-
Argentina vs Croatia – 2022 World Cup semi-final: Team news, possible lineups & prediction.
Argentina will face Croatia in a World Cup semi-final on Tuesday evening, pitting the competition’s past two silver medalists against each other.
When Croatia and Argentina square off in Tuesday’s World Cup semifinal at Lusail Iconic Stadium, they will be looking to go to back-to-back finals after sending one South American powerhouse home from the tournament.
When selecting his starting lineup for Tuesday’s World Cup semi-final match against Croatia, Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni faces many choices.
A few hours before La Albiceleste defeated the Netherlands from 12 yards, Zlatko Dalic’s team eliminated Brazil on penalties to settle tense quarterfinal matches.
A late equalizer forced the quarterfinals, which were physically and emotionally taxing for both teams, to go to penalties.
In contrast to their rivals from South America, Brazil, Argentina was able to bounce back from the surprise of a quick-fire Dutch double to win on penalties. Croatia defeated the Selecao in five straight shootouts to maintain their perfect record.
This matchup pits two camps that have mastered the art of using even the smallest hint of criticism—regardless of how innocent it may seem to an outsider—to energize their teams in this competition.
-
Team News:
Mateu Lahoz, a card-happy referee, won’t be making friends with the Argentina and Netherlands teams any time soon, especially since two of his 17 cards were given to full-backs for the Albiceleste, Gonzalo Montiel and Marcos Acuna, who are now suspended for the semi-final after receiving two of them each.
RELATED:
- Belgium crashes out of 2022 World Cup, after goalless draw, Croatia into round of 16
- Top six stunners result in the history of the FIFA World Cup
- Lionel Messi reacts to Argentina advancing to the World Cup knockouts.
Fortunately, Scaloni did not see any players suffer injuries during the 120-minute quarterfinal. Montiel was unlikely to push Molina for the right-back position, while Acuna will hand left-back duties over to Nicolas Tagliafico as he sits on the naughty step.
Alejandro Gomez is accelerating his recovery from an ankle strain in an effort to be available, and Rodrigo De Paul and Angel Di Maria, who have both been dealing with personal issues, anticipate starting the semi-final healthy.
Scaloni opted to match the Netherlands‘ setup with a five-man backline – bringing Lisandro Martinez back in from the cold – but a switch to a four-man defence could see the Manchester United man now cede his place to the fit-again Di Maria.
With regard to Croatia, Dalic was fortunate to have a totally healthy team for the quarterfinal victory against Brazil, and now that Borna Sosa and Mislav Orsic have both recovered from their individual illnesses, he should be able to train with all of his players on Tuesday.
Dalic introduced Mario Pasalic from the opening whistle against Brazil despite his team’s well-documented goal-scoring woes, and the Atalanta BC player may be confident in keeping his position on the right wing.
After Petkovic’s thrilling equalizer in the quarterfinals, Andrej Kramaric might be worried about keeping his spot at the front of the attack, but the Hoffenheim player has started every game in Qatar thus far and will probably keep it from the get-go.
-
Possible Lineup:
Argentina’s possible starting lineup:
E. Martinez; Molina, Romero, Otamendi, Tagliafico; Fernandez, De Paul, Mac Allister; Di Maria, Messi, Alvarez
Croatia’s possible starting lineup:
Livakovic; Juranovic, Gvardiol, Lovren, Sosa; Modric, Brozovic, Kovacic; Pasalic, Kramaric, Perisic
-
Score prediction:
Prediction: Argentina 1-1 Croatia (Penalty will decide the winner)