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You are here: Home / Sports / World Cup Semi-Finals First Match Open Thread: Argentina vs Croatia

World Cup Semi-Finals First Match Open Thread: Argentina vs Croatia

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News of general BJ interest…

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SportsMole:

Having already sent one South American behemoth home from the World Cup, Croatia will be aiming to reach back-to-back finals when they lock horns with Argentina in Tuesday’s semi-final at Lusail Iconic Stadium.

The penalty prowess of both sides settled nervy quarter-final contests, as Zlatko Dalic’s men dumped Brazil out on spot kicks a few hours before La Albiceleste beat the Netherlands from 12 yards.

If there was one game to characterize the chaotic, feisty and unpredictable nature of the 2022 World Cup, Argentina’s quarter-final with the Netherlands followed the script to a tee.

A Lionel Messi-inspired Albiceleste had one foot firmly in the semi-finals through Nahuel Molina and the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner’s calm penalty, but a late brace from Wout Weghorst – including a 100th-minute equaliser – forced the unlikeliest of extra-time periods.

Yet another penalty shootout would be needed to decide the destiny of the two teams, and in the wake of mass brawls, gamesmanship galore and a staggering 17 yellow cards, Argentina held their nerve from the spot to prevail and advance to the final four…

Croatia would be in elite company if they can progress to the showpiece event – only Italy, the Netherlands and Germany have ever reached back-to-back finals – and Dalic’s side can take confidence in the fact that they have never failed to score in 10 World Cup knockout fixtures.

Argentina and Croatia have met twice before in the World Cup group stage, with La Albiceleste prevailing 1-0 in 1998, but the Checkered Ones secured a memorable 3-0 win over Argentina in Russia four years ago, and several members of that team are still around to try to make lightning strike twice in Lusail.

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37Comments

  3. 3.

    Paul in KY

    I guess that is European teams reaching finals twice in a row. Certainly Brasil did it back in 1958/1962.

    European Nazis vs South American Nazis. Just hoping for a great match. May the best team win!

  4. 4.

    Alison Rose

    @Dangerman: Morocco and France just played on Saturday, and they need the same length of recovery time as Argentina and Croatia got after playing on Friday. It wouldn’t be fair otherwise for one set of teams to get three days of recovery and practice and the other to only get two.

  7. 7.

    Amir Khalid

    @Dangerman:

    To maximise the global TV audience. Also, unlike with the last matches in each group, there’s no need to play the semifinals simultaneously.

  11. 11.

    Mo Salad

    @Alison Rose: The entire bracket is laid out with one team being designated the home team and one the visitors, I think.

    Argentina would use their home kit and Croatia’s white and red check would be too similar too that. I don’t think both are allowed to wear a variant of white.

  13. 13.

    Mo Salad

    @Mo Salad: And by team, I mean winner of each respective match. Game 53 winner v. Game 54 winner where game 53 winner is the home team, for example.

  14. 14.

    WaterGirl

    @Dangerman: From Anne Laurie in an email a couple of days ago:

    Semifinals

    Tuesday, Dec. 13
    Semifinal A, 2 p.m. (Fox, Telemundo)

    Wednesday, Dec. 14
    SemifinalB, 2 p.m. (Fox, Telemundo)

    ——

    Saturday, Dec. 17
    Semifinal A loser vs. Semifinal B loser, 10 a.m. (Fox, Telemundo)

    Final

    Sunday, Dec. 18
    Semifinal A winner vs. Semifinal B winner

  24. 24.

    LeftCoastYankee

    That Alvarez goal was quintessential Argentinian football.  Straight up the middle run with crazy balance and little touches to get through (rather than around) the defenders.

    Not sure it’s “beautiful game”, but it’s something amazing.

  25. 25.

    Trincha

    Looks like a little pimply teenager, but nothing stops Alvarez.  I can’t wait to see what he can do when he’s all grown up.

  27. 27.

    Alison Rose

    @billcinsd: Right, as I said, that can’t be helped if they want the two semis on separate days. It’s just one of those traditions, and allows the drama to be drawn out more. But since the final isn’t until Sunday, the team that wins tomorrow will still have three days.

  28. 28.

    LeftCoastYankee

    @Trincha:

    Manchester City is grown up , although he many have to wait to get a lot of time with them.

    Or if he keeps this up, maybe not so much waiting!

  33. 33.

    Alison Rose

    Damn, gotta feel a bit bad for Croatia here. But now Messi is one match away from finally landing a World Cup trophy…to add to his like 237 others :P

  34. 34.

    Marcelo

    Croatia would be in elite company if they can progress to the showpiece event – only Italy, the Netherlands and Germany have ever reached back-to-back finals – and Dalic’s side can take confidence in the fact that they have never failed to score in 10 World Cup knockout fixtures.

    That is….not true. Argentina reached the finals in 86 (which they won) and again in 90 (which they lost), both against Germany.

  35. 35.

    Captain C

    @Marcelo: And Brazil in ’58 and ’62 (won both), Italy in ’34 and ’38 (won both),  and Brazil again in three straight (’94, ’98, and ’02, won in ’94 and ’02)

    ETA:  Didn’t see Italy up there.

  37. 37.

    Paul in KY

    Too bad he wasn’t younger, but Dustin Hoffman would have been the logical lead for ‘The Lionel Messi Story’. Messi looks like his love child, IMO.

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