Argentina and Croatia will meet in the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup. But what is their head-to-head record ahead of clashing in Qatar with neither side yet to win in straight ties?
Lionel Messi helped inspire La Albiceleste to beat the Netherlands in the quarter-finals in a penalty shootout. He laid on a beautiful assist before scoring a second-half penalty in a 2-2 draw. He also converted Argentina’s first in the shootout before eliminating the Dutch 4-3.
Croatia also needed penalties to eliminate Brazil from Qatar 2022 in their quarter-final tie. Vatreni dug in to keep the Selecao to a 0-0 draw in normal time and responded to Neymar scoring. Bruno Petkovic hit after 117 minutes to draw 1-1 before winning 4-2 on penalties.
What is the World Cup head-to-head record between Argentina and Croatia?
Argentina and Croatia will now add just the sixth match to their head-to-head record in the semi-finals. La Albiceleste return to the venue of their win over the Netherlands, the Lusail Iconic Stadium, on Tuesday, December 13. The clash will kick off at 22:00 AST (19:00 GMT).
Vatreni are yet to play a game in Lusail before meeting the South Americans for their sixth encounter so far. Argentina, on the other hand, lost 2-1 to Saudi Arabia in their first Group C match before beating Mexico 2-0 at the venue which will host the final on December 18.
Argentina secured a 2-0 win over Poland to top Group C before beating Australia 2-1 in the last 16. While Croatia finished second in Group F to Morocco after a 0-0 draw, beat Canada 4-1 and drew 0-0 with Belgium. They edged Japan on penalties in the last 16 after a 1-1 tie.
A second win at a World Cup is now on the cards for Argentina or Croatia, who so far boast an identical head-to-head record. The two previously met at the 1998 and 2018 editions of the quadrennial FIFA tournament. Vatreni won in France and La Albiceleste won in Russia.
Neither nation has yet won successive meetings over five encounters to date
Croatia and Argentina first met in June 1994 in a friendly at Stadion Maksimir in Zagreb. It ended as a goalless draw despite the inclusions of Vatreni legends Davor Suker and Slaven Bilic. Albiceleste icons Diego Maradona, Gabriel Batistuta and Diego Simeone also played.
The game in 1994 is one of three friendlies in Croatia and Argentina’s head-to-head record so far. It also returned the only draw to date with Vatreni and La Albiceleste each winning twice. Both nations have so far won in one friendly game and in one match at a World Cup.
Argentina took the first win in their head-to-head record with Croatia at France 1998 with a 1-0 triumph. Mauricio Pineda settled the Group H meeting in the 36th minute to clinch the top spot. Both sides entered the bout in Bordeaux on six points through their first two ties.
But neither nation has yet managed to win in successive meetings with Croatia taking a 3-2 victory on home soil in a friendly in 2006. Argentina, likewise, won a friendly at Upton Park in 2014 as Cristian Ansaldi and Messi scored. Anas Sharbini broke the deadlock for Vatreni.
Croatia won their last meeting with Argentina at the 2018 World Cup in Russia
Croatia will now hope to repeat their win at the 2018 World Cup in Russia when they meet Argentina at Qatar 2022. Vatreni beat La Albiceleste 3-0 in their second Group D match of the tournament. Ante Rebic, Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic each struck in Nizhny Novgorod.
The result helped Croatia top Group D with nine of nine points while Argentina finished in second with four points. La Albiceleste would then lose 4-3 to France in the Round of 16 as Vatreni overcame Denmark, Russia and England. But Les Bleus beat Croatia 4-2 in the final.
Croatia needed penalties to eliminate Denmark and Russia in the Round of 16 and quarter-final. They also went through extra time against England in the semi-finals. So, five of their last six knockout stage World Cup ties including Qatar 2022 have required additional time.
Four of those five have also featured penalty shootouts, which Croatia won, so Argentina will now hope to get the job done in regular time in Lusail. The South Americans may then be 90 minutes from lifting their third World Cup title, while Vatreni are chasing their first.
Argentina won the World Cup as the host nation in 1978 before repeating their triumph at Mexico 1986. They have since lost in the final in 1990 and 2014. Croatia’s runners-up finish at Russia 2018 marks their best result at the FIFA tournament after third on debut in 1998.
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