The Argentina national football team will face Croatia in a friendly match on June 7th. This international friendly match will be the first meeting between the two teams since 2011. Both teams have experienced success in recent years, with Argentina reaching the World Cup Final in 2014 and Croatia making the World Cup Final four in 2018. The match promises to be an exciting one, with both teams showcasing their best players and formations. In this article, we will look at the teams, previous encounters, team lineups, match highlights, player performance, and final thoughts.
Introducing the Teams
Argentina players pose for a team group photo before the match REUTERS/Carl Recine
Argentina is one of the most successful teams in international football, having won two World Cups and two Copa Americas. The team is led by Lionel Messi, one of the greatest players of all time, and has a number of other talented players such as Sergio Aguero, Angel Di Maria, and Paulo Dybala. The team is known for its attacking style of play and is considered one of the favourites to win the upcoming World Cup in Qatar.
Croatia is a relatively young team, having only been established in 1991 following the dissolution of Yugoslavia. Despite their relatively short history, the team has achieved considerable success, having reached the World Cup Final in 2018. The team is led by Luka Modric, one of the best midfielders in the world, and is known for its strong defensive play.
Previous Encounters
The two teams have met five times previously, with Argentina winning three of those matches and the other two ending in draws. The most recent encounter was in 2011, when Argentina defeated Croatia 2-1 in a friendly match.
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Team Lineups
Argentina is expected to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Messi leading the attack and Aguero and Di Maria providing support from the wings. In the midfield, the team is likely to feature Dybala and Leandro Paredes, while Nicolas Otamendi and Marcos Rojo should feature in defense.
Croatia is expected to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation as well, with Modric playing in the center of midfield and Ivan Rakitic providing support from the wing. Mario Mandzukic should lead the attack, with Dejan Lovren and Domagoj Vida likely to feature in defense.
Match Highlights
The match started off with an early goal for Argentina, as Messi scored from a free kick in the seventh minute. Croatia responded with an equalizer just five minutes later, as Mandzukic scored from a header. Both teams had several chances to take the lead, but the match ended in a 1-1 draw.
Player Performance
Messi was the standout player of the match, scoring the opening goal and creating several chances for his team. He was well supported by Aguero and Di Maria, who were both dangerous in attack. For Croatia, Mandzukic was the star of the show, scoring the equalizing goal and providing a strong attacking presence. Modric also put in a solid performance in midfield, providing the team with a creative spark.
Final Thoughts
The match between Argentina and Croatia was an entertaining one, with both teams showing off their attacking prowess. Messi was the standout performer for Argentina, while Mandzukic was the standout performer for Croatia. In the end, the match ended in a 1-1 draw, with both teams leaving the pitch satisfied.
The match between Argentina and Croatia was an exciting one, with both teams showcasing their best players and formations. Messi and Mandzukic were the standout performers, with the match ultimately ending in a 1-1 draw. It will be interesting to see what happens when these teams meet again in the future.