Argentina meet Croatia in the opening semi-final of 2022 FIFA World Cup at Lusail Iconic Stadium.
Victory would see Argentina qualify for a sixth World Cup Final in their history, whilst Croatia are chasing a second consecutive World Cup Final appearance in their history.
Team News
Alejandro Gomez is a doubt for Argentina after he was named as an unused substitute in their fiery Quarter-Final victory over Netherlands, due to an ankle injury.
Marcos Acuna and Gonzalo Montiel are both suspended for this match after they were booked against Netherlands.
Croatia have no fresh injury concerns to report ahead of this match with a full squad available for selection, after having needed penalties to beat Brazil in the Quarter-Finals.
Stat Attack
- Argentina have won one of two previous World Cup meetings against Croatia albeit in Group Stage, winning 1-0 in June 1998 then lost 20 years later by 3-0 result in 2018.
- Croatia are yet to play as the home team against Argentina in a World Cup meeting.
- This is the first World Cup meeting between Argentina and Croatia to be played in a year not ending in ‘8’.
- Two of Lionel Messi’s four goals for Argentina at this World Cup have been converted from the penalty spot.
- Croatia are yet to score first in a match at this tournament, having come from behind in all three matches in which they found the net in.
- Argentina have never lost a semi-final in a World Cup, having reached the Final on all five previous occasions in which they had reached the last-four.
- Croatia are looking to become the sixth country to reach the World Cup Final in two consecutive tournaments – behind Italy, Brazil, Netherlands, West Germany and Argentina who however all achieved that feat during 20th century.
Prediction
Aside from a clinically dominant win over Poland in the Group Stage, Argentina haven’t really impressed me much because they often lack that consistent end product, instead having relied upon lucky moments of magic which can only get them so far as we almost saw against the Dutch.
Croatia meanwhile rode their luck in group games against Morocco and Belgium either side of a dominant win over Canada, before showing their gutsy grit to come from behind to beat Japan and Brazil on penalties so I do expect the 2018 runners-up to come out and play their pressing style.
Argentina though should have enough defensive quality to soak up whatever Croatia throw at them but both teams know how to magic up goals when needed, yet Argentina haven’t come from behind whereas Croatia have repeatedly done so in every game that they have scored in.
That first goal will therefore be absolutely vital because if Argentina get in front, they will need to maintain their defensive focus after conceding late goals against Australia then Netherlands otherwise I can see Croatia forcing their way back into this game.
Either way, I can see a tough battle between two quality if at times uninspiring teams but if this goes to extra-time at minimum, Croatia should have the edge such is their unbeaten World Cup record in fixtures that gone beyond normal time.
Prediction: Argentina 1-2 (AET) Croatia
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