ARGENTINA VS CROATIA
The first finalists of the Qatar World Cup are known today. Argentina will face Croatia in the match, which will be held at 12.30 IST.
The match will be played at Lusail Stadium in Doha. Argentina is the only team from Latin America left in the last four. That's why the fans hope that Al Bizelestine will be able to defeat the European team, Croatia. Superstar Lionel Messi is the strength of the team. Messi has scored 4 goals and 2 assists so far. If the player brings out the same quality today, Argentina can qualify for the final by defeating Croatia.
Scoloni and his team made a brilliant comeback after losing their first match to Saudi Arabia. Argentina qualified for the semi-finals by defeating the Netherlands in a shootout in the quarter-finals. Wingbacks Acuna and Mondial will miss today's match due to yellow card suspensions. At the same time, it is known that superstar David DeMaria will be in the starting XI today. On the other hand, Croatia qualified for the semi-finals by defeating title contender Brazil. They did not suffer a single defeat on the group stage. The team's hope is in the veteran player and captain of the team, Luka Modric.
The two teams met in the last World Cup held in Russia. Croatia defeated Argentina by three unopposed goals that day. Today's match is Argentina's target. Argentina captain Lionel Messi has played three matches against Croatia so far. The star also managed to score two goals from it. Even today, the hope of the team rests on Messi's boots.
Argentina will return to a 4-3-3 formation from the 5-3-2 formation used against the Netherlands in the last match. Try the same attack and formation that Croatia used against Brazil today. Croatia, on the other hand, is aiming for a second consecutive final.
In any case, expect a fiery battle when the 2014 runners-up and the 2018 runners-up come head-to-head.
WIN PROBABILITY
Argentina:-52%
Croatia:-20%
Extra Time:-28%
MATCH SCHEDULE
Date:-15/12/2022
Time:-12.30 AM (IST)
Venue:- Lusail Stadium
INSIGHTS
1) This is the third match between Argentina and Croatia at the World Cup and the first in the knockout stages. Argentina won 1-0 in 1998, and Croatia won 3-0 in Russia in 2018.
2) Argentina is looking to reach the World Cup finals for the sixth time, a mark bettered only by Germany (8). They are yet to be eliminated at the semi-final stage, beating the Netherlands in 2014.
3) In 2018, Croatia defeated the finalists to become the fourth European country to reach consecutive World Cup finals, following Italy (1934, 1938), the Netherlands (1974, 1978), and Germany (1982, 1986, 1990).
4) Following their penalty shootout victory over Brazil in the quarter-finals, Croatia could become the second team since Germany in 2014 to knock Brazil and Argentina out of the knockout stages of the same World Cup.
5) Argentina has won just one of their last seven World Cup matches against European teams (D3 L3), beating Poland 2-0 in the group stage this year. However, two of those three ties were won in penalty shootouts.
