Timnas Argentina - Reuters
Bisnis.com, JAKARTA - Argentina khususnya Lionel Messi akan mencari penebusan saat bertemu Kroasia, Jumat (22/6/2018) dini hari di Stadion Nizhny Nogorov.
Argentina yang menjadi salah satu favorit juara Piala Dunia 2018 gagal menang di laga perdana mereka di Grup D setelah ditahan imbang Islandia dengan skor 1-1.
Dalam pertandingan tersebut, Messi gagal mengeksekusi tendangan penalti yang menentukan. Jika penalti tersebut masuk, maka Argentina kemungkinan besar akan menang karena memimpin 2-1.
Setelah pertandingan tersebut, Messi dikabarkan sangat marah terhadap dirinya sendiri karena gagal mencetak gol penalti. Kemarahan Messi ini wajib menjadi perhatian Kroasia karena bisa saja pemain klub Barcelona itu bermain tanpa beban.
Kroasia dalam pertandingan ini melaju dengan satu beban terangkat setelah menang 2-0 atas Nigeria. Di grup yang dibilang 'neraka' ini kemenangan adalah hal yang mahal.
Jika Kroasia berhasil meraup poin penuh, maka Luka Modric dan kawan-kawan akan lolos ke fase 16 besar.
Komentar Pelatih Argentina dan Kroasia:
Zlatko Dalic (Kroasia):
Saya akan menggunakan semua informasi yang saya bisa dapatkan.
Tidak ada cara sempurna untuk menghentikan Lionel Messi. Dia adalah pemain terhebat di dunia. Tapi sementara satu pemain hebat dapat membuat hasil yang bagus, tim yang hebat melakukan pekerjaannya dengan jauh lebih baik.
Kami akan melangkah ke pertandingan sedikit lebih rileks dari mereka. Mereka yang mengikuti dengan cermat kualifikasi goyah Argentina untuk menuju Piala Dunia Rusia tidak begitu terkejut dengan hasil imbang melawan Islandia, dan tidak mengharapkan mereka untuk menundukkan Kroasia meskipun mereka memiliki banyak pemain dengan bakat individu.
Jorge Sampaoli (Argentina):
Kami akan belajar dari apa yang terjadi dan kami harus memiliki kekuatan untuk memenangkan pertandingan berikutnya.
Hasil Head to head Argentina Vs Kroasia:
Games won: 1
Games drawn: 1
Games lost: 2
Date Match Result Score Competition
04 Jun 1994 Croatia v Argentina D 0-0 International Friendly
26 Jun 1998 Argentina v Croatia L 1-0 FIFA World Cup
01 Mar 2006 Croatia v Argentina W 3-2 International Friendly
12 Nov 2014 Argentina v Croatia L 2-1 International Friendly
Prediksi susunan pemain Argentina vs Kroasia:
Argentina (4-2-3-1): Willy Caballero; Eduardo Salvio, Nicolas Otamendi, Marcos Rojo, Nicolas Tagliafico; Maximiliano Meza, Javier Mascherano; Lucas Biglia, Lionel Messi, Cristian Pavon; Sergio Aguero.
Kroasia (4-2-3-1): Danijel Subasic; Sime Vrsaljko, Dejan Lovren, Domagoj Vida, Ivan Strinic; Ivan Rakitic, Luka Modric; Ante Rebic, Andrej Kramaric, Ivan Perisic; Mario Mandzukic.
Prediksi Skor Argentina Vs Kroasia:
Skor Argentina Vs Kroasia: 2-1
Skor Argentina Vs Kroasia: 3-1
Skor Argentina Vs Kroasia: 1-3
Data Fakta Argentina Vs Kroasia:
Argentina face Croatia at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium
Argentina are targeting their first win of the 2018 World Cup when they face Croatia in Group D on Thursday (7pm BST).
Jorge Sampaoli's side drew their opening game of the tournament against Iceland, with Sergio Aguero's opener cancelled out by Alfred Finnbogason.
Lionel Messi missed a penalty, but Sampaoli says the Barcelona star should not shoulder all of the blame.
"When Argentina don't win, we attribute responsibility to Leo. I think that's too easy a way for Argentinians to think," Sampaoli said.
