Keys that can impact Croatia-Argentina battle

GBNEWS24DESK//

With a place in the World Cup final at stake, a few key areas can be looked at that can determine the outcome of the game at the Lusail Stadium on Tuesday.

Messi or Modric magic?

The late-career evolution of Lionel Messi into a clever creator operating behind the front line has intensified at this World Cup.

He illustrated just how effective he can be with his superb defence-splitting pass to set up the opening goal in the quarterfinal against the Netherlands.

With the ball, Croatia have their own diminutive veteran maestro in 37-year-old Luka Modric, whose ability to dictate the tempo, maintain possession and take his team forward into dangerous areas is fundamental for his country’s hopes of reaching successive World Cup finals.

Marcelo Brozovic occupies the deepest defensive role in the Croat midfield trio and is likely to have the most work to do in nullifying Messi, 35, but Mateo Kovacic put in a strong defensive shift against Brazil and is likely to be asked for a repeat performance.

Croat resilience or tiredness?

Just as four years ago in Russia, where Croatia won every knockout round game after extra-time — twice on penalties — before the final, Zlatko Dalic’s team have shown a remarkable ability to grind out results beyond the 90 minutes.

Croatia conceded the first goal against both Japan and Brazil but came back to force the game into penalties and win.

Will that impressive mental strength prove to be decisive again or will those extended battles take a toll physically?

Argentina’s 12th man

If there is one area in which Argentina can count on a clear advantage it is in the stands.

The atmosphere was such that the last-eight clash against the Netherlands was turned into a de facto home game for Argentina.

It will almost certainly be the same story, at the same stadium, on Tuesday, with Croatia’s much smaller group of followers drowned out by the songs and chants of the Argentine faithful.

A striking chance?

With Messi in a deeper role, Argentina find themselves in the unusual position of not having an established world-class forward and that is also the case for Croatia.

Dalic started the semifinal against Brazil with Andrej Kramaric at centre-forward before Bruno Petkovic replaced him and went on to score the crucial equaliser.

Against the Dutch, Argentina started Manchester City’s Julian Alvarez as their main striker with Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martinez coming on for him and causing plenty of trouble in extra-time.

It will be interesting to see if either of those subs are given a start in the semifinal or whether they will again be asked to make an impact from the bench.