With a inhabitants of simply 3.9 million individuals, Croatia have performed remarkably nicely to achieve the cusp of a second-consecutive World Cup ultimate.
In 2018, Zlatko Dalic and his gamers shocked the world as they made all of it the way in which to the ultimate in Russia, beating titans similar to England alongside the way in which earlier than ultimately falling to winners France on the final hurdle.
With an ageing squad which incorporates 37-year star and captain Luka Modric, Dalic has regalvanised his troops as they give the impression of being to lastly take house the crown this time round.
Nevertheless, a hungry Argentina, spearheaded by Lionel Messi at what’s going to doubtless be his final ever World Cup, stands in the way in which.
The Copa America champions got here near lifting the golden trophy in 2014 however missed out by a purpose to Mario Götze’s Germany.
Therefore, Argentina haven’t received a World Cup since 1986 when legend Diego Maradona dominated the soccer stage.
Maradona and Messi had rather a lot in frequent, from type of play to standing among the many Argentine individuals however one factor that separates the duo is the latter’s incapability to guide his nation to glory.
That is doubtless his final probability and beating Croatia on this semi-final fixture will take Messi and his facet one step nearer, however it definitely received’t be simple.
We’ve highlighted three key tactical areas the place Argentina towards Croatia will likely be received or misplaced.
STOPPING MESSI
How do you cease Messi? This can be a query that has plagued the minds of a whole lot of managers for the reason that little Argentine made his debut for Barcelona nearly 20 years in the past.
Sadly, there isn’t a easy reply, nor a blueprint or information to look in direction of for assist.
Many have tried to cease him, and most have failed, however till the day he hangs up his boots, the query will reside on.
Limiting Messi’s impact on the sport is really the important thing for Croatia to achieve one more World Cup ultimate.
Dalic was requested in his press convention on Saturday about his plans to stifle the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner.
He stated: “We have to guard towards Messi, however not in a player-on-player type, as we didn’t in our final assembly.
“We all know how a lot he runs, how a lot he likes to play with the ball at his ft and the important thing to our defensive section will likely be self-discipline.
“If we repeat the identical factor as towards Brazil, which is that we’re shut [to him], that we stand by the participant, we have now nothing to worry.”
Going man-for-man towards Messi is a standard technique that many have tried over the course of his illustrious profession.
Nevertheless, the 35-year-old’s motion remains to be so sharp even in direction of the top of his enjoying days that man-marking him appears pointless, particularly provided that in a one-versus-one scenario, the chances are Messi will come out on prime.
In opposition to the Netherlands within the quarter-final, Nathan Ake gave a glimpse to the world of how even the motion of Messi’s shoulders may cause marking gamers to fall by the wayside.
So what options are there to cease Messi?
Effectively, the one different technique a defending group can use to thwart the skipper is by enjoying zonally.
The easiest way to explain zonal marking is to make use of Jose Mourinho’s analogy of making a ‘jail cell’ across the attackers, with the partitions of the cell being defending gamers.
This manner, Croatia can have a number of gamers round Messi always, conserving males at an in depth distance to the Argentine famous person.
If Messi receives the ball inside his cell, the Croatian defenders can shut collectively in numbers and win it again.
It’s doubtless that Dalic was referencing this type of defending provided that he denied the potential of his facet utilizing a man-marking method.
MAKING IT UGLY
Argentina have been cruising throughout their quarter-final tie, having gone 2-0 up with round twenty minutes left within the match.
Previous to Messi doubling the South People’ lead from the penalty spot, the Netherlands have been nonetheless attempting to construct their method via the thirds, breaking Argentina down utilizing Louis van Gaal’s typical possession-based type.
The group have been going nowhere. Argentina started sitting deeper and have been completely satisfied to permit the Dutch to have the ball within the first two thirds of the pitch.
One thing wanted to alter or the Dutch have been going house with a whimper. Van Gaal did one thing not so uncharacteristic.
The legendary supervisor all the time has a trick up his sleeve – a Plan B in case all else fails.
At Manchester United, Marouane Fellaini carried out this position very well for Van Gaal.
With the Dutch nationwide group on Friday, the Plan B was Wout Weghorst, and probably Luuk de Jong too.
Weghorst scored twice, clawing the Netherlands again from despair and giving a glimmer of hope of semi-final development.
Argentina had no reply to the change from Van Gaal.
Each Weghorst and De Jong dominated within the air as Holland started lumping lengthy balls up in direction of the duo.
Lisandro Martinez, Nicolas Otamendi and Cristian Romero collectively types fairly a small again three when it comes to top and the trio have been getting bullied by the 2 goal males.
That is one thing that Croatia can benefit from throughout this big semi-final conflict.
Argentina need to be snug when defending.
Lionel Scaloni is more than pleased for the opposition to go them to loss of life in entrance of the backline identical to the Netherlands did.
Nevertheless, whereas it definitely received’t be fairly, going direct to the ahead line towards Argentina’s centre-backs may very well be actually efficient for Dalic’s facet.
With gamers like Marko Livaja, Ivan Perisic, Bruno Petkovic and Ante Budimir within the ahead ranks and all being tall, Dalic could look to play way more direct towards Argentina than has been seen to this point on the World Cup by Croatia.
CROATIA’S BLOCK
Of the 4 groups within the semi-finals, Croatia have the second-best defensive file behind Morocco who’ve conceded merely as soon as.
When the 2 sides met on the opening week, the rating ended goalless which appears becoming.
Nonetheless, opponents have scored towards Croatia 3 times in Qatar, together with solely two throughout regular time.
The largest purpose for that is Croatia’s defensive block which mixes an unbreakable backline and a hardworking midfield crammed with high quality and persistence.
Each the defence and midfield work tirelessly and in unison out of possession which has made Croatia so robust to interrupt down.
On condition that Dalic has deployed a 4-3-3 all through the competitors to this point, Croatia drop right into a 4-5-1 deep defensive block, with the wingers decrease alongside the midfield trio.
The three males within the center are important for making use of strain to their counterparts, always stepping out and attempting to shut down the participant on the ball.
Being as aggressive as Croatia’s midfield requires loads of communication with the line of defense. If a midfielder is caught out of place, one of many centre-backs step up too.
It’s these areas on the pitch that Messi likes to function however others similar to Alexis Mac Allister, Rodrigo de Paul and even Angel Di Maria additionally roam in these identical areas.
Croatia might want to make sure that they’re closing off gaps in the midst of the park and remaining compact to disclaim Argentina the chance to achieve their harmful gamers between the strains.
If Messi and co can decide up passes between Croatia’s midfield and backline and face the purpose, they are going to rip their opponents to shreds.
Nevertheless, if the European facet can block out the central areas, it should drive the South American champions to go wider.
When this case happens, Argentina crumble and the group loses their form, with everybody heading for the flanks which makes it simpler for his or her opponents as there may be no person attempting to obtain within the center.
SO WHAT DOES THIS ALL MEAN?
Argentina are the favourites to win right here, largely because of the Messi issue.
Whereas Modric is a sensational participant and undoubtedly one of many best midfielders of his technology, Messi is on one other planet.
Regardless, outdoors of the Paris Saint-Germain ahead, Croatia and Argentina are fairly well-matched general on paper.
The whole finish outcome will come down as to if the 2018 finalists can cease the Argentine captain or not. If they’ll, viewers could also be given a rematch of the ultimate from 4 years in the past, offering France put a valiant Morocco to the sword.
From The Solar
