Contemporary from Brazil victory, the Croatia facet is assured as they put together for World Cup semifinal in opposition to Argentina.
Croatia has already ended the World Cup dream of Brazil’s Neymar; now they hope to do the identical to Argentina’s Lionel Messi.
However, the Croat facet is not going to try and cease the Argentina celebrity by man-marking him, as an alternative they are going to concentrate on immobilising your complete staff of their World Cup semifinal on Tuesday, members of the staff mentioned.
“We don’t have a particular plan but for stopping Messi and often we don’t consider stopping one participant however your complete staff,” Croatia’s striker Bruno Petkovic instructed a information convention on Sunday.
“We'll attempt to cease them as a staff and never with man-marking. Argentina are usually not solely Messi, they've numerous nice gamers. We now have to cease your complete Argentina staff,” he mentioned.
Croatia are bidding to make it to the ultimate for the second World Cup in a row after dropping within the 2018 showcase match to France, and with no gamers suspended and no harm considerations, the Croatian facet is brimming with confidence.
They shocked match favourites Brazil within the quarterfinals after going a aim down in additional time however dug deep to bounce again with a late equaliser and compelled a penalty shootout that they ended up successful.
Brazil’s star striker Neymar was left in tears after the sport when Croatia emerged victorious 4-2 on penalties.
Croatia is now on a mission to do the identical with Messi’s staff and stop him from successful the one main trophy that has eluded him — a World Cup.
Croatia’s midfield comprising captain Luka Modric, Mateo Kovacic and Marcelo Brozovic will likely be key to dictating the tempo, as they did in opposition to Brazil, and Croatia defender Josip Juranovic mentioned on Sunday that the three have been totally reliable.
“Mateo, Luka and Marcelo are the most effective Croatia midfield in historical past. I don’t assume it may be repeated. Once you cross them the ball it's safer than having your cash within the financial institution,” Juranovic mentioned.
“I don’t assume we have to concern anyone. We have to take a look at ourselves to play our greatest recreation,” he mentioned.
“I'd say the key of our success is our togetherness, our unity. The truth that we act and play as a household.”
Seven-time Ballon D’Or winner Messi has to this point been the driving power for Argentina, who additionally wanted penalties after squandering a two-goal lead in opposition to the Dutch of their quarterfinal match.
Messi has been impressed throughout Argentina’s run to the match semifinals, scoring 4 objectives in 5 video games, and it seems he has taken it upon himself to steer his nation to a World Cup triumph.
Argentina final reached the ultimate in 2014 — dropping 1-0 to Germany on the Maracana Stadium in Brazil. That was as shut as Messi has come to lifting soccer’s greatest trophy and he is only one recreation away from having one other shot at it.
With Messi on the helm, Argentina got here into the World Cup as one of many favourites however they face a giant roadblock within the type of Croatia.
With a never-say-die perspective — even when the percentages are stacked closely in opposition to them — the disciplined Croat facet are actually deservedly of their second-straight World Cup semifinal, and underestimating them would come at Argentina’s danger.
The Argentinians, in search of their first World Cup title since Diego Maradona’s 1986 staff win, have their work lower out.
Defenders Marcos Acuna and Gonzalo Montiel are suspended due to bookings, limiting coach Lionel Scaloni’s choices on the again. Nicolas Tagliafico may come on to exchange the previous however it is going to be a much less attacking formation, with wingback Acuna having added extra spark to the staff.
A query mark additionally hangs over veteran Angel Di Maria and his health, with the 34-year-old having primarily been used as an alternative within the match regardless of recovering from harm.
Messi, at 35, is enjoying doubtless his final World Cup and can be carrying the load of the nation on his shoulders. Comparisons of Messi with Maradona for the title of the best Argentinian participant of all time can't be full with no world title, which the late Maradona received nearly single-handedly 36 years in the past.
Stress swirling across the forthcoming encounter is intense, notably concerning the prospect of a penalty showdown.
Argentina nearly didn't make the semifinals after the Dutch got here from 2-0 down to attain twice late within the recreation and power additional time and penalties in a bad-tempered encounter. A repeat of a penalty shootout, this time in opposition to mentally robust Croatia, should be a terrifying prospect for the Argentinians regardless that their keeper Emiliano Martinez rose to the event in opposition to the Netherlands, saving two spot kicks.
Croatia got here by means of two penalty shootouts and additional time to succeed in the 2018 ultimate earlier than dropping to France, and have gone to penalties in each their knockout stage matches in Qatar — in opposition to Japan and Brazil — to boast an ideal report and to be dubbed the “World Cup’s penalty shootout king” by the Wall Road Journal.
Primarily based on these statistics, one other shootout in opposition to Argentina would more than likely carry them into the ultimate.
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