Croatia Argentina Semifinal: FIFA World Cup: In what is one of the most anticipated clashes in the FIFA World Cup, the fan-favorites, Argentina will be butting heads against the finalists of the 2018 World Cup, Croatia. The first semi-final promises a lot of exciting action and both teams have enough quality across the ranks to cause trouble to their opposition. Messi will be rearing to go with all his might to help Albiceleste reach their second World Cup Final in the last 3 editions. It should be a humdinger of a game. Watch FIFA WC LIVE Streaming with Jio Cinemas & Follow FIFA World Cup 2022 LIVE Updates with InsideSport.IN
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Croatia Argentina Semifinal LIVE: Argentina and Croatia’s 1st XI revealed, check how both teams will line-up for World Cup semi-final: Follow CRO vs ARG Semifinal LIVE
Argentina Team News
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- There are indications that Lionel Scaloni could go ahead with a back 5 in this game too, as he did against the Netherlands.
- Marcos Acuna and Gonzalo Montiel are two players who are suspended due to an accumulation of yellow cards.
- Montiel was not going to usurp Molina on the right. But, with Acuna not playing in this game, Tagliafico is slated to start in the LB position.
- Martinez, Otamendi, and Romero will be the three CBs that Scaloni goes ahead with if he chooses to play 5 at the back.
- In front of the defense, there should be a three-man midfield, with the likes of Mac Allister, Enzo Fernandez, and Rodrigo De Paul.
- Julian Alvarez has been the preferred option over Lautaro Martinez to support Messi at the top of the attack and that shouldn’t be changed in this game too.
- Angel di Maria played a part in Argentina’s game against Netherlands and could start here, depending on his fitness.
- It seems unlikely that Alejandro Gomez will be able to take part in this game, owing to an ankle injury.
#SelecciónMayor Último entrenamiento de la Selección Argentina antes de enfrentarse a Croacia
📋 https://t.co/f9b7d3kaFX pic.twitter.com/9QVpYDVoQ3
— Selección Argentina 🇦🇷 (@Argentina) December 12, 2022
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Argentina Predicted XI: E. Martinez; Molina, Romero, Otamendi, Martinez, Tagliafico; Fernandez, De Paul, Mac Allister; Messi, Alvarez
Croatia Team News
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- Zlatko Dalic should name an unchanged eleven in this game, as he has no injury or suspension concerns.
- Dominik Livakovic helped them knock out Brazil and the Checkered Ones will be hoping he continues his form.
- Their strength lies in their midfield and defense, as they have demonstrated the same in Qatar so far. The midfield trio of Modric-Brozovic-Kovacic is mouth-watering in prospect and their contributions will be key in whether Croatia makes it to back-to-back finals.
- Josko Gvardiol has been a rock in the heart of the defense in Qatar. The RB Leipzig defender has stopped everything that has come his way so far. Now, his biggest challenge awaits – Lionel Messi.
- Gvardiol will be joined by Josip Juranovic, Dejan Lovren, and Borna Sosa to round up their defense.
- Bruno Petkovic could be promoted to the starting line-up owing to his extremely late goal against Brazil, which helped them take the game to penalties, and eventually, win it too.
- Mario Pasalic and Ivan Perisic will be on either side of the striker. Their defensive work rate will be key in this game to stop the Argentine fullbacks from overlapping.
Croatia Predicted XI: Livakovic; Juranovic, Gvardiol, Lovren, Sosa; Modric, Brozovic, Kovacic; Pasalic, Petkovic, Perisic
Flashback ⏪ to when #ARG and #HRV met at the 2018 #FIFAWorldCup.
These sides have met twice before on the big stage. Who will prevail tomorrow? pic.twitter.com/SHMSt84o1A
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) December 12, 2022
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The last time these two met in the World Cup was in the 2018 group stages. Argentina was a shadow of its current self and Croatia was flying high. The Checkered Ones smashed the Albiceleste 3-0 and sent them on the brink of elimination. Will Modric and Co. repeat their antics or does Leo Messi bulldoze Croatia and take one more vital step in winning the World Cup? We’ll find out soon enough.
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Editors pick
