG vs CRO Predicted Lineups
ARG: Emiliano Martinez; Nahuel Molina, Christian Romero, Nicolas Otamendi, Nicolas Tagliafico; Mac Allister, Enzo Fernandez, De Paul; Di Maria, Lionel Messi, Julian Alvarez
CRO: Dominik Livakovic; Josip Juranovic, Dejan Lovren, Josko Gvardiol, Borna Sosa; Luka Modric, Marcelo Brozovic, Mateo Kovacic; Mario Pasalic, Andrej Kramaric, Ivan Perisic
ARG vs CRO Dream11 Team Prediction
GK: Livakovic (8)
DEF: Juranovic (8.5), Lovren (8), Otamendi (8.5), Gvardiol (9)
MID: Modric (9), De Paul (8.5), E Fernandez (8.5), Perisic (9)
FW: Messi (9), Alvarez (9)
Vice-captain: Luka Modric
Captain: Lionel Messi
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