Having already sent one South American Goliath home from the World Cup, Croatia will be trying to reach back-to-back finals when they lock horns with Argentina in Tuesday’s semi-final at Lusail Iconic Stadium.

The penalty prowess of both teams ended nervy quarter-final battles, as Zlatko Dalic’s men put Brazil out on spot kicks a few hours before La Albiceleste defeated the Netherlands from 12 yards.

If there was one game to symbolize the chaotic, fierce and unexpected nature of the 2022 World Cup, Argentina’s quarter-final versus the Netherlands followed the script to a tee.

Argentina have never been eliminated from the World Cup in the last four and have gone to the final every time that they have come this far – the fifth and most recent of which occurred in the 2014 event before their painful loss to Germany.

Scaloni’s gallant goalscorers enter the semi-finals having made the net ripple twice in each of their last four matches in all tournaments – scoring in each of their last 14 in total – but facing the staunch rearguard action of Croatia is a challenge that Messi and co must prepare for with due diligence.

While Brazil was struggling to find a way through the notoriously dogged Croatia defence, Neymar took it upon himself to break the deadlock in the 106th minute with a wonderful goal, but Bruno Petkovic’s 117th-minute effort found its way into the corner via a deflection to force a 12-yard battle of nerves.