2022 FIFA World Cup: Argentina vs Croatia — Preview, Team News, Kickoff Time, Probable XI, TV Channels to watch and more

Argentina will aim to reach the World Cup final for the sixth time tonight (Tuesday) as they come-face-to-face with Croatia at the Lusail Stadium.

The South Americans were able to go past Netherlands on Friday as they won 3-2 on penalties to set a semifinal showdown with Croatia - whom they're about to neck-it-down with for the third time in the World Cup, and first in the knockout stages.

In 1998 Argentina won 1-0 against the Croats, before the 'Checkered Ones' won 3-0 in the Russia 2018 World Cup. Croatia were losing finalists in the 2018 edition of the mundial, and could become the fourth European nation to reach consecutive World Cup finals after Italy (1934, 1938), Netherlands (1974, 1978) and Germany 1982, 1986, 1990).

Following their penalty shootout (2-1) win against Brazil in the quarter-final, Croatia might become the second team to eliminate two footballing gods - Brazil and Argentina from the knockout stage of the same World Cup, just after Germanay in 2014.

TEAM NEWS

The White and Sky Blue's full-backs Gonzalo Montiel and Marcos Acuna, picked up their second yellow card of the tournament and both players will be forced to sit the semi-final.

Nahuel Molina will be handed a starting berth for the right-back position, and Acuna will pass left-back responsibilities over to Nicolas Tagliafico as he makes a bow. However, Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni has no major injury concerns even after the 120-minute quarter-final match against the Netherlands.

Alejandro Gomez is pushing to be available as he steps up his recovery from an ankle sprain, while Rodrigo De Paul and Angel Di Maria - who have both been nursing problems of their own - will expect to be fit to start the semi-final.

Scaloni decided to match the Netherlands setup with a five-man backline - bringing Lisandro Martinez back in from the bench - but a switch to a four-man defence could see the Manchester United man now cede his place to the fit-again Di Maria.

With Croatia, Zlatko Dalić was blessed with a fully-fit squad for the quarter-final win over Brazil and should be working with all of his troops for tonight after Borna Sosa and Mislav Orsic both recovered from respective illnesses.

Amid his side's struggles for goals, Dalic brought Mario Pašalić in from the first whistle against Brazil, and the Atalanta Calcio midfielder can feel confident of holding his position on the right wing.

TSG Hoffenheim attacker Andrej Kramarić may be fearing for his place upfront of the attack after Bruno Petković's dramatic equaliser in the quarter-final, but Kramarić has started every game in Qatar so far and will likely start this one.

PROBABLE XI

Argentina: E. Martinez; Molina, Romero, Otamendi, Tagliafico; Fernandez, De Paul, Mac Allister; Di Maria, Messi, Alvarez

Croatia: Livakovic; Juranovic, Gvardiol, Lovren, Sosa; Modric, Brozovic, Kovacic; Pasalic, Kramaric, Perisic

MATCH OFFICIALS

Center Referee: Daniele Orsato (Italy)

Assistant 1: Ciro Carbone (Italy)

Assistant 2: Alessandro Giallatini (Italy)

Fourth Official: Mohammed Abdulla Hassan Mohamed (United Arab Emirates)

Reserve assistant referee: Mohamed Al-Hammadi (United Arab Emirates)

Video Assistant Referee: Massimiliano Irrati (Italy)

Assistant video assistant referees: Paolo Valeri (Italy), Kathryn Nesbitt (United States), Juan Soto (Venezuela)

Stand-by video assistant referee: Bastian Dankert (Germany)

Stand-by assistant video assistant referee: Kyle Atkins (United States)

CHANNEL: Kickgh.com, StarTimes, GTVSports+, Globe TV, ETV, SuperSport,

KICKOFF: 19:00 GMT (7:00pm)

By: Pascal Nii Gogo Amoah