FIFA World Cup 2018 Argentina v Croatia THURSDAY, JUNE 21, 2018 Group D, June 21 Nizhny Novgorod Stadium 23 FIFA World Cup 2018 Argentina v Croatia LIONEL Group D, June 21 PREVIEW MESSI Nizhny Novgorod Stadium ARGENTINA FORWARD • AGE 30 LIONEL Widely regardedMessi as a seeksFIFA World Cup 2018 redemptionFIFA World Cup 2018 Argentina v Croatia Argentina v Croatia football genius. Yet the Group D, June 21 Group D, June 21 MESSI Nizhny Novgorod Stadium Nizhny Novgorod Stadium 5-times Ballon d’Or winner is short on glory with Argentina ARGENTINA 5 Argentina5 FIFAFIFA rank 20Croatia 20 FORWARD • AGE 30 5 FIFA rank 20 5 FIFA rank 20 POSITION ARG 1-1 ISL Match 1 CRO 2-0 NGR ARG 1-1 ISL Match 1 CRO 2-0 NGR ARG 1-1 ISL Match 1 CRO 2-0 NGR HEAD-TO-HEAD HEAD-TO-HEAD Widely regarded as a Possible line-ups:Argentina 2 Caballero;ARGCroatia 1 1-1 ISL Match 1 CRO 2-0 NGRPossibleArgentina 2 line-ups:Croatia 1 Subasic; Vrsaljko, Lovren, Vida, Barcelona HEAD-TO-HEAD Spainfootball genius. Yet the Mercado, Otamendi, Tagliafico; Strinic; Rakitic, Badelj; Brozovic, Modric, Perisic; Recent Recent 5-times Ballon d’Or winner is Salvio, Mascherano,meetings Meza,Draws Acuna; 1 Argentina 2 Croatia 1 Mandzukicmeetings . Draws 1 1.69 m / 72 kg 2014 Argentina 2-1 Croatia 2014 Argentina 2-1 Croatia short on glory with Argentina Messi, Aguero,2006 Pavon.Croatia 3-2 Argentina 2006 Croatia 3-2 Argentina Right foot WORLD CUP RECORD HEAD-TO-HEAD WORLD CUP RECORD 42 Wins 8 42 Wins 8 15 Draws 2 15 Draws 2 POSITIONLeft foot 2 21 Losses 7 21 Losses 7 1.69 Goals for* 1.35 1.69 Goals for* 1.35 1.09 Goals against* 1.00 1.09 Goals against* 1.00 Argentina*Per match ©have GRAPHIC NEWS one Croatia’s*Per match © GRAPHIC NEWS Zlatko Dalic presides over a Barcelona Argentina 2 Croatia 1 LIONEL32 Spain of the most fearsome at- hugely talented squad but also one of the GOALS FOR HIS CLUB (2017-18)tacks in the world but so oldest in the tournament. MESSI 1.69 m / 72 kg Recent In La Liga far Jorge Sampaoli has not Strengths INTERNATIONAL RECORD meetings Draws 1 been able to getRight the foot players Any team with Luka 64 ARGENTINAGOALS Left foot to click. 2 2014 Argentina 2-1 Croatia Modric and Ivan Rakitic 124 FORWARDMATCHES • AGE 30 Strengths 2006 Croatia 3-2 Argentina in midfield are going to 2005 2010 2015 2018 Widely regarded as a 32 Lionel Messi deserves a have a lot of possession football genius.WORLD Yet theCUP GOALSmention FOR HIS but CLUB (2017-18)the Barcelo- WORLD CUP RECORD and create chances. 5-times BallonOLYMPIC d’Or winner GAMES is In La Liga INTERNATIONAL RECORD na forward is backed up 42 Wins 8 Weaknesses short on gloryCOPA with AMERICA Argentina 64 GOALSby players such as Sergio Defence is a concern OTHER MAJOR HONOURS 15 Draws 2 124 MATCHESAgüero, Paulo Dybala,Recent Gon- with Dejan Lovren POSITION 21 Losses 7 BALLON D'OR 2005 2010 2015 2018 zalo Higuaín and Ángel Di likely to partner CHAMPIONSBarcelona LEAGUE María. meetings1.69 Goals for* 1.35Draws 1 Domagoj Vida in WORLD CUP SPAIN LASpain LIGA OLYMPICWeaknesses GAMES 1.09 Goals against* 1.00 the centre after Winner Finalist Participation 1.69 m / 72 kg Source: Transfertmarkt/ Liga As of May 29, COPA2018A AMERICAcentral defence pairing2014 of Argentina*Per match 2-1 © GRAPHICCroatia NEWS injury to the Federico FazioRight and foot Nicolás Did you know? veteran Vedran OTHER MAJOR HONOURS Left foot Otamendi does not22006 instil CroatiaLionel Messi scored his3-2 first internationalArgentina Corluka. BALLONconfidence D'OR and none of the goal against Croatia, in a 3-2 friendly 32 CHAMPIONSgoalkeepers LEAGUE had more than SPAIN LA LIGA defeat in March 2006 10 caps going into the tour- Winner Finalist Participation GOALS FOR HIS CLUB (2017-18) WORLD