34
20:33
Tooor for Argentina, 1-0 through Lionel Messi
Of course, Lionel Messi will face off against Dominik Livaković. And the star of the Albiceleste overcomes the Croatian penalty killer with a brilliant penalty! Messi chases the ball powerfully and places it high in the right corner directly under the crossbar. No keeper in this world can keep the 911. Argentina leads!
32
20:32
Mateo Kovačić (Croatia) is shown a yellow card.
Kovačić complained loudly about the decision and was also cautioned.
32
20:32
Yellow card for Dominik Livaković (Croatia)
Livaković sees a yellow card for his foul,
32
20:31
Penalty for Argentina! A midfield pass overturns the Croatian defense and suddenly Julián Álvarez approaches Dominik Livaković alone. The striker passes the ball past the keeper and is then run over by him. Clear thing!
29
20:29
Luka Modrić made little of the promising free-kick and crossed the ball only halfway into the penalty area, allowing the Argentine defense to clear easily. But the Croatian veteran then shows other qualities and seconds later clears an Argentine counterattack in his own penalty area with his head.
27
20:26
Mateo Kovačić collects the ball strongly from Messi, then rushes in and puts Kramarić in position, who lands a free-kick for the Croatians a good 30 yards from goal.
25
20:25
After 25 minutes we note the first real conclusion of the game. Argentina is able to combine a little further into the penalty area for the first time and Enzo Fernández takes a right-footed shot from 23 meters. Dominik Livaković has slight problems with the bounce, but in the end doesn’t let anything burn.
23
20:22
Messi makes his debut in his favorite position 30 yards right in front of goal and after a one-two with Álvarez wants to send Enzo Fernández into the box, but gets stuck on a Croatian leg.
21
20:21
So far, it’s exactly the tactical duel that many had expected in advance. Safety is the key on both sides and the first more risky passes are only played deep in the opposing half.
18
20:18
Left-back Borna Sosa has been incredibly offensive so far and keeps appearing in the Argentine penalty area. So far, the flanks of the Stuttgarter are still in need of improvement.
16
20:16
Modrić pushes in down the right flank and, together with Juranović, takes the first corner kick of the game. A little later, Lovren headed the ball from the second post, but was pressed hard and didn’t get the ball on goal.
14
20:15
Messi goes down just before the Croatian penalty area as he is about to start in the penalty area. The Argentinian star probably realized that the pass intended for him was too imprecise and wanted to score a free kick with minimal contact. Referee Orsato lets play on.
12.
20:13
So far, Croatia has been incredibly secure on the ball and lets the opponent run a lot. The Argentines don’t get access for a few minutes, but they certainly block the important routes to the goal. In the end, there is no conclusion.
9.
20:10
The Croatians are by no means behind here, but have a lot of ball possession themselves in the first few minutes and are high. The midfield trio of Luka Modrić, Mateo Kovačić and Marcelo Brozović steer the game, constantly shifting from one side to the other.
7.
20:07
In the first few minutes, Lionel Messi sneaks across the pitch inconspicuously as usual and does not cause any damage with his first touches of the ball. The 35-year-old is playing his 25th World Cup game today, drawing level with record holder Lothar Matthäus. In the final or in the game for third place, “La Pulga” could become the sole record holder.
5.
20:05
At the other end, Ivan Perišić puts in a first cross into the Argentine box, which keeper Emiliano Martínez safely picks down.
4.
20:04
With two long balls, the Argentines approach the opposing goal for the first time. Both Tagliafico on the left and Nahuel Molina on the right cannot profitably process the somewhat too sharp passes.
3.
20:03
For both teams, the heart of the game is the midfield. Accordingly, in these first few minutes, everything is already bustling around the center circle. In the duels, things get straight to the point.
1.
20:00
The ball rolls! Argentina plays classic in white with sky blue stripes, Croatia completely in dark blue.
19:59
Tactically, the South Americans returned to a 4-4-2 with the addition of Leandro Paredes’ six for Lisandro Martínez. Croatia remains true to the always favored 4-3-3.
