Croatia will be looking to become the first European nation for 32 years to reach back-to-back World Cup finals when they lock horns with Argentina in Tuesday's semi-final clash at the Lusail Stadium.
The Checkered Ones stunned five-time world champions and pre-tournament favourites Brazil by beating them 4-2 on penalties in the quarter-finals, while La Albiceleste also required a shootout to progress to the last four, beating the Netherlands 4-3 from 12 yards.
Argentina will be regarded as favourites for this intriguing semi-final showdown, but Zlatko Dalic's men are relishing their underdog status and will fancy their chances of taking another South American scalp.
Here, Sports Mole looks at three reasons for Croatia to be confident of beating Lionel Messi and co to reach Sunday's showpiece event.
Midfield maestros
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One of Croatia's main strengths is the quality that they possess in midfield, with 37-year-old captain Luka Modric leading by example as the key creative cog in Dalic's well-oiled machine.
The Real Madrid man has made the most World Cup (17) and major tournament appearances (30) for the Checkered Ones and has started all five matches at this year's tournament, with Mateo Kovacic and Marcelo Brozovic completing the ever-present midfield triumvirate.
Indeed, Kovacic has seamlessly stepped in to replace playmaker Ivan Rakitic, who retired from international football in 2020, and the Chelsea man's energy and dribbling ability duly complements the roles both Modric and Brozovic have in dictating play from deeper areas.
Dalic also has the likes of, Mario Pasalic, Lovro Majer, Nikola Vlasic and Luka Sucic at his disposal who can all make an impact off the substitutes' bench when called upon. Pasalic, in fact, started in the win over Brazil in an advanced role on the right, while Majer came on to score Croatia's fourth in a 4-1 group-stage victory over Canada.
Impressive form
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Unlike Argentina, Croatia are yet to lose at this year's World Cup and their form in Qatar has helped extend an impressive run heading into Tuesday's semi-final.
The Checkered Ones are unbeaten in their last 11 internationals and have lost only one of their last 21 games across all competitions since a 5-3 extra-time defeat against Spain at Euro 2020.
Croatia have kept 10 clean sheets during this run, while at the other end, they have scored a total of 35 goals, netting at least twice on eight of those occasions.
Excluding their 4-2 defeat against France in the 2018 World Cup final, Croatia have been taken to extra time in each of their last five knockout matches in the competition and they have prevailed on every occasion, including four via a penalty shootout.
Dalic and co have frustrated many opponents in recent years and will be confident of grinding out another historic result against Argentina as they bid to reach their second successive final.
Argentina's European struggles
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Argentina have only won one of their last seven World Cup matches in 90 minutes against European opposition and that was the 2-0 group-stage victory over Poland at the end of last month.
Two of their three draws during this run ultimately resulted in penalty-shootout triumphs, both of which were against the Netherlands including the 4-3 win on Friday in the quarter-finals, but the South Americans have otherwise struggled in recent years to come out on top against European nations.
Argentina suffered a heartbreaking 1-0 extra-time defeat against Germany in the 2014 World Cup final, before failing to win any of their three encounters against European teams at the 2018 tournament.
A disappointing 1-1 group-stage draw against Iceland was followed by an even worse display against none other than Croatia, who secured a famous 3-0 victory on their way to topping the group, with Ante Rebic, Modric and Rakitic all on the scoresheet for the Checkered Ones.
Argentina managed to finish second in Group D in 2018 before ending up on the wrong side of a thrilling 4-3 scoreline in the quarter-finals against eventual World Cup winners France.
In addition, Argentina have lost two of their last three meetings against Croatia, which will give the Checkered Ones confidence ahead of Tuesday's clash.
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Oliver Thomas
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