Will Brazil-Argentina prevail against well-drilled Europeans to end 32-year wait?
A Brazil-Argentina World Cup semi-final encounter looms large as the South American arch-rivals have the possibility to face off in what will be their first World Cup meeting in 32 years provided both the teams win their quarter-final berths.
Five-time champions Brazil are well on their way in their Hexa mission but will have to take on a hefty challenge in facing 2018 runners-up Croatia in the quarter-finals on Friday.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. The Selecao have found their stride and made their mark on the tournament with a 4-1 demolition of South Korea in the last 16 after a stutter against Cameroon in their penultimate group-stage fixture.
On the other hand, Lionel Messi-led Argentina have continued to prove doubters wrong since their Saudi Arabia debacle and with a 2-0 drubbing of Poland in the last 16, pre-tournament favourites Argentina would start to believe in their title credentials. With Messi potentially taking part in his last World Cup, the spotlight would yet again be on the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner to go one step further by putting down the Netherlands on Saturday in his quest for the only trophy that has eluded him.
Louis Van Gaal's Netherlands have been hard to beat and despite the fact that they have not found their attacking best yet, the Dutch have managed to find the all-important goals to help them qualify.
The winner of the quarter-final between Brazil and Croatia will play in the semi-final against the winner of Argentina and the Netherlands. With Brazil and Argentina tipped as favourites, the potential semi-final clash would satiate the thirsts of generations of fans worldwide who have longed for the two sides to meet again in the World Cup.
The two sides, who have a total of seven World Cups between them, faced off each other on four occasions in the World Cup- 1974, 1978, 1982, and 1990, with the Selecaos having the upper hand on the Albiceleste on two of those encounters, winning 2-1 in 1974 and 3-1 in 1982, while Argentina edged them 1-0 in their most recent clash in 1990, and the 1978 duel ending in a goalless stalemate.
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