Argentina-Croatia is a match in the 2022 World Cup semi-finals and will be played on Tuesday at 20:00: odds, predictions, TV and streaming.
The Russian penalty shoot-out roulette on Friday was the foregone conclusion to two quarter-finals not for the faint-hearted. Croatia and Argentina had the merit of keeping their nerves as strong as possible in their respective battles against Brazil and Holland, both of which were decided – as they should have been – from the eleven metres. And now they will play each other for the sixth time in their history: the challenge at the Lusail Iconic Stadium will undoubtedly be the most important and prestigious one, which will open the doors of the final against the winner of the other semi-final between France and Morocco. For the Croatians, it would be the second consecutive one, following the one they won in 2018 in Russia.
An exploit that seemed impossible to repeat, all the more so given that at the start of the Qatari World Cup the squad looked substantially less strong than the one from four years ago, lacking a powerful striker and dependent on the geometry of a Luka Modric, now aged 37. And indeed, the white-and-white chequered selection, despite repeating the penultimate act of the World Cup – an extraordinary result in any case, given the premise – cannot be said to have thrilled all that much.
Croatia’s atypical solidity
Along with Morocco, Croatia are one of the four semi-finalists who have yet to lose a match. It is equally true, however, that they have only won one in the 90 minutes of regulation time: the one against Canada, the bottom of the table in the group, beaten in an overwhelming manner 4-1. Otherwise, the men led by Zlatko Dalic collected only draws. The two 0-0 draws against Morocco and Belgium in the group stage, decisive for them to go through as runners-up behind the North Africans, and the two 1-1 draws in the knockout stage, in the round of 16 against Japan and in the quarter-finals against the heavily favoured Brazil.
The common denominator of the challenges with the Japanese and the South Americans were the feats of Dinamo Zagreb goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic, who was extraordinary both during the match and during penalties. But it would be unfair to reduce Croatia’s merits to number one alone.
Modric and his teammates, despite being unspectacular offensively, proved to be a very solid and balanced team. Their main strength lies in a defence that is difficult to break through – only three goals conceded, despite conceding eight xGs – and that can defend with quality, thanks to one of the most assorted and talented midfields of the entire World Cup, made up of Brozovic and Kovacic in addition to the 2018 Golden Ball winner. Croatia in the quarters ‘caged’ Brazil, which had been flawless up to that point, and needed a feat from its star Neymar in extra time to unlock the game.
That goal could have been the knockout blow for the vice-champions, but three minutes from the end came the equalising goal with former Verona man Petkovic, the hero along with Livakovic. The momentum had now shifted to Dalic’s men, who missed none of the four penalty kicks, sending the undisputed favourites home.
Argentina’s nerves of steel
One hundred and twenty minutes of pure passion for Lionel Scaloni’s Argentina, who set foot in a World Cup semi-final again eight years after the last time. But how much suffering to get the better of a tough and reluctant Netherlands. Even when ten minutes from the end the Selección were two goals ahead and Leo Messi’s penalty in the second half seemed to have put the final nail in the coffin for the Oranje’s hopes.
Argentina, as they had done in the round of 16 against Australia, lifted their foot off the accelerator a little. Naively believing that just managing the ball was enough to prevent the Dutch from rearing their heads and getting back into the game. And it was at that moment that Scaloni perhaps underestimated his colleague Louis van Gaal’s shrewd move. That is, to add centimetres in the box with the insertion of the two towers de Jong and Weghorst. The former Wolfsburg striker, now at Besiktas, scored two in the space of a few minutes. The one that made it 2-2 precisely in the tenth minute of added time, on a masterful free-kick that surprised the Albiceleste defence. Unlike Brazil, however, the Argentinians did not collapse emotionally, and from the penalty spot they came out on top thanks to the prodigious saves of Emiliano Martinez, who, like Romero did in 2014, saved two penalties.
Argentina-Croatia: the latest line-up news
Scaloni could decide to return to a more offensive 4-3-3 after the 3-5-2 experiment tried in the fourth against the Netherlands. The recovery of Di Maria, who came on in the final minutes of the match against van Gaal’s side, favours a return to the three forwards. The Juventus man should therefore form the trio with Messi and Alvarez in attack. There are also changes on the outside, where Acuna’s disqualification forces the coach to put his faith in Tagliafico on the left flank. Molina is also confirmed – against the Dutch, the former Udinese player scored the winning goal on a wonderful assist from Messi – on the opposite side, as Montiel is also disqualified. Should it still be a three-man defence, however, with Otamendi and Romero, Lisandro Martinez will still play.
No changes in Croatia, however: coach Dalic will play the same team that faced Brazil. In attack we will see again Pasalic with Perisic and Kramaric. Petkovic will start from the bench again.
The prediction
Perfect parity in the previous five matches – two of them played in a World Cup – with two wins on each side and one draw. The last time they faced each other was in 2018, when the Croatians scrambled Argentina 3-0 in the group stage. Dalic’s team will attempt to take down another South American giant, securing a pass for a second consecutive final. The script could be similar to the match against Brazil, with the Selección trying to break down the red and white defence by relying on the quality and talent of their offensive players. Argentina are the favourites, but the feeling is that it could take extra time or even penalties to overcome the Croatia hurdle, in a match that promises to be very balanced and should see both teams score.
Argentina v Croatia matchday squad
- ARGENTINA (4-3-3): Emiliano Martinez; Molina, Otamendi, Romero, Tagliafico; De Paul, Enzo Fernandez, Mac Allister; Di Maria, Messi, Alvarez.
- CROATIA (4-3-3): Livakovic; Juranovic, Lovren, Gvardiol, Sosa; Modric, Brozovic, Kovacic; Pasalic, Kramaric, Perisic.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 1-1
