Argentina vs Croatia Match Preview and Prediction World Cup Russia 2018

Argentina vs Croatia

World Cup 2018 Group D

Date: Thursday, 21st June 2018

Kick-Off at 19:00 UK / 20:00 CET

Venue: Stadion Nizhny Novgorod, Nizhny Novgorod.

Argentina vs Croatia Match Preview 

It will be an extreme day at the workplace for Lionel Messi and his Argentina on Thursday evening when they conflict gather pioneers Croatia at Stadion Nizhny Novgorod. 

The competition in Russia will probably be the last possibility for Lionel Messi (31-year-old) to lift his lady World Cup flatware, yet he got off to a bad dream begin on Saturday as La Albiceleste will confront tough circumstances bobbing back against their fundamental opponents in amass D in the second round. 

It was a somewhat grim execution by the whole Argentine group on their opening day against Iceland. They just did not have the imagination in advance depending intensely on Messi whose 11 shots on target did nothing to make harm Iceland's shake strong guarded line. 

We question Jorge Sampaoli's men would have scored at all had Sergio Aguero not created a snapshot of splendor in the nineteenth moment with a lovely exertion which drove the South American hopefuls ahead after a moderate begin. 

By the by, the lead went on for five minutes as Augsburg's Alfred Finnbogason sent the redirection into the net and set the last score of the match. 

The minute which denoted the issue came halfway during that time half when Barcelona's star missed a punishment to bring his country the beginning triumph in Russia. It was Messi's fourth missed punishment in last seven endeavors for the club and nation. 

To exacerbate the situation for Jorge Sampaoli, his men are presently to go up against a more grounded restriction in any semblance of Croatia. 

The Croats opened the competition with a triumph out of the blue since 1998 when they crushed Jamaica 3-1 on their WC make a big appearance. They went ahead to win the third place later on in those days, by a wide margin the best accomplishment in their football history. 

Croatia have a very skilled squad this time around also and seeing them make a profound keep running in Russia would in no way, shape or form be a wonder, particularly if the assaulting line drove by Kramaric and Mandzukic, enhances later on. 

The assault neglected to supplement the world-class midfield in the opening installation as Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic were the ones who roused the underlying 2-0 triumph over Nigeria on Saturday night in Kaliningrad. 

Argentina Predicted Starting Eleven (4-2-3-1)

Caballero – Salvio, Otamendi, Rojo, Tagliafico – Mascherano, Biglia (Lo Celso) – Dybala (Meza), Messi, Di Maria – Aguero.

Croatia Predicted Starting Eleven (4-2-3-1)

Subasic – Vrsaljko, Lovren, Vida, Strinic – Rakitic, Modric – Perisic, Kramaric, Rebic – Mandzukic.

Argentina Croatia Head-to-head 

The two sides met each other for four times before. Argentina lead the tie by a solitary win having won 2, drawn 1 and lost 1. 

La Albiceleste won the solitary H2H experience at World Cups in 1998 when they took a 1-0 triumph in the gathering stage. Curiously, the Croatian outfit went ahead to achieve the semi-last in those days in the wake of progressing from the gathering notwithstanding the specified misfortune. 

Croatia took a 3-2 triumph in a well disposed on their dirt in March 2006, while Argentina went ahead best when the two sides met on the impartial scene of the Bolelyn Ground in London in November 2014 (2-1). 

Argentina Croatia Prediction 

Argentina are in an unquestionable requirement win circumstance here after the underlying attract to Iceland. Anything other than a triumph would trade off not just the best spot complete in the Group D, however even group's aspirations of progressing to the following knockout stage. 

This, joined with the reality they are to play the exceptionally energetic and skilled squad, makes it a super convoluted issue for Jorge Sampaoli and his men. 

La Albiceleste uncovered a lot of protective openings on Saturday against Iceland and we can scarcely observe them winning the fight at the focal point of the recreation center against any semblance of Modric and Rakitic on the day. 

Protectively, Croatia looked extremely well against Nigeria. Would they be able to replay Iceland's show and stop Lionel Messi here, that is we hold up to see. 

In the event that they do as such, they are top choices to win since we don't question in them scoring past the messy cautious line of Argentina's here. 

All things considered, Croatia found the back of the net in every one of last five recreations at the World Cup, their greatest streak ever in this competition. 

The esteem is accordingly certainly with Croatia who merit backing not to lose at 1.85. More intrepid tipsters can attempt with Croats winning at 4.33.