Lionel Messi and Luka Modric are both vying for the sport’s top honours in tuesday’s tantalizing World Cup semifinal between Argentina and Croatia.
Reigning champions France and giant-killing Morocco, the first African team to ever make it to the World Cup final four, square off in the second semi-final on Wednesday.
But first, all eyes will be on the massive Lusail Stadium, where Messi, at 35, will try to lead Argentina into the final against the runners-up from last year for the second time in eight years.
Messi, who lost to Germany in the 2014 final, is desperate to emulate another Argentine legend, the late Diego Maradona, who won the title in 1986, to round off his incredible career.
The Paris Saint-Germain forward played a key role in Friday’s dramatic quarterfinal victory over the Netherlands. A record 18 yellow cards were issued during the match, and players from both teams got into a brawl as the referee struggled to maintain control.
Lionel Scaloni, the coach of Argentina, defended his players’ actions on Monday, saying they had nothing to apologize for.
“Both teams played the game the other day in the proper manner. According to the 44-year-old Argentina coach, it is football.
“I don’t buy this notion that we lack winning strategies. The appropriate way to play the game was used.
Croatia defeated pre-tournament favorites Brazil and Japan in penalty shootouts to go to the last four, have not won a knockout game in normal time at a major tournament since the 1998 World Cup, where they came third.
Four years ago in Russia, the nation of fewer than four million people shocked the football world by making it to the final. However, France ended their hopes with a 4-2 victory.
Croatia overcomes the odds
Croatia has once again beaten the odds to stand on the verge of a second straight final, with Real Madrid playmaker Luka Modric still serving as the team’s captain at the age of 37.
Reaching the semis for a second consecutive World Cup, according to coach Zlatko Dalic, was a “amazing triumph,” but he was eager to advance farther.
He declared, “I’m optimistic, and I have complete trust in my guys. “They deserve to be in the final because they have demonstrated their excellent character and quality.”
France has a good chance of defeating Morocco and winning.
However, the African team’s historic run has captured the attention of an entire continent, and they are supported by throngs of spectators in Qatar.
Since France was Morocco’s former colonial power and many of individuals with Moroccan ancestry reside and work there, the game will have extra spice.
Hugo Lloris, the captain of France, said his team was prepared for a pro-Morocco crowd and was taking no chances.
“We can only respect and admire what they have accomplished, but nothing at this level happens by accident,” he remarked.
They will be powerful foes, and there will also be a hostile atmosphere.
Walid Regragui, the coach of Morocco, said his team was eager to advance because they were the first Arab team to reach a World Cup semifinal.
“There is an issue if you get to the semi-finals and you are not hungry,” he remarked.
Brazil, the best squad in the competition, has already been eliminated. We are a driven team with ambition, but I’m not sure if that will be enough.
Away from Qatar, the German Football Association announced the formation of a think tank with former internationals, notably Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Matthias Sammer, to assist in reviving the country’s fortunes following yet another disappointing World Cup.
