Argentina-Croatia, the probable formations

Likely lineups

On Tuesday evening, Dec. 23 at 8 p.m. Italian time, Argentina and Croatia will take the field at Lusail Stadium for the first semifinal of the World Cup in Qatar.

Both national teams qualified for the semifinals after they got the better of their respective opponents only on penalty kicks, but in opposite fashion: Messi and his teammates got caught up by the Netherlands at the last gasp and only clinched the victory on the last shot from the penalty spot, scored by Lautaro Martinez; Modric and his teammates, on the other hand, reeled off Brazil in the final minutes of extra time and then triumphed from the eleven meters thanks to Livakovic’s saves and mistakes by the Greenoro.

Albiceleste coach Scaloni will have to do without Montiel and Acuña, out due to disqualification: in the latter’s place will be Tagliafico, while on the other flank Molina, in goal against the Oranje. In midfield, confirmation for De Paul, Enzo Fernandez and Mac Allister. Up front Di Maria should return from the first minute with Julian Alvarez and Messi completing the trident.

Dalic should confirm in toto the eleven that eliminated the Seleçao: the only dance is in attack between Atalanta’s Pasalic and Granata’s Vlasic on the right flank, with Perisic on the other. The midfield is untouched: Modric, Brozovic and Kovacic sure of their places. Also confirmed is Livakovic in goal, who was also decisive in the penalty shootout with Brazil.

Likely lineups.

ARGENTINA (4-3-3): E. Martinez; Molina, Romero, Otamendi, Tagliafico; De Paul, E. Fernandez, Mac Allister; Di Maria, Messi, Alvarez. Ct. Scaloni

CROATIA (4-3-3): Livakovic; Juranovic, Lovren, Gvardiol, Sosa; Modric, Brozovic, Kovacic; Pasalic, Kramaric, Perisic. Ct. Dalic