Argentina star Lionel Messi was set to equal Lothar Matthaus’ report for probably the most World Cup appearances together with his twenty fifth begin in Tuesday’s semi-final in opposition to Croatia. Midfielder Leandro Paredes and defender Nicolas Tagliafico have been introduced into Argentina’s beginning line-up. Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni drafted in Tagliafico instead of the suspended left-back Marcos Acuna and Paredes took the spot of centre-half Lisandro Martinez. The change means Argentina are more likely to revert to 4 on the again moderately than the five-man defence with superior wing-backs that they used within the penalty shoot-out win over the Netherlands.

Scaloni sticked with the identical ahead line he operated in opposition to the Dutch with Messi enjoying behind Julian Alvarez. Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic named an unchanged workforce to the one which beat Brazil on penalties within the final eight with Andrej Kramaric beginning because the central striker.

Forward Bruno Petkovic, whose late purpose in extra-time pressured the sport right into a penalty shoot-out, begins on the bench once more.

Starting line-ups:

Argentina (4-4-2) – Emiliano Martinez; Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Nicolas Otamendi, Nicolas Tagliafico; Rodrigo De Paul, Leandro Paredes, Enzo Fernandez, Alexis Mac Allister; Lionel Messi (capt), Julian Alvarez

Coach: Lionel Scaloni (ARG)

Croatia (4-3-3) – Dominik Livakovic; Josip Juranovic, Dejan Lovren, Josko Gvardiol, Borna Sosa; Luka Modric (capt), Marcelo Brozovic, Mateo Kovacic; Mario Pasalic, Andrej Kramaric, Ivan Perisic

Coach: Zlatko Dalic (CRO)

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