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Match preview
Will Argentina reach a sixth World Cup Final, or can Croatia take down another heavyweight and get there again?
Argentina featured in a sixth World Cup penalty shootout on Friday night, with their excellent record continuing; theyāve now won five.
La Albiceleste looked set to cruise past Netherlands, leading 2-0, thanks to Nahuel Molinaās opener and then Lionel Messiās emphatic penalty.
However, Holland got back into it before, in the 11th minute of injury time, equalising with a well-worked set-piece routine.
In total, 18 yellow cards were shown by referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz, breaking the World Cup record, but a penalty shootout was needed to separate the two sides.
As was the case in last yearās Copa AmĆ©rica, Emi MartĆnez was the spot-kick hero, saving Hollandās first two spot-kicks.
La Albiceleste are desperate to win the World Cup for Messi, so will the seven-times Ballon dāOr winner be lining-up in a second final on Sunday?
Croatia meantime, who featured in the most-recent final in 2018, have already caused one huge upset this week, so will believe another is certainly possible.
On Friday, Zlatko DaliÄ’s team contained tournament-favourites Brazil, holding them to a goalless draw at Education City Stadium.
However, the Blazers looked dead and buried when, right at the end of the first half of extra time, Neymarās amazing solo goal made the breakthrough.
They werenāt done there though because, in the 117th minute, Bruno PetkoviÄ’s deflected shot found its way in, thereby forcing penalties.
Dominik LivakoviÄ saved Brazilās first, with Nikola VlaÅ”iÄ, Lovro Majer, Luka ModriÄ and Mislav OrÅ”iÄ all converting.
So, by the time Marquinhosā effort struck the post, Brazil were out and Croatia had done it.
Amazingly, this century, eight of Croatiaās nine knockout games have gone to extra time, the sole exception being the 2018 final.
So, those inside Lusail Iconic Stadium should be prepared for 120 minutes, perhaps even longer, but who will be returning to Lusail for Sundayās final?
Argentina team news
Full-backs Marcos AcuƱa and Gonzalo Montiel are both suspended, due to yellow card accumulation.
This means NicolĆ”s Tagliafico will come in on the left, with Fridayās goal-scorer Nahuel Molina keeping his place on the right.
Lionel Scaloni switched to a back three in that match, thereby matching-up Netherlands, but will revert to a 4-2-3-1 here; Lisandro MartĆnez would therefore drop out.
In his place, Ćngel Di MarĆa only came on for eight minutes, suggesting he isnāt fit at all, so Papu GĆ³mez is likely to rejoin the attack.
JuliĆ”n Ćlvarezās goals against Poland and Australia will see him lead the line, chosen over Lautaro MartĆnez.
Captain Lionel Messiās first-ever international goal came against Croatia, in a friendly in 2006, also netting against them at the Boleyn Ground of all places eight years later.
Predicted XI (4-4-1-1): MartĆnez; Molina, Romero, Otamendi, Tagliafico; De Paul, FernĆ”ndez, Mac Allister, Papu GĆ³mez; Messi, Ćlvarez.
Croatia team news
Zlatko DaliÄ doesnāt have any suspensions to concern him, whilst also enjoying a clean bill of health.
At this tournament, the majority of Croatiaās XI has remained unchanged, with the right-winger position the only one up for grabs.
Mario PaÅ”aliÄ, who was excellent against Brazil, could keep his place, chosen over Nikola VlaÅ”iÄ, Marko Livaja or Bruno PetkoviÄ.
Dominik LivakoviÄ has become the first goalkeeper in World Cup history to save 4+ penalties in shootouts at the same edition.
Skipper Luka ModriÄ will win his 161st international cap; only 21 men in the history of the game have more.
He scored a spectacular long-range strike when Croatia hammered Argentina 3-0 in Nizhny Novgorod at the most-recent World Cup; how theyād love a repeat of that.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): LivakoviÄ; JuranoviÄ, Lovren, Gvardiol, Sosa; BrozoviÄ, KovaÄiÄ, ModriÄ; PaÅ”aliÄ, KramariÄ, PeriÅ”iÄ.
Argentina vs Croatia: Head to head statistics
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