Agencies
Doha
The FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 first semi-final between Argentina and Croatia is surely going to be fiercely fought given the two sides’ great run in the tournament so far.
But Lionel Messi’s presence will give the Albiceleste a "special advantage”, said Argentina defender Nicolas Tagliafico.
Argentina’s progress to Tuesday’s match has largely been inspired by Messi, the forward scoring four and assisting two of their nine goals.
"He has always been like this,” said Lyon left-back Tagliafico. "For us he is our captain and our leader. He is the one pushing us and motivating us.”
Messi will equal Germany great Lothar Matthaus’ 25-match tournament appearance record against the 2018 World Cup finalists at the Lusail Stadium at 10pm on Tuesday.
As well as being Argentina’s joint-highest goalscorer alongside Gabriel Batistuta in the competition with 10, Messi is one assist away from equalling Diego Maradona’s overall record of eight at World Cup finals.
"He is the one who gives us that special advantage when we are on the pitch,” added Tagliafico.
"We know we have Messi and it is a great source of motivation and hope because we all know that we can contribute and give our best. We are really happy to have Messi as our captain.
"With everyone’s support we are all working together to achieve our dreams, and it is the most beautiful thing to do it with Messi by our side.”
Coach Dalic wants to repeat 2018 feat
Upping the ante, Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic said that reaching the World Cup final in Qatar would be "the greatest success in our history.”
The Croatian side reached the final in Russia in 2018, when they were defeated by France, but repeating this in the following World Cup is even more difficult for "the small Croatia,” Dalic told a news conference on Monday.
"It’s a great success for Croatia to be among the best four football nations in the world for the second time in a row. But we want more,” he said.
"I’m an optimist by nature. I trust my players. We’re playing against the great Argentina with their leader Lionel Messi, but they are maybe a bit more under pressure than we are,” Dalic suggested.
Modric: Croatia must play ‘match of our lives’ to stop Messi
Croatia’s star player Luka Modric stressed the team must play the "best match of our lives” to overcome Messi’s Argentina.
The 2018 runners-up Croatia have reached the World Cup’s last four in remarkable fashion once again, beating Japan and pre-tournament favourites Brazil in dramatic penalty shoot-outs.
Croatia couldbecome just the second team to winknockout ties against both Brazil and Argentina at a single World Cup next time out, after Germany did so in 2014.
Their hopes of reaching the final may depend on their ability to contain Albiceleste great Messi, who has recorded six goal contributions at the tournament - a tally only bettered by Kylian Mbappe (seven).
While Modric knows stopping Messi will be crucial, he warned Zlatko Dalic’s men against focusing all their energies on one player.
"I want to play, but not only to play against one player,” Modric said in an interview with RTVE.
"Of course, Messi is an excellent player, we will have big problems to stop him, but we are ready and we will do our best.
"Argentina is a big team. We will try to play the best match of the tournament, the best match of our lives. I hope that it will be enough to enter the final.”
Few expected Croatia to repeat their 2018 heroics in Qatar, and while Modric thinks that has suited Dalic’s side, he revealed he warned his Real Madrid team-mates of their quality ahead of time.
"It’s normal that everyone is looking at the big countries,” Modric said.
"Given that we are small, no one counted on us. "But we don’t mind that others are favourites and we are in the shadows. We can only do our best, try hard, and that is exactly our strength.
If, as expected, Modric starts Tuesday’s game, he will become just the fourth player to start six matches at a single World Cup when aged 37 or above, after Brazil’s Nilton Santos in 1962, Italy’s Dino Zoff in 1982 and England’s Peter Shilton in 1990.
While several veterans of the 2018 tournament remain key for Dalic’s side, Modric has been delighted by the impact of Croatia’s younger players - including goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic.
"I saw maturity in our national team with young players who brought new quality and energy,” he added.
"It’s incredible what our national team is doing. I believed that we could do something. It is a big thing that after four years we are in the semi-finals again. We showed great mental strength.
"In those moments, someone always jumps out, like our goalkeeper, especially in the last two games. I am happy for him, he showed that he is a great goalkeeper.”
Croatia are a dangerous side and have ended the World Cup dream of Brazil’s Neymar; now they hope to do the same to Argentina’s Messi.
Croatia’s midfield comprising captain Modric, Mateo Kovacic and Marcelo Brozovic will be key to dictating the pace, as they did against Brazil, and Juranovic said that the three were utterly dependable.
The Argentinians, looking for their first World Cup title since Diego Maradona’s 1986 team win, have their work cut out.
Defenders Marcos Acuna and Gonzalo Montiel are suspended because of bookings, limiting coach Lionel Scaloni’s options at the back. Nicolas Tagliafico could come on to replace the former but it will be a less attacking formation, with wingback Acuna having added more spark to the team.1ST SEMI-FINAL: ARGENTINA VS CROATIA (10 pm) AT LUSAIL STADIUM