"There were lots of factors of irritation for not winning against Iceland. There are 40 of us at this World Cup. The team will be together when things go well and when things go badly."
Lionel Messi had an out-of-sorts game for Argentina on Saturday
Croatia had better fortunes in their opening fixture, cruising past Nigeria with a 2-0 win, but will face a much tougher opponent in Argentina at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium.
However, Croatia coach Zlatko Dali says his side have "nothing to lose".
"The match against Argentina is the easiest game for us at the World Cup because we have three points and we play against a big opponent," he said.
"We have nothing to lose in that game. I'll tell my players before the start of the game just to enjoy the spectacle."
Luka Modric celebrates scoring Croatia's second against Nigeria
Team news
Sampaoli named his starting XI for Iceland the day before Argentina's opening game, although is yet to reveal his chosen line-up for this meeting.
He has never used the same XI twice during his time in charge of the country and Cristian Pavon could make his competitive debut.
Croatia will be without Nikola Kalinic, who was sent home after reportedly refusing to come on as a substitute against Nigeria, with a back injury cited as the reason. Dalic has said he will make some changes.
Nikola Kalinic has left Croatia's World Cup squad
Opta stats
This will be the fifth meeting between Argentina and Croatia, with the South Americans winning twice to Croatia's one (D1).
Croatia have lost all four of their World Cup meetings with South American sides, once in each of the four tournaments they've played in.
Lionel Messi has scored in each of his two previous appearances against Croatia, including his first ever goal for Argentina (March 2006).
Lionel Messi has now failed to score with 21 successive shots in World Cup finals tournaments for Argentina, since last scoring versus Nigeria on June 25 2014.
Croatia have scored in each of their last five World Cup games, their longest such streak in the competition.
Croatia defender Vedran Corluka has made 99 appearances for his country. If he plays in this game he'll be the second member of their 2018 World Cup squad to earn 100 caps for Croatia (after Luka Modric).
Merson's prediction
The pressure is on Argentina - this is a tough game. Croatia are so strong in midfield. However, going forward Argentina have so much quality - I'll side with them.
PAUL PREDICTS: 2-0 (7/1 with Sky Bet)
Betting
Argentina are 21/20 favourites to see off 3/1 shots Croatia (3/1 to win), with the draw priced at 23/10. Lionel Messi will look to bounce back from spot-kick miss and is enhanced from 6/5 to 11/8 with Sky Bet Price Boosts to score at anytime, while leading the first goalscorer market at 3/1. Mario Mandzukic is considered Croatia's main goal scoring threat and is boosted to 9/1 from 7/1 to open the scoring in Sky Bet's Price Boosts. The Argentines drifted from 9/1 to 11/1 to win the World Cup after failing to win their opener, while are Croatia 28/1 to lift the trophy.
Argentina are rallying around captain Lionel Messi as the South American giants prepare for their crucial Group D clash with Croatia on Thursday. Messi made an unhappy start to the World Cup on Saturday, missing what would have been a winning penalty as Argentina were held to a 1-1 draw by minnows Iceland. It was a result that has renewed doubts about Argentina's ability to mount a sustained challenge at this World Cup, four years after they reached the final in Brazil. Another adverse outcome on Thursday and many may even start to consider the unthinkable - that Argentina could be on their way out at the group stage, mirroring their shock first round exit in 2002. Legend Diego Maradona called the Iceland result a "disgrace" and warned coach Jorge Sampaoli he would not be able to return to Argentina with similar performances. Adding to the sense of disappointment, Messi's missed penalty was accompanied by 11 unsuccessful shots, the most in a World Cup game without return by a single player since Italy's Luigi Riva in 1970. Argentina's players however have been quick to close ranks around the Barcelona superstar.
Argentina vs Croatia: TV channel, live stream, squad news & preview
15:30 Share Close
Jorge Sampaoli's side have a point on the board but will need much more in their second game if they are to have a chance of getting out of the group
Argentina will hope to get their first win in the 2018 World Cup when they take on Group D rivals Croatia at Nizhny Novgorod Stadium on Thursday.
The Albiceleste were left feeling deflated after being held to a 1-1 draw against Iceland in their opening game and they will be desperate to bounce back with a win over a team that already has three points on the board.
