Argentina’s Lionel Messi with teammates during the warm up before the semifinal match between Argentina and Croatia at Lusail Stadium, Lusail, Qatar on December 13, 2022.
| Photo Credit: Reuters
Argentina plays Croatia on Dec. 13 in the first World Cup semifinal match, and the winner will face either defending champion France or Morocco in Sunday’s final at Lusail Stadium.
Lionel Messi and Luka Modric have led Argentina and Croatia respectively to the final four with stellar performances, and both are looking to cap their careers with a World Cup title.
Lionel Messi will captain Argentina and make his 25th World Cup appearance to tie the all-time record with Lothar Matthäus of Germany when Argentina plays Croatia in the semifinals.
Leandro Paredes has been recalled in central midfield as Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni reverts to a four-man defence. Centre back Lisandro Martinez has been dropped.
Andrej Kramaric will play up front instead of Bruno Petkovic for Croatia. Luka Modric is the team’s captain.
Messi and Argentina lost in the 2014 final to Germany, and Modric and Croatia lost in the 2018 final to France.
Lineups
Argentina: Emiliano Martinez, Nicolas Tagliafico, Nicolas Otamendi, Cristian Romero, Nahuel Molina, Alexis Mac Allister, Leandro Paredes, Enzo Fernandez, Rodrigo De Paul, Julian Alvarez, Lionel Messi.
Croatia: Dominik Livaković, Dejan Lovren, Borna Sosa, Joško Gvardiol, Josip Juranović, Mateo Kovačić, Marcelo Brozović, Luka Modrić, Mario Pasalic, Ivan Perišić, Andrej Kramarić.