Tonight Argentina and Croatia will take the field, a valid match for the semifinals of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, after they eliminated the Netherlands and Brazil in the quarterfinals, in both cases with penalties shootout…

For the Albiceleste, it will be the time five in the semi-finals at the World Cup and in the previous four have always reached the final; on the other hand, Croatia is chasing a second consecutive final after the one in 2018 (they were then defeated by France 4-2 in the final).

Both Argentina and Croatia are enjoying good form: Lionel Scaloni’s side have not lost since November 22 against Saudi Arabia (and had just returned from 36 consecutive useful results), an almost tragic debut at this World Cup after which, however, has received a strong reaction with results and especially the group.

So, Croatia’s last loss dates back to June 3 against Austria in the UEFA Nations League (0-3). There are five precedents in total between the two national teams, with two wins for each side and a goalless draw, the only occasion in which no goal was scored;

However, only two of the five matches between the two national teams were valid for a World Cup and they date back to June 26, 1998 (in France, Argentina won 1-0) and, most recently, on June 21, 2018 (in Russia , Croatia won 3-0, where Luka Modrić also scored).

ARGENTINA (4-3-1-2): Emiliano Martinez; Molina, Otamendi, Romero, Tagliafico; De Paul, Paredes, Enzo Fernandez; Mac Allister; Messi, Julian Alvarez. Stol: Armani, Rulli, Almada, Correa, Di Maria, Dybala, Foyth, Lautaro Martinez, Lisandro Martinez, Palacios, Pezzella, Guido Rodriguez.

CROATIA (4-3-3): Livakovic; Juranovic, Lovren, Gvardiol, Sosa; Kovacic, Brozovic, Modric; Pasalic, Kramaric, Perisic. A disp. Grbic, Ivusic, Barisic, Budimir, Erlic, Jakic, Livaja, Majer, Orsic, Petkovic, Stanisic, Sucic, Sutalo, Vida, Vlasic.  Refree: Orsato (Itali)