Those points were secured by the Croatians following a 2-0 win over Nigeria, but they will encounter a wholly different challenge when they come up against Lionel Messi and Co.
A win for Croatia would leave Argentina's hopes of reaching the last 16 hanging by a thread and Jorge Sampaoli will be doing his utmost to avoid that scenario.
Game Argentina vs Croatia Date Thursday, June 21 Time 7pm BST / 2pm ET Stream (US only) fubo TV (7-day free trial)
TV Channel, Live Stream & How To Watch
In the United States (US), the game can be watched live and on-demand with fuboTV (7-day free trial).
New users can sign up for a free seven-day trial of the live sports streaming service, which can be accessed via iOS, Android, Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV, Roku and Apple TV as well as on a web browser.
US TV channel Online stream FOX / Telemundo fubo TV (7-day free trial)
In the United Kingdom (UK), the game can be watched live on TV on BBC One or streamed live online using the BBC iPlayer.
UK TV channel Online stream BBC One BBC iPlayer
Squads & Team News
Position Argentina players Goalkeepers Guzman, Armani, Caballero Defenders Rojo, Otamendi, Tagliafico, Ansaldi, Mercado, Fazio, Acuna Midfielders Biglia, Banega, Di Maria, Meza, Mascherano, Perez, Salvio, Lo Celso, Pavon Forwards Higuain, Messi, Aguero, Dybala
Having been held to a draw by Iceland, Sampaoli may opt to make some changes to the team for the Croatia game, with rumours circulating that he will switch to a 3-4-3 formation in search of victory.
However, with no new injury concerns it is entirely possible that the Albiceleste boss sticks with the XI that started against Iceland.
Potential Argentina XI: Caballero; Mercado, Otamendi, Tagliafico; Salvio, Mascherano, Meza, Acuna; Messi, Aguero, Pavon.
Position Croatia players Goalkeepers Livakovic, L. Kalinic, Subasic Defenders Vrsaljko, Strinic, Corluka, Jedvaj, Lovren, Caleta-Car, Vida, Pivaric Midfielders Perisic, Rakitic, Kovacic, Modric, Brozovic, Bradaric, Badelj Forwards Kramaric, Rebic, Pjaca, Mandzukic
Croatia lined up with an attacking 4-3-3 formation in their win over Nigeria, but things are expected to change for the game against Argentina to shore up the defence against Messi.
Fiorentina midfielder Milan Badelj is likely to come into the team for Andrej Kramaric to provide an extra defensive body alongside Ivan Rakitic in a 4-2-3-1 formation.
Potential Croatia XI: Subasic; Vida, Corluka, Strinic, Lovren, Vrsaljko; Rakitic, Badelj, Modric, Perisic, Rebic; Mandzukic.
Betting & Match Odds
Argentina are favourites to win the game at 21/20 according to dabblebet, with Croatia priced at 3/1. A draw between the sides is a 23/10 bet.
Click here to see all of dabblebet's offers for the game, including goalscoring markets, correct score predictions and more.
Match Preview
One of the main talking points following Argentina's draw against Iceland was the fact that Messi missed a penalty and subsequently failed to sway the game in his side's favour, giving further credence to the notion that the Albiceleste are a husk of a team when the Barcelona star is off his game.
Indeed, in the build-up to the game against Croatia, Real Madrid midfielder Mateo Kovacic boldly asserted that his country are actually a better all-round unit than the South Americans and that they have nothing to fear from Sampaoli's men.
Article continues below
"We do not need to be too afraid of Argentina," Kovacic told reporters ahead of the match. "We are singularly better than them, except Messi, and so we should behave, look at ourselves, not others."
Argentina are fully aware of their shortcomings though and it has been mooted that Sampaoli will change things up tactically in order to get a victory over the Croatians. Indeed, the former Sevilla boss has plenty of high-quality options to consider, including Juventus pair Gonzalo Higuain and Paulo Dybala.
Either way, with their hopes of reaching the last 16 in the balance, an improvement is absolutely necessary if they are to overcome Croatia, who, with the likes of Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic in their ranks, are technically superior to Iceland.