CUP RECORD Source: Transfertmarkt/ Liga Innament. La Liga As of May 29, 2018 INTERNATIONAL RECORD Argentina’s draw with Iceland was the first time they’ve failed to win a World 64 GOALS 42 8 124 MATCHES Cup opener since losingWins to Cameroon in 1990 (1-0) 2005 2010 2015 2018 15 Draws 2 WORLD CUP OLYMPIC GAMES Croatia will seal qualifiation for the round of COPA AMERICA 21 16 if they beat ArgentinaLosses 7 LUKA OTHER MAJOR HONOURS MODRIC 1.69 The runners-upGoals at Brazil 2014, for* Argentina have 1.35 Jorge Sampaoli BALLON D'OR Zlatko Dali now gone three games without a win at the world Argentina Coach CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Croatia Coach ć finals. Their last victory was the 1-0 quarter-final SPAIN LA LIGA 1.09 defeat Goalsof Belgium four against* years ago, which was 1.00 Winner Finalist Participation followed by a penalty shoot-out victory over the Source: Transfertmarkt/ Liga As of May 29, 2018 *Per match © GRAPHIC NEWS Netherlands in the semi-finals. AFP | Nizhniy Novgorod, Russia were held to a 1-1 draw by min- in a World Cup game without Messi and goalscorer against with perjury in a corrup - to prevent nows Iceland. Another adverse return by a single player since Iceland Sergio Aguero with the tion scandal.And striker Golden Boot rgentina are rallying outcome on Thursday and many Italy’s Luigi Riva in 1970. Argen- kind of service on which they Kalinic has left Russia due winner Davor around captain Lionel may even start to consider the tina’s players however have been would thrive in a potential 3-3- to a back injury, says coach Suker from AMessi as the South Amer- unthinkable -- that Argentina quick to close ranks around the 3-1 formation. Zlatko Dalic, but amid re- scoring. One ican giants prepare for their cru- could be on their way out at the superstar. Sampaoli is reportedly Croatia may have secured a ports he refused to come on as other possible cial Group D clash with Croatia group stage, mirroring their considering several changes for vital three points in their 2-0 a substitute after being left out of omen for Thursday; when here on Thursday. shock first round exit in 2002. the game, including drafting in win against Nigeria, but their the starting line-up. Riva racked up his unwanted Messi made an unhappy start Adding to the sense of dis - young forward Cristian Pavon mood can hardly be described The teams have met only once record in 1970, the Italian legend to the World Cup on Saturday, appointment, Messi’s missed for Angel Di Maria for more cre- as euphoric.They came into the before in the World Cup, in 1998, promptly scored two goals in his missing what would have been penalty was accompanied by ativity up front. tournament under a cloud, with when Argentina won 1-0 and next match. Argentina will be a winning penalty as Argentina 11 unsuccessful shots, the most Their jobs would be to supply captain Luka Modric charged were the only team that year hoping for the same from Messi. I can understand that he was The reality is that this game Playing like that, he can’t frustrated that he didn’t get is crucial for us, knowing come back to Argentina. It’s a the result he wanted. If we we weren’t able to get the disgrace. Not having prepared would be in his position we three points the other day. for the match knowing that would be as frustrated as him This is a vital game Iceland are all 1.90m tall... DEFENDER BIRKIR SAEVARSSON ARGENTINA DEFENDER GABRIEL MERCADO ARGENTINA LEGEND DIEGO MARADONA WORLD CUP PREDICT AND WIN Yesterday’s lucky winner is Marie Bernadine Castillo. Winner will be contacted DAY 8, 21st JUNE 2018 DENMARK AUSTRALIA DRAW FRANCE PERU DRAW ARGENTINA CROATIA DRAW Entry should be submitted before 2pm.