Argentina vs Croatia Semifinals, Lineups, H2H and Score Prediction 1-0
The final is in sight. One step away, either Argentina or Croatia will reach the final match. Which of them will face defending champions France or a surprise Moroccan team in the final?
Lionel Messi and company arrived at this round after qualifying as winners of Group C, beating Australia 2-1 in the round of 16, then eliminating the Netherlands on penalties in the quarter-finals.
Meanwhile, Croatia is the runner-up in Group F which successfully eliminated Japan and the favorite to win Brazil in the last 16 and quarter-finals. The 2018 World Cup runner-up won two penalty shootouts against Japan and Brazil to reach the semifinals.
If the Argentina vs Croatia duel later goes to penalties, the winner will be difficult to predict. Apart from having good records in penalty shootouts, Argentina and Croatia also have Emiliano Martinez and Dominik Livakovic, two very reliable goalkeepers .
Of the six penalty shootouts they have gone through in their history at the World Cup, Argentina won five times. That number (5 penalty shootout wins), is more than any other country. On the other hand, Croatia won all four penalty shootouts they have been involved in in the World Cup so far.
Four years ago, in the group phase of the 2018 World Cup, Argentina lost 0-3 to Croatia. Ante Rebic opened Croatia's lead in the 53rd minute, then Captain Luka Modric doubled it in the 80th minute, and Ivan Rakitic closed the party with his goal in injury time .
Estimated Lineups starting XI Argentina vs Croatia
Argentina (4-3-3): Emiliano Martinez; Nicolas Tagliafico, Nicolas Otamendi, Cristian Romero, Nahuel Molina; Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernandez, Rodrigo De Paul; Julian Alvarez, Lionel Messi, Angel Di Maria.
- Coach: Lionel Scaloni (Argentina).
- Squad info: Marcos Acuna (suspension), Gonzalo Montiel (suspension).
Croatia (4-3-3): Dominik Livakovic; Borna Sosa, Josko Gvardiol, Dejan Lovren, Josip Juranovic; Mateo Kovacic, Marcelo Brozovic, Luka Modric; Ivan Perisic, Bruno Petkovic, Mario Pasalic.
- Coach: Zlatko Dalic (Croatia).
- Squad info: Josip Stanisic (doubtful).
H2H Argentina vs Croatia
Head-to-head
- H2H: 5
- Argentina won: 2
- Goals Argentina: 5
- Draw: 1
- Croatia won: 2
- Goals Croatia: 7.
Last 5 Meetings
- 21/06/2018 Argentina 0-3 Croatia (World Cup)
- 12/11/2014 Argentina 2-1 Croatia (Friendly)
- 01/03/2006 Croatia 3-2 Argentina (Friendly)
- 26/06/1998 Argentina 1 -0 Croatia (World Cup)
- 04/06/1994 Croatia 0-0 Argentina (Friendly).
Last 5 Games Argentina (LWWWD)
- 22/11/22 Argentina 1-2 Saudi Arabia (World Cup)
- 27/11/22 Argentina 2-0 Mexico (World Cup)
- 01/12/22 Poland 0-2 Argentina (World Cup)
- 04/12/22 Argentina 2-1 Australia (World Cup)
- 10/12/22 Netherlands 2-2 Argentina (World Cup).
Last 5 Games Croatia (DWDDD)
- 23/11/22 Morocco 0-0 Croatia (World Cup)
- 27/11/22 Croatia 4-1 Canada (World Cup)
- 01/12/22 Croatia 0-0 Belgium (World Cup)
- 05 /12/22 Japan 1-1 Croatia (World Cup)
- 09/12/22 Croatia 1-1 Brazil (World Cup).
Score Predictions and Statistics
- Argentina and Croatia have won 2 each in their 5 meetings so far (W2 D1 L2).
- Argentina and Croatia have met 2 times at the World Cup, all in the group phase, namely in the 1998 edition (Argentina won 1-0) and the 2018 edition (Croatia won 3-0).
- Argentina's two wins over Croatia so far have all been achieved by a 1 goal margin (1-0, 2-1). Meanwhile, Croatia's two wins over Argentina so far have all been achieved by scoring 3 goals (3-2, 3-0).
- Argentina have only lost 1 time in their last 41 matches (W28 D12 L1).
- Argentina has always scored at least 2 goals in 9 of the last 10 matches.
- Argentina has kept 7 clean sheets in its last 10 matches.
- Argentina has always scored at least 2 goals in 6 of the last 7 matches at the World Cup.
- Croatia is unbeaten in its last 11 matches (W6 D5 L0).
- Croatia always conceded 1 goal in 3 of their last 4 matches at the World Cup.
- Croatia has only lost once in normal time in its last 12 matches at the World Cup (W4 D7 L1).
Final score prediction: Argentina 1-0 Croatia.
