News of general BJ interest…
Dave the cat coming home with England World Cup team https://t.co/bodsE1S9bt
— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) December 12, 2022
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🇦🇷🇭🇷Argentina vs Croatia Head to Head Records;
🏟️ 1994:Croatia 0-0 Argentina-Friendly
🌎 1998:Argentina 1-0 Croatia-World Cup
🏟️ 2006:Croatia 3-2 Argentina-Friendly
🏟️ 2014:Argentina 2-1 Croatia-Friendly
🌎 2018:Argentina 0-3 Croatia-World Cup#FIFAWorldCup|#ARG|#ARGCRO pic.twitter.com/qKykCJCUX9— FIFA World Cup Stats (@alimo_philip) December 13, 2022
Argentina vs Croatia shouldn’t reach the penalty shout-out, I won’t stand it mahn. Livakovic vs Emi Martinez between the sticks would be crazy😵 pic.twitter.com/DQYQzZdpMg
— Bradd Sikolia (@bradysikolia) December 9, 2022
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.
World Cup Semi-Finals First Match Open Thread: Argentina vs CroatiaPost + Comments (37)