Artistic football is becoming increasingly rare these days, but that’s not the case for this Argentina team. Argentina is so clinical, so lethal in front of the goal, yet so shrill. Now that is a concern. Heat causes sweating as they prepare to face Croatia in the much-anticipated semifinal of the Fifa World Cup 2022.
Argentina were lethal against the Netherlands, appearing to have comfortably passed the Dutch challenge until Wout Weghorst’s lightning two quick strikes left them perplexed.
They earned a hard-fought victory in the end, but things could get worse if Emi Martinez doesn’t come to the rescue quickly. The game was far from boring, as it was full of pushing, shoving, and players engaging each other with or without the ball.
The game saw 17 cards splitted between the two teams including a Dutch sent off. However, Argentina seemed to be coming out worst as they have a semifinal to dictate their fate.
Marcos Acuna has earned a starting spot under Lionel Scaloni and has performed admirably in recent games. He had already received one yellow card against Poland prior to the quarter-final match against the Dutch. But he couldn’t keep his cool and received a second yellow on 43rd minutes, leaving him out of the semifinals.
The same goes for Gonzalo Montiel, who was shown a yellow card by Antonio Mateu Lahoz in the 110th minute, meaning he too will have to sit out Argentina’s match against Croatia. The Argentine camp is concerned because both players are critical to their success.
Argentine coach Lionel Scaloni has nothing but praise for Croatia’s tenacity in staying in the game. But he is hopeful that their team will pass the test, as they have in the past, thanks to their magician Lionel Messi.
It remains to be seen whether Argentina will triumph and continue to play their dream World Cup Final at the Lusail Stadium after 2014.
