Argentina and Croatia face each other this Tuesday (7pm, RTP1) in a game that will decide the first finalist of the 2022 World Cup. It will be the replay of a match with a bad memory for Messi and Scaloni (assistant to Sampaoli at the time), who fell with a bang (3-0) at the feet of the Croatian team in the group stage in Russia 2018, in a match where Maradona in the stands witnessed . The South Americans should be eliminated by France in the round of 16 and the Europeans would reach the final, which they lost to the French.
“We expect a difficult match, against a team that really plays as a team, a group of players that will give us a lot of difficulties. It is not worth making comparisons with what happened in the last World Cup match. Croatia are a great team.” . , with great players,” Scaloni said at a press conference yesterday.
The Argentinian coach was also questioned about the image his team passed in the match against the Netherlands, after the images showed the players fooling the Dutch after the victory on penalties: “We respect all opponents and with this we have to finishing the time. story of not knowing how to win or lose. We lost to Saudi Arabia and left in silence. And in the Copa America that we won, there was that beautiful image of sportsmanship in the access tunnel to the changing rooms [Messi e Neymar juntos]🇧🇷
Zlatko Dalic, the Croatia coach who was already in charge when the two teams faced each other in Russia2018, is well aware of the difficulties that await him today. And of course he praised the Argentina number 10: “Messi is playing at an impressive level again. He not only scores goals, he also provides assists and is very involved in Argentina’s game. They have a squad that leaves your skin in the heart. ” field, compact, extraordinary. They have big guns and want to give everything,” he analyzed.
Dalic said it was a crucial match for both teams, but admitted that “Argentina will come under greater pressure”: “There will be more Argentine fans in the stadium and that will be another obstacle for us. But let’s don’t think about that. We can’t complain. We’re in a semi-final.”
Today there will be two Golden Balls face to face: Lionel Messi (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019 and 2021) and Luka Modric (2018), who faced each other dozens of times in the greatest classic of the Spanish league, the Argentinian defends the colors of Barcelona and the Croat defends those of Real Madrid. In the 26 head-to-head matches (national team and clubs), Modric has the advantage: he won 12, drew five and lost nine. Whoever wins today will advance to the final of the World Cup.
Source: DN
