With a inhabitants of simply 3.9 million folks, Croatia have carried out remarkably effectively to achieve the cusp of a second-consecutive World Cup last.
In 2018, Zlatko Dalic and his gamers shocked the world as they made all of it the best way to the ultimate in Russia, beating titans similar to England alongside the best way earlier than finally falling to winners France on the final hurdle.
With an ageing squad which incorporates 37-year star and captain Luka Modric, Dalic has regalvanised his troops as they appear to lastly take residence the crown this time round.
However, a hungry Argentina, spearheaded by Lionel Messi at what’s going to doubtless be his final ever World Cup, stands in the best way.
The Copa America champions got here near lifting the golden trophy in 2014 however missed out by a aim to Mario Götze’s Germany.
Hence, Argentina haven’t received a World Cup since 1986 when legend Diego Maradona dominated the soccer stage.
Maradona and Messi had rather a lot in widespread, from type of play to standing among the many Argentine folks however one factor that separates the duo is the latter’s incapacity to guide his nation to glory.
This is probably going his final likelihood and beating Croatia on this semi-final fixture will take Messi and his facet one step nearer, however it definitely received’t be simple.
We have highlighted three key tactical areas the place Argentina towards Croatia might be received or misplaced.
STOPPING MESSI
How do you cease Messi? This is a query that has plagued the minds of a whole lot of managers for the reason that little Argentine made his debut for Barcelona virtually 20 years in the past.
Unfortunately, there isn’t any easy reply, nor a blueprint or information to look in the direction of for assist.
Many have tried to cease him, and most have failed, however till the day he hangs up his boots, the query will reside on.
Limiting Messi’s impact on the sport is really the important thing for Croatia to achieve yet one more World Cup last.
Dalic was requested in his press convention on Saturday about his plans to stifle the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner.
He stated: “We need to guard against Messi, but not in a player-on-player style, as we didn’t in our last meeting.
“We know how much he runs, how much he likes to play with the ball at his feet and the key to our defensive phase will be discipline.
“If we repeat the same thing as against Brazil, which is that we are close [to him], that we stand by the player, we have nothing to fear.”
Going man-for-man towards Messi is a standard methodology that many have tried over the course of his illustrious profession.
However, the 35-year-old’s motion remains to be so sharp even in the direction of the top of his enjoying days that man-marking him appears pointless, particularly provided that in a one-versus-one state of affairs, the chances are high that Messi will come out on prime.
Against the Netherlands within the quarter-final, Nathan Ake gave a glimpse to the world of how even the motion of Messi’s shoulders may cause marking gamers to fall by the wayside.
So what options are there to cease Messi?
Well, the one different methodology a defending crew can use to thwart the skipper is by enjoying zonally.
The greatest approach to describe zonal marking is to make use of Jose Mourinho’s analogy of making a ‘jail cell’ across the attackers, with the partitions of the cell being defending gamers.
This manner, Croatia can have a number of gamers round Messi always, retaining males at an in depth distance to the Argentine famous person.
If Messi receives the ball inside his cell, the Croatian defenders can shut collectively in numbers and win it again.
It is probably going that Dalic was referencing this type of defending provided that he denied the potential for his facet utilizing a man-marking strategy.
MAKING IT UGLY
Argentina had been cruising throughout their quarter-final tie, having gone 2-0 up with round twenty minutes left within the match.
Prior to Messi doubling the South Americans’ lead from the penalty spot, the Netherlands had been nonetheless making an attempt to construct their manner by means of the thirds, breaking Argentina down utilizing Louis van Gaal’s typical possession-based type.
The crew had been going nowhere. Argentina started sitting deeper and had been comfortable to permit the Dutch to have the ball within the first two thirds of the pitch.
Something wanted to vary or the Dutch had been going residence with a whimper. Van Gaal did one thing not so uncharacteristic.
The legendary supervisor at all times has a trick up his sleeve – a Plan B in case all else fails.
At Manchester United, Marouane Fellaini carried out this position very well for Van Gaal.
With the Dutch nationwide crew on Friday, the Plan B was Wout Weghorst, and probably Luuk de Jong too.
Weghorst scored twice, clawing the Netherlands again from despair and giving a glimmer of hope of semi-final development.
Argentina had no reply to the change from Van Gaal.
Both Weghorst and De Jong dominated within the air as Holland started lumping lengthy balls up in the direction of the duo.
Lisandro Martinez, Nicolas Otamendi and Cristian Romero collectively kinds fairly a small again three when it comes to peak and the trio had been getting bullied by the 2 goal males.
This is one thing that Croatia can make the most of throughout this large semi-final conflict.
Argentina wish to be comfy when defending.
Lionel Scaloni is more than pleased for the opposition to go them to dying in entrance of the backline similar to the Netherlands did.
However, whereas it definitely received’t be fairly, going direct to the ahead line towards Argentina’s centre-backs could possibly be actually efficient for Dalic’s facet.
With gamers like Marko Livaja, Ivan Perisic, Bruno Petkovic and Ante Budimir within the ahead ranks and all being tall, Dalic might look to play way more direct towards Argentina than has been seen thus far on the World Cup by Croatia.
CROATIA’S BLOCK
Of the 4 groups within the semi-finals, Croatia have the second-best defensive report behind Morocco who’ve conceded merely as soon as.
When the 2 sides met on the opening week, the rating ended goalless which appears becoming.
Nonetheless, opponents have scored towards Croatia 3 times in Qatar, together with solely two throughout regular time.
The largest purpose for that is Croatia’s defensive block which mixes an unbreakable backline and a hardworking midfield crammed with high quality and persistence.
Both the defence and midfield work tirelessly and in unison out of possession which has made Croatia so robust to interrupt down.
Given that Dalic has deployed a 4-3-3 all through the competitors thus far, Croatia drop right into a 4-5-1 deep defensive block, with the wingers decrease alongside the midfield trio.
The three males within the center are important for making use of strain to their counterparts, continually stepping out and making an attempt to shut down the participant on the ball.
Being as aggressive as Croatia’s midfield requires loads of communication with the line of defense. If a midfielder is caught out of place, one of many centre-backs step up too.
It is these areas on the pitch that Messi likes to function however others similar to Alexis Mac Allister, Rodrigo de Paul and even Angel Di Maria additionally roam in these identical areas.
Croatia might want to make sure that they’re closing off gaps in the course of the park and remaining compact to disclaim Argentina the chance to achieve their harmful gamers between the strains.
If Messi and co can decide up passes between Croatia’s midfield and backline and face the aim, they are going to rip their opponents to shreds.
However, if the European facet can block out the central areas, it’s going to drive the South American champions to go wider.
When this example happens, Argentina crumble and the crew loses their form, with everybody heading for the flanks which makes it simpler for his or her opponents as there’s no person making an attempt to obtain within the center.
SO WHAT DOES THIS ALL MEAN?
Argentina are the favourites to win right here, largely because of the Messi issue.
While Modric is a sensational participant and undoubtedly one of many best midfielders of his era, Messi is on one other planet.
Regardless, exterior of the Paris Saint-Germain ahead, Croatia and Argentina are fairly well-matched general on paper.
The total finish end result will come down as to if the 2018 finalists can cease the Argentine captain or not. If they will, viewers could also be given a rematch of the ultimate from 4 years in the past, offering France put a valiant Morocco to the sword.
Originally printed as World Cup 2022 Argentina vs Croatia: Who will win semi-final?
