World Cup 2022: Predicted Starting XI for Croatia and Argentina

• Argentina are scheduled to face off with Croatia in the 2022 World Cup on Tuesday night
• Both teams are now just two wins away from being crowned champions of world football
• The winner of Tuesday's clash is set to play either France or Morocco in this year's final

Argentina and Croatia are expected to parade strong starting XIs when the two teams lock horns on Tuesday night, December 13, at the Lusail Iconic Stadium.

A semi-final spot in the 2022 World Cup will be at stake during the mouthwatering clash, with both teams keen to advance to the final round of the tournament.

Argentina set up a clash with the 2018 World Cup finalists, after seeing off the Netherlands in the last eight after an epic penalty shootout.

Croatia meanwhile, advanced to the semis after stunning Brazil in the quarter-finals, with the Zlatko Dalić-tutored side winning on post-match penalties.

Ecuador World Cup Squad 2022: Is Enner Valencia playing in this World Cup?

Football

Predicted XI for Argentina, Croatia

Firstly, Argentina are expected to stick with Emi Martinez in goal following his heroics in the shootout against the Netherlands.

Lionel Scaloni is also likely to stick with his back five of Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Nicolas Otamendi, Lisandro Martinez and Nicolas Tagliafico.

Rodrigo De Paul, Enzo Fernandez and Alexis Mac Allister could be started in the middle of the park, with Julian Alvarez partnering Lionel Messi up front at the expense of Lautaro Martinez.

In the Croatia camp, Dalić is likely to stick to the same team that saw off Brazil in the quarters, with their own penalty specialist Dominik Livakovic starting between the sticks.

Josip Juranovic, Dejan Lovren, Josko Gvardiol and Borna Sosa look set to manage affairs at the back, with the experienced trio of captain Luka Modric, Marcelo Brozovic and Mateo Kovacic slotting in the midfield.

World Cup 2022: How Senegal could line up in crunch last 16 clash against England

Football

However, Bruno Petkovic, who scored a late equaliser against Brazil, could replace Andrej Kramaric up front, with the Dinamo Zagreb player partnering Ivan Perisic and Mario Pasalic in hunting for the goals.

Modric fears Messi

Earlier, Sports Brief reported Luka Modric has conceded that Croatia re going to find it difficult to stop Lionel Messi.

The Vatreni and La Albiceleste meet in one of the World Cup semi-finals, with a spot in this year's final at stake.

This will be Modric's 27th meeting with Messi, with the majority of those encounters coming in the Spanish La Liga.