Everything you need to know about todays Argentina Croatia match

Croatia, which has already eliminated one South American Goliath from the World Cup, will look to make it to back-to-back finals when they face Argentina in Tuesday's semi-final at Lusail Iconic Stadium.

Both teams' penalty prowess ended tense quarter-final matches, with Zlatko Dalic's men knocking out Brazil on penalties only hours before La Albiceleste defeated the Netherlands from 12 yards.

If there was one game that exemplified the wild, fierce, and unexpected aspect of the 2022 World Cup, Argentina's quarter-final against the Netherlands was it.

Through Nahuel Molina and the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner's cool penalty, a Lionel Messi-inspired Albiceleste had one foot firmly in the semi-finals, but a late brace from Wout Weghorst - including a 100th-minute equalizer - prompted the unlikeliest of extra-time sessions.

Another penalty shootout would be required to settle the fate of the two sides, and Argentina kept their composure from the spot to win and progress to the last four despite major brawls, gamesmanship aplenty, and a remarkable 17 yellow cards.

While an all-South American semi-final between Brazil and Argentina seems unlikely for Lionel Scaloni's crop, the Copa America winners' record in World Cup semi-finals makes for some interesting reading.

Argentina has never been eliminated from the World Cup in the last four and has reached the final five times, the most recent of which was in the 2014 tournament before their painful defeat to Germany.

Scaloni's valiant goal scorers approach the semi-finals having made the net ripple twice in their past four matches across all events - scoring in each of their last 14 in total - but facing Croatia's robust rearguard effort is a test Messi and co must prepare for with due devotion.

While Brazil was trying to break down Croatia's renowned tough defense, Neymar scored in the 106th minute with a stunning goal, but Bruno Petkovic's 117th-minute shot made its way into the corner via a deflection to create a 12-yard battle of nerves.

Livakovic denied Brazil 11 times before saving from Rodrygo in the shootout, and the Selecao dream was crushed when Marquinhos' shot struck the post, allowing euphoria to take over for fans in red and white as they celebrated their second World Cup semi-final in a row.

Dalic's team made the 2018 World Cup final despite not winning any of their knockout games in regular time, and history is about to repeat itself for the Checkered Ones, who are currently unbeaten in 11 games heading into their encounter against Argentina.

Only Italy, the Netherlands, and Germany have ever reached back-to-back World Cup finals, and Dalic's side may take comfort in the knowledge that they have never failed to score in 10 World Cup knockout games.

Argentina and Croatia have met twice in the World Cup group stage, with La Albiceleste winning 1-0 in 1998. However, the Checkered Ones defeated Argentina 3-0 in Russia four years ago, and some players of that team are still available to try to strike lightning again in Lusail.

Mateu Lahoz, the card-happy referee, will not be making friends with the Argentina or Netherlands camps anytime soon, especially after two of his 17 cards went to Albiceleste full-backs Gonzalo Montiel and Marcos Acuna have been banned from the semi-finals.

Montiel was unlikely to push Molina for the right-back spot, and Acuna will delegate left-back duties to Nicolas Tagliafico as he takes his position on the naughty step, but Scaloni was relieved that no players were injured during the 120-minute quarter-final.

Alejandro Gomez is striving to be available as he recovers from an ankle strain, while Rodrigo De Paul and Angel Di Maria, who have both been dealing with injuries of their own, will also expect to be available to start the semi-final.

Scaloni chose a five-man backline to match the Dutch configuration, bringing back Lisandro Martinez from the cold, but a switch to a four-man defense might see the Manchester United player relinquish his position to the fit-again Di Maria.

Croatia, meantime, had a fully healthy team for the quarter-final triumph over Brazil and should be working with all of his men on Tuesday after Borna Sosa and Mislav Orsic both recovered from illnesses.

Despite his team's well-documented goal drought, Dalic threw in Mario Pasalic from the start against Brazil, and the Atalanta BC player can be sure of keeping his spot on the right wing.

Argentina's potential starting lineup:

Molina, Romero, Otamendi, Tagliafico; Fernandez, De Paul, MacAllister; Di Maria, Messi, Alvarez

Croatia's potential starting lineup:

Modric, Brozovic, Kovacic; Pasalic, Kramaric, Perisic; Juranovic, Gvardiol, Lovren, Sosa;

Argentina 2-1 Croatia, in our opinion.

Another World Cup knockout game, another spell of extra time for Croatia? Buckle up. Dalic's defenders have worked tirelessly in Qatar, and Argentina did not do an exceptional job of breaking down the Dutch before Messi's unique genius broke through.

Scaloni should use his enviable plethora of offensive options to attempt to put the game to bed in regular time, but it may take 120 minutes for La Albiceleste to deny the Checkered Ones another final appearance and set up a tantalizing clash with Morocco or France.