Everything you need to know about Argentina vs Croatia semifinal at the 2022 World Cup along with the match time and prediction
Croatia and Argentina punched their tickets to the FIFA World Cup 2022 semifinals on Friday night in Qatar after two back-to-back tense penalty shootouts. They will now square off on Wednesday in an effort to become the first team to advance to the tournament’s finals.
Argentina vs Croatia FIFA World Cup 2022 Semi-Final Match Date, Time, Head To Head, Playing 11, Odds, Prediction, Live Stream
In contrast to Argentina’s behaviour against the Dutch, who had a 2-0 lead but blew it, the game went to extra time, and Argentina ultimately won in penalties. Croatia was fortunate to score an equaliser shortly before the end of extra time and defeated Brazil on penalties.
Argentina vs Croatia FIFA World Cup 2022 Semifinal Schedule, Head to Head, Predicted Starting XI, Formation, Odds, Live Stream
Venue
Lusail Iconic Stadium in Lusail, Qatar.
Schedule
The semifinals match between Argentina and Croatia will be played on December 14, Wednesday at 12:30 am IST, 7:00 pm UK time.
Head to Head
– Argentina and Croatia have played each other five times in their 28-year-old rivalry, with each team winning two games and drawing one.
– The first international friendly between the two teams took place in 1994, and it ended in a scoreless draw.
– In their most recent meeting, the Croats triumphed decisively, defeating Argentina 3-0 in the World Cup group stages of 2018.
Predicted Starting XI and Formation
Argentina (5-3-2)
Lionel Messi (c), E. Martinez (GK) Romero, Otamendi, L. Martinez , Molina, Mac Allister, De Paul, E. Fernandez, Nicolás Tagliafico , Alvarez
Croatia: (4-3-3)
Modric (c), Livakovic; Juranovic, Lovren, Gvardiol, Sosa; Brozovic, Kovacic; Pasalic, Perisic, Kramaric
Prediction and Odds
There is no room for error! As Croatia tries to win the World Cup for a second consecutive year, Lionel Messi hopes to put Argentina’s ghost from 2014 to rest.
After defeating the Netherlands and Brazil, respectively, Argentina and Croatia had to overcome the obstacles of extra time and penalties to secure their spots in the 2022 World Cup semifinals. The teams were unable to be separated after 120 minutes, but Messi and Luka Modric led their sides beyond the finish line and into the semifinals.
Argentina’s shocking opening-round loss to Saudi Arabia has been long forgotten as the World Cup has progressed. Since then, they have defeated Australia and the Dutch to advance to this point. With Argentina averaging two goals per match and Croatia scoring only one, their respective knockout games have not been particularly high scoring. If this one also ends up receiving bad marks, it wouldn’t be shocking.
Argentina was unlikely to repeatedly breach a hardy Croatian defence in either of Croatia’s games, which both saw under 2.5 goals scored overall in each of the games’ 90 and 120 minutes. Croatia has scored in both of their knockout games, and they will benefit greatly from their experience scoring important goals at crucial moments. Argentina’s goals against Australia and the Netherlands both came from Messi.
Although a score tie appears to be the most likely outcome of this game, the potential of extra time and penalty kicks makes it difficult to predict who will go to the final on December 18th.
The Betting Odds for Argentina vs Croatia semifinal can be found here.
Argentina vs Croatia Live Stream: Where To Watch?
USA: SiriusXM FC, UFORIA App, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo, Futbol de Primera Radio, Telemundo, Sling, FOX Sports App, FOX Network, Foxsports.com.
UK: ITV 1 or BBC One
India: Sports18, Jio Cinema