FIFA World Cup: Argentina vs Croatia: Preview and prediction
La Albiceleste will play their sixth World Cup semi-final, while Croatia will play their third, with the game taking place on December 13.
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Who will win when Croatia face Argentina in the World Cup semi-finals?Argentina regained the top spot in their group after being upset by Saudi Arabia in their opening game of the 2022 World Cup with 2-0 victories against Mexico and Poland, while Australia were beaten more comfortably than the 2-1 scoreline shows in the Round of 16.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Argentina are unbeaten in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FIFAWorldCup?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FIFAWorldCup</a> Semi-finals 🇦🇷💪<br><br>What happens today?</p>— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) <a href="https://twitter.com/FIFAWorldCup/status/1602619730682159105?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
They also appeared to be cruising over the Netherlands in their quarter-final courtesy of Nahuel Molina's opener from Lionel Messi's magnificent reverse-pass assist, with the magician's penalty seemingly putting the game to bed.
The Dutch, on the other hand, chose a successful route-one strategy that rewarded replacement striker Wout Weghorst two late goals to force and extra-time and a shootout.
With Emiliano Martinez saving the first two penalties, the Dutch were forced to lament their failure to capitalise on their late domination as Argentina kept their cool from the spot to advance.
With all but the most ardent Croatian fan already pencilling in an all-South American semi-final, the European team had other plans in their quarter-final against Brazil. They quickly demonstrated they were ready to go the distance, just as they had done with Japan in the previous round.
When Neymar scored a magnificent goal at the end of the first stoppage-time period, the writing appeared on the wall. Still, Croatia's never-say-die attitude mustered enough energy for Bruno Petkovic to secure a late equaliser with Croatia's first attempt on target.
Croatia demonstrated their comfort by converting all four penalty kicks, while Brazil missed two, leaving Neymar and co high and dry.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">🎙| Ivan Perisic: "Cristiano couldn't win it. Messi is trying with Argentina. We will give our everything to win the World Cup for Modrić." 🇭🇷 <a href="https://t.co/FrI95L6bi6">pic.twitter.com/FrI95L6bi6</a></p>— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) <a href="https://twitter.com/MadridXtra/status/1602304926436233217?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 12, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Croatia have a solid game plan that they are unlikely to discard now. Their veteran midfield of Luka Modric, Mateo Kovacic, Marcelo Brozovic, and Ivan Perisic will attempt to control possession in the middle third and limit Messi's influence on the ball.
Argentina is predicted to win this match.
Predicted Team-lineup
Argentina: E. Martinez, Molina, Romero, Otamendi, Tagliafico, Fernandez, De Paul, Mac Allister, Di Maria, Messi, Alvarez.
Croatia: Livakovic, Juranovic, Gvardiol, Lovren, Sosa, Modric, Brozovic, Kovacic, Pasalic, Kramaric, Perisic.