World Cup 2018: Argentina vs Croatia prediction, odds, line-ups and preview

World Cup 2018 Argentina vs Croatia: World Cup 2018 prediction, betting tips, odds, kick-off time, team news and line-ups, what TV channel, live stream online, head to head.

Argentina vs Croatia | World Cup 2018, Group D | Thursday, June 21 | Nizhny Novgorod Stadium

World Cup 2018: Argentina vs Croatia prediction, odds, line-ups and preview as Lionel Messi and teammates look to finally join the party.

AFTER a shock draw with World Cup newcomers Iceland, Lionel Messi and Argentina will aim to get their World Cup campaign back on track against Group D rivals Croatia.

Barcelona’s Messi was unable to sprinkle his usual magic on the pitch against Iceland, missing a penalty and failing to find the net despite 11 shots in total, with Sergio Aguero instead bagging the Argentinians a point.

Head to head Argentina vs Croatia

The two nations have faced each other four times - once at the 1998 World Cup, which Argentina won 1-0, and in three friendlies.

Both sides have won a friendly apiece and drew the other one, with their most recent meeting coming in 2014 as Argentina won 2-1 thanks to a Lionel Messi penalty.

Team news Argentina vs Croatia

Argentina coach Jorge Sampaoli hasn't used the same lineup twice in the 12 games he's been in charge for Argentina.

He is set to juggle again, and will likely start 22-year-old Boca Juniors forward Cristian Pavon, who is quick and can play on the right or left and is likely to replace Angel di Maria.

Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic has sent home striker Nikola Kalinic because he wouldn't come off the bench as a substitute against Nigeria.

Kalinic, who plays for AC Milan, says he has a back injury although news reports in Croatia say he is unhappy being a substitute - that leaves the nation with 22 players for the tournament.

Massively overshadowed by Portuguese hat-trick hero Cristiano Ronaldo, Messi has now failed to score with 21 successive shots in World Cup finals.


Group C P W D L F A Pts

Croatia 1 1 0 0 2 0 3
Argentina1 0 1 0 1 1 1
Iceland 1 0 1 0 1 1 1
Nigeria 1 0 0 1 0 2 0


But Croatia could prove to be welcome opponents, with the five-time Ballon D’Or winner having netted in each of his two previous appearances against the country, including his first ever goal for Argentina in March 2006.

But Croatia are no mugs and efficiently dispatched Nigeria 2-0 in their opening match to leave them as the early group pace setters ahead of matches with Argentina and Iceland.

They have now scored in each of their last five World Cup games – their longest such streak in the competition.

And with captain fantastic Luka Modric leading from the front, including with a penalty against Nigeria, the prospect of Croatia winning back-to-back World Cup games for the first time in a decade is now not so far-fetched.

Possible Line-ups Argentina vs Croatia

Argentina: Caballero, Salvio, Otamendi, Rojo, Tagliafico, Mascherano, Banega, Meza, Messi, Di Maria, Aguero

Croatia: Subasic, Vrsaljko, Lovren, Vida, Strinic, Rakitic, Modric, Rebic, Kramaric, Perisic, Mandzukic

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