Argentina, led by superstar Lionel Messi, came into the World Cup as one of the favourites but they face a big roadblock in the semi-final on Tuesday with 2018 runners-up Croatia, who proved too much for the other title contenders, Brazil.

The Croatians stunned the tournament favourites in the quarter-finals with a vintage performance, after going a goal down in extra-time but digging deep to bounce back and force a penalty shootout that they ended up winning.

With a never-say-die attitude, even when the odds were stacked heavily against them, disciplined Croatia are now deservedly in their second straight World Cup semi-final, and underestimating them would come at Argentina's risk.

Playmaker Luka Modric has been their driving force at the age of 37, a motivation for everyone else in the squad.

With no players suspended and no injury concerns following the return of defender Borna Sosa, Zlatko Dalic's team is brimming with confidence and ready for more.

The Argentines, on the other hand, have their work cut out.

Defenders Marcos Acuna, a starter, and Gonzalo Montiel are suspended because of bookings, limiting coach Lionel Scaloni's options at the back.

Nicolas Tagliafico could come on to replace the former but it will be a less attacking formation, with wingback Acuna having added more spark to the team. A question mark also hangs over veteran Angel Di Maria and his fitness.

Croatia came through two shootouts and extra-time to reach the 2018 final before losing to France and have gone to penalties in both their knockout stage matches in Qatar to boast a 4-0 perfect record. Based on that statistic, another one against Argentina would most likely carry them into the final.

When?

14th December, Wednesday, 01:00 am

Where?

Lusail Stadium, Doha

Capacity: 88,966

Head-to-head

Matches 5

Argentina 2

Croatia 2

Draw 1

Probable lineups:

Argentina: (4-3-3) E. Martinez (GK), Molina, Romero, Otamendi, Tagliafico, Fernandez, De Paul, Mac Allister, Di Maria, Messi, Alvarez

Croatia: (4-3-3) Livakovic (GK), Juranovic, Gvardiol, Lovren, Sosa, Modric, Brozovic, Kovacic, Pasalic, Kramaric, Perisic

Key stats:

* Croatia are in their second consecutive World Cup semi-final after losing to France in the 2018 World Cup final. They also have a perfect record in penalty shootouts, having come out on top in all four they have contested so far in their history.

* Bruno Petkovic's 117th-minute equaliser against Brazil in the quarter-final was the latest goal Croatia have scored in a World Cup match. It was also their first shot on goal in that game.

* Croatia will be looking to become the first back-to-back finalists since Brazil in 2002

* Argentina captain Lionel Messi is eyeing his second World Cup final, after his team lost to Germany in 2014. The World Cup trophy is the only major title missing from his collection, which includes every big club and national team title.

* Argentina started their tournament with a defeat to Saudi Arabia but have since conceded just three goals in four matches to make it to the last four for the sixth time.

* They have won the title twice, in 1978 and 1986, and have been runners-up on three occasions.

Previous meetings:

* The teams have met twice before at a World Cup with the Croats beating the South Americans 3-0 in the group stage in 2018 after Argentina came out on top (1-0) at the same stage back in 1998.

Their overall head-to-head is evenly balanced, having played each other five times, earning two wins each and a draw.