19:56
Incidentally, the balance between the teams is balanced. Both sides won two out of five games and once there was a draw. Both have already cheered on the World Cup stage. Argentina won 1-0 in France in 1998 and four years ago Croatia won 3-0 in Russia. Both were group games, today is the first knockout duel between these two nations.
19:54
The game is led by an Italian team consisting of the experienced referee Daniele Orsato and his assistants Ciro Carbone and Alessandro Giallatini. The referees are already leading the two teams, led by their captains Messi and Modrić, onto the field and the national anthems are playing.
19:45
Argentina vs. Croatia – Of course, this is also a duel between two superstars who will probably play on the big stage for the last time. Lionel Messi (35) meets Luka Modric (37). Both have already won the Champions League and Ballon d’Or and want to crown their careers in Qatar. In addition, it is also the direct duel between the two penalty killers of this World Cup, Emiliano Martinez and Dominik Livaković.
19:41
Croatia coach Zlatko Dalić is in the semi-finals of the World Cup for the second time in a row and is looking forward to an entertaining game. “Both teams show a lot of emotions and it’s fantastic how the Argentina fans create atmosphere. Emotions and passion are some of the most beautiful things in football,” said the 56-year-old, who gave the Argentinians the role of favourites. “Argentina are under more pressure than us. They have a balanced team, are compact and Messi is in good shape again.”
19:36
The Argentines still count on the support of their fans today. The supporters of the Albiceleste had always created a sensational atmosphere. “We play for Argentina, for the families, for all our people. We are so grateful to the Argentine fans for trying so hard,” said Lionel Scaloni ahead of the game. The coach has great respect for the opponent. “Croatia have a lot of excellent players and have already caused problems for many other teams,” said Scaloni, but also made it clear: “We know their strengths and weaknesses.”
19:30
A look at the line-ups: Argentina’s coach Scaloni makes a perforce change to his starting line-up, bringing in Nicolás Tagliafico from left back for the suspended Marcos Acuña. Gonzalo Montiel is also not in the squad today after two yellow cards. Also, Leandro Paredes starts instead of Lisandro Martínez (bench). Croatia coach Zlatko Dalić, on the other hand, has the entire squad available and is making no changes compared to the quarter-finals. With Joško Gvardiol (Leipzig), Borna Sosa (Stuttgart) and Andrej Kramarić (Hoffenheim), three current Bundesliga players are in the first eleven.
19:21
Croatia, on the other hand, has so far presented itself as extremely minimalist. The Eastern Europeans are in the semi-finals despite winning just one of their five World Cup games in regular time. A 4-1 win over Canada was enough to get through the group, alongside clean sheets against Morocco and Belgium. In the round of 16 against Japan, penalties followed, as did the quarter-finals against Brazil. Goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic became a hero twice.
19:15
The South Americans also led 2-0 in the round of 16 and quarterfinals, but they were no longer sovereign. First, Lionel Scaloni’s team trembled to a 2-1 draw against underdog Australia, then in the quarter-finals against the Netherlands they lost their two-goal lead completely and had to go to penalties. There keeper Emiliano Martinez became a hero and led his team into the last four.
19:10
The Argentinians had started the tournament badly with a surprising defeat against Saudi Arabia. There was again heavy criticism of the team and Lionel Messi, who once again did not appear too glamorously in the national jersey. But the superstar pulled himself together and then led his team to two comfortable 2-0 victories against Mexico and Poland to still clinch group victory.
19:02
After three and a half weeks, four teams are left at the first Winter World Cup in history. Before defending champions France and the sensational team from Morocco determine the second finalist tomorrow, two teams that have each made it to the final once are facing each other. Argentina lost to Germany in the 2014 final and Croatia four years later to France. Who secures the next chance to reach for the crown today?
19:00
Hello and welcome to the first semi-final of the 2022 World Cup! At 8 p.m., teams from Argentina and Croatia will face off at Lusail’s Iconic Stadium.