Will Lionel Messi play against Croatia in semi-finals? Tuesday’s semifinal match between Argentina and Croatia at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar is anticipated to feature Lionel Messi from the outset (December 13). The Netherlands were defeated by the two-time world champions in the quarterfinals, securing their berth in the semifinals. In a heated match against the Netherlands that required extra time to decide, Messi scored one goal and assisted another. Messi subsequently converted Argentina’s first penalty kick to secure a 4-3 victory in the shootout.
One of Argentina’s top players at the 2022 FIFA World Cup has been the 35-year-old. In his first five World Cup games, the Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) forward has provided four goals and two assists. It is nearly a given that Lionel Messi will start and spearhead the attack against Croatia based on his current performance. The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner will likely attack alongside Julian Alvarez right away. Throughout the game, players like Lautaro Martinez and Angel Di Maria can be used as substitutes.
On the other hand, Croatia also successfully qualified for the semifinals after winning the penalty shootout. They defeated Brazil in the quarterfinals and aim to advance to the FIFA World Cup final for the second time in a row. Lionel Messi needs one more win to advance to his second World Cup final. In 2014, when Argentina fell to Germany when Mario Gotze scored the game’s lone goal in extra time, he last made it to the championship game.
They will, however, be competing against a Croatian team that upset them in the 2018 World Cup in Russia. In the previous edition, Croatia and Argentina were placed in the same Group D. As a result of goals from Ante Rebic, Luka Modric, and Ivan Rakitic, Croatia defeated the current Copa America champions 3-0.
Argentina placed second in their group after losing to Croatia, and as a result, they met France in the Round of 16. Following a 4-3 loss, Lionel Messi’s team was eliminated from the competition at that point. The victor of this semifinal will compete in the 2022 FIFA World Cup final on Sunday, December 18, against either France or Morocco. The Jules Rimet trophy, the most prestigious award absent from Messi’s cabinet, might be his final opportunity to win it.
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