Either Argentina or Croatia will book their spot in the 2022 World Cup final today.
Croatia are hoping to reach their second straight final, after losing 4-2 to France in Russia four years ago. If they make it through they could end up staring down the same opponents at Lusail Stadium on Sunday.
For Argentina, all the talk is about Lionel Messi’s bid to win football’s greatest honour at what is almost certainly his last opportunity.
The World Cup is the only trophy that has evaded Messi, and he now finds himself just one game away from a chance to crown a spectacular career in perfect fashion.
Here’s how to watch Argentina and Croatia in the first World Cup semi-final, and what to expect.
What channel is Argentina vs Croatia on?
Argentina vs Croatia kicks off at 7pm from Lusail Stadium.
Coverage is on ITV1, starting at 6.15pm. Mark Pougatch is in the presenting seat, with analysis from Roy Keane, Gary Neville and Ian Wright in the studio, and Laura Woods and Karen Carney pitchside.
Commentary comes from Sam Matterface, Lee Dixon and Ally McCoist.
The entire 2022 World Cup is being broadcast on free-to-air television in the UK, with the BBC and ITV sharing the rights.
All matches are therefore also available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer or, in this case, the new ITVX streaming platform.
What can we expect from Argentina vs Croatia?
The game is a meeting between the last two runners-up at the tournament: Argentina in 2014 and Croatia in 2018.
Momentum is building behind Messi’s push to cap his career with the biggest prize in the game. The 35-year-old playmaker has carried his team to the semi-finals, almost in the same way Diego Maradona – the man with whom Messi is so often compared – led the South American nation to its second and most recent World Cup title in 1986.
Now in Argentina’s way are Croatia, a country with a population of 4 million that is establishing a reputation as the most stubborn and durable of opponents.
Argentina might have been expected to be in this position. The team arrived at the World Cup as the Copa America champions, on a 36-match unbeaten run and with Messi back in sublime form for Paris Saint-Germain.
Messi has continued that form in Qatar, scoring four goals.
“For us, he is our leader – he drives us, motivates us,” Argentina defender Nicolas Tagliafico said Monday. “We have that little bit extra when we go on the field. We are delighted that he is our captain.”
There was much less noise around the Croatians, yet they keep on surprising just like four years ago, when their run to the final included a 3-0 victory over Argentina in the group stage. They also reached the World Cup semi-finals in 1998.
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Croatia coach Zlatko Dalić said his team’s World Cup performances are proving to be an inspiration to other underdogs, such as fellow semi-finalist Morocco.
“Everyone in life has a right to make dreams,” Dalić said. “The Croatia national team made that dream a reality for all small countries four years ago. We gave other countries the right to have those dreams.
“They are encouraged by our example, by our fight, our qualities. All other national teams are living their dreams and Morocco is no exception… But let us share the same dream.”
Both teams have come through uncomfortable moments. Argentina’s darkest time was right at the start of the tournament, after a 2-1 loss to Saudi Arabia in what will go down as one of the World Cup’s biggest upsets.
However, inspired by Messi and one of the most fervent fan followings in Qatar, Argentina won their final two group games, ended up squeezing past Australia 2-1 in the round-of-16, and then required penalties to get past the Netherlands in a wild quarter-final match.
Messi is one goal behind top scorer Kylian Mbappé. They are probably the two standout players at a World Cup that has seen many other top players live up to their lofty reputations.
Modric is a case in point.
He might not have scored a goal. He hasn’t even had an assist. But don’t underestimate the importance to Croatia of the man who keeps things ticking in midfield and manages to assert some control for a team which fights until the last minute.
In 2018, each of Croatia’s knockout games went into extra-time before the team lost to France in the final. The same thing is happening in Qatar, with victories in penalty shootouts over Japan in the last 16 and Brazil in the quarter-finals.
Croatia looked more comfortable against Brazil than against Japan, which shows the team might be happier to invite pressure and choose its moments to break forward rather than control games and be more susceptible to the counterattack.
Containing Messi will be key and much of the responsibility there lies with holding midfielder Marcelo Brozovic, who protected Croatia’s defence so well against Brazil.
Argentina will be without two players because of suspension: left back Marcos Acuña and right back Gonzalo Montiel. Acuña is the bigger miss, having impressed since coming into the team after the loss to Saudi Arabia, and he is likely to be replaced by Tagliafico.
When is the second semi-final?
The second semi-final is between France and Morocco, kicking off at 7pm on Wednesday 14 December from Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor.
Coverage will be on BBC One starting at 6.30pm, with Gary Lineker presenting.
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