…Croatia won the 2018 encounter 3-0.
By Eniola Olatunji
The Lusail Iconic Stadium in Qatar will be literarily on fire, very explosive, as the Blazers Boys of Croatia take on the Diego Maradona spirit filled Argentine in the first semifinal of the 2022 world cup that I foresee the rendition of high decibel support from the stands and many watching from homes across the world would have to sit at the edge of their seats during the duration of the match.
Watch out everywhere for the resurrection of the ardent spirit of the supporter of the IICC Shooing Stars of Ibadan in memory, Alhaji Ganiyu Elekuru alias Baba Eleran (Meat Seller) for woe betides you if you stand before Baba Eleran in a football match as he will give you via uncontrolled emotions several hard kicks especially when Odegbami and Otolorin are in front of goal, about to kick in a shot on target.
The records are amusing. Argentina has never been eliminated in their last four semifinal matches. Croatia is on the eve of their election to the hall of Global Football Elites (GFE) as the Croats are in their second successive world cup semis are have the greater chance of appearing in their second successive finals. Great record, great achievement! Only Italy, Netherlands and Germany have ever reached back to back finals. They have the GFE award. Cheers.
There are challenges ahead of the Tuesday encounter. Not the Challenge Bus Stops you find in Lagos or Ibadan both in Nigeria but the mountainous road block that may derail the lofty dreams of both sides.
Croatia has a fit bunch of players who can play 240 minutes nonstop in their camp. They specifically include in their training physical fitness and endurance. They are trained to take brick bats like snipers in the military. Hardly do you see them smile, they only grin and move on. I studied especially their Captain, Luka Modric who was brought up in a military camp.
Two important players of Croatia, Boarna Sosa and Mislav Orsic are now available for selection having recovered from injuries. The team has no cards issue. As for the super brat Argentine talisman, seven times Balloon Door winner (world best footballer), Lionel Messi I can reveal that the Croatian camp plans to give him the Neymar Junior treatment of Saudi Arabi and Netherlands which is to neutralize the football god. The Croatian defence loves to tackle hard like Taribo West of Inter Milan and Nigeria, Thomas Partey of Arsenal and Ghana or Chairman Christian Chukwu of Enugu Rangers and Nigeria, who in his playing days does not wear shin guard, kick him and get a twisted leg. Central Defender, Marcelo Brozovic and his partner in the defence line, Mateo Kovacic will handle Messi.
Luka Modric who plays all set pieces for Croatia including corner kicks will be over stretched as he may need to help the defence leaving no standard striker upfront. In Russia, Croatia won all knockout matches after extra time via penalty shootouts. Same they did in Qatar with Japan and Brazil, so they will pursue draw after Extra time.
Argentina has three key players battling injuries. Alejandro Gomez has ankle sprain; Rodrigo De Paul is in pains but Angel Di Maria who is also battling ankle injury came playing a few minutes against Netherland.
Argetina has massive card issues. In a rather most embarrassing card offers ever in any world cup, Ref Antonio Mateu Lahoz issued 16 yellow cards and a red card. Nine players of Argentina including Lionel Messi and their Manager, Lionel Scaloni got yellows. Two vital players in Gonzalo Montiel and Marcos Acuna will not be dressed as they are on match suspension through cards. The other players including Messi on Yellow will not be able to express themselves fully due to the Yellow cards because they may see red.
One spectacular plus for Argentina is that though Messi may be lord in the team scoring vital goals, as he scored four now, anybody can score in the team. Julian Alvarez has 2 goals and there are one each for Enzo Fernandez; Alexis Mac Allister and Nahuel Molina. But of the two own goals recorded in Qatar, Enzo Fernandez and Nayef Aguerd of Canada have their names in the books.
Argentina team was caught in ungentlemanly acts in the match against Netherlands. FIFA has confirmed that both Argentina and Netherlands are under investigations. Messi and the Dutch Manager had altercations using unprintable words. There were allegations from the Dutch camp that Ref Lahoz was unfair to Netherlands. The world awaits the judgment of FIFA.
Otamendi of Argentina taunted the Dutch players after the match and they swore for Argentina that Nemesis will catch up for the South Americans. Messi told the world that the spirit of their late former Captain, Diego Maradona is backing them from heaven.
To get to the semifinals, Croatia played 5 matches winning 3; drew 2, scored 6 goals and conceded 3. A draw against Morocco; beat Canada 4-1; drew 0-0 with Belgium and in the round of 16 defeated Japan after 1-1 at extra time before winning on penalty 3-0. Next were the Samba boys of Brazil who were humbled also 1-1 after extra time and 4-2 on penalties. Will it be same way to show Argentina the exit door?
Argentina also played 5 matches, won 4 lost their first match 1-2 to Saudi Arabia; scored 9 goals and conceded 3. Argentina beat Mexico 2-0; beat Poland same way 2-0; and Australia got 1-2 bashing in the round of 16 before the volatile quarterfinals they won 4-2 via penalties after 2-2 draw at full time against Netherlands.
Three times have Croatia and Argentina clashed before. At the group stage of France 98 which Argentina won 1-0; on 12th November 2014 which Argentina won 2-1 but in their last meeting at Russia 2018, Croatia was red hot blowing off Argentina 3-0. Only in 2014 did Croatia scored 1-0 at half time before Argentina won 2-1. There may not be a goal at half time again on Tuesday. Croatia will want to drag the match to penalty shootouts as they appear to be specialists of penalty kicks.
Give the match to Croatia desperate team to enter the join Global Football Elites. Their match is at 8pm on Tuesday.
Kylian Mbappe of France still leads the goal scorers’ chart with 5 goals while Lionel Messi of Argentina and Olivier Giroud of France have 4 goals each. Almost all the three goals scorers are out of the competition leaving the trio as contenders for the Golden boot; Silver boot and Bronze boot awards.
The match between Argentina and Mexico still has the largest attendance at Qatar for an individual match which is 88,966. That is the largest crowd since the 1994 world cup final at Rose Bowl between Brazil and Italy which attracted 91,194 fans.
On Wednesday at 8pm Morocco of Africa will slug it out with defending champions France in the second semifinal.
Eniola Olatunji reporting.
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