Croatia and Argentina have played five times – how the previous matches ended
- by croatiaweek
- in Sport
Luka Modrić (Photo credit: Светлана Бекетова/Soccer.ru)
After beating the world no.1 ranked team and 5-time World Cup winners Brazil in the quarterfinals, Croatia will take on Argentina on Tuesday for a place in the final of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
The semifinal will be the sixth time the two nations have met and the third time at a World Cup.
Here is a look at how all previous internationals between the two nations ended.
4 June 1994 (Friendly) – Croatia 0-0 Argentina
This friendly was played in Zagreb at Maksimir stadium and was the first time the two nations met after Croatia recently got its independence. The match served as a warm-up for Argentina ahead of the 1994 World Cup and ended goalless.
Starting line-ups:
Croatia: Ladić, Bilić, Jerkan, Štimac, Asanović, Boban, Prosinečki, Juričević, Jarni, Turković, Šuker
Argentina: Goycochea, Chamot, Ruggeri, Vazquez, Sensini, Redondo, Simeone, Maradona, Balbo, Batistuta, Caniggia
26 June 1998 (World Cup) – Croatia 0-1 Argentina
The first time the two nations met in the World Cup was back in 1998 when Croatia finished third. Croatia had already advanced from the group stages after early wins against Jamaica and Japan.
A goal from Pineda just before halftime was the difference between the two sides.
Starting line-ups:
Croatia: Ladić, Bilić, Šimić, Jarni, Asanović, Boban, Prosinečki, Soldo, Stanić, Marić, Šuker
Argentina: Roa, Paz, Pineda, Ayala, Vivas, Almeyda, Veron, Zanetti,, Batistuta, Ortega, Gallardo
1 March 2006 (Friendly) – Croatia 3-2 Argentina
This friendly match marked the full international debut of current Croatian captain Luka Modrić. Goals to Ivan Klasnić, Darijo Srna and Dario Šimić gave Croatia the win. Almost 17 years later Messi and Modrić will square off again tomorrow.
Starting line-ups:
Croatia: Pletikosa, Šimić, Srna, Tomas, Tudor, Babić, Kovač, Kranjčar, Modrić, Klasnić, Prso
Argentina: Abbondanzieri, Burdisso, Samuel, Coloccini, Demichelis, Cambiasso, Ponzio, Riquelme, Messi, Crespo, Tevez
12 November 2014 (Friendly) – Croatia 2-1 Argentina
Another friendly between the two sides, this time was played in London. Croatia took an early lead through Anas Sharbini but Cristian Ansaldi and a Lionel Messi penalty saw Argentina to victory.
Starting line-ups:
Croatia: Kalanić, Čop, Jedvaj, Leovac, Lešković, Milić, Vrsaljko, Antolić, Badelj, Kovačić, Sharbini
Argentina: Romero, Ansaldi, Fazio, Vergini, Zabaleta, Mascherano, Banega, Perez, Di Maria, Messi, Aguero
21 June 2018 (World Cup) – Croatia 3-0 Argentina
This is one of Croatia’s biggest ever victories in its history and one that set them on their way to reaching the final at the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Ante Rebić opened the scoring before a wonderful strike from Luka Modrić and a late Ivan Rakitić goal sealed the win.
Starting line-ups:
Croatia: Subašić, Lovren, Strinić, Vida, Vrsaljko, Brozović, Modrić, Rakitić, Perišić, Rebić, Mandžukić
Argentina: Caballero, Mercado, Otamendi, Tagliafico, Acuña, Mascherano, Meza, Perez, Salvio, Messi, Aguero
#Croatia‘s head-to-head record 🆚 Argentina 🇦🇷
— HNS (@HNS_CFF) December 12, 2022
🤝 0:0 (1994 friendly)
❌ 0:1 (1998 @FIFAWorldCup)
✅ 3:2 (2006 friendly)
❌ 1:2 (2014 friendly)
✅ 3:0 (2018 @FIFAWorldCup)
All square. Until tomorrow.#FIFAWorldCup #Qatar2022 #Vatreni❤️🔥 pic.twitter.com/VNbJaI0b2S
