Argentina have returned to a back four for tonight’s World Cup semi-final showdown with Croatia.
A switch to five at the back brought Lisandro Martinez back into the first XI for the penalty shootout win over the Netherlands in the quarters, after a fiery 2-2 draw and extra time, but he drops to the bench again.
Full-backs Marcos Acuna and Gonzalo Montiel are unavailable due to suspension, as Nicolas Tagliafico comes in on the left side of defence and Nahuel Molina continues on the right.
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Papu Gomez was a doubt with an ankle knock that kept him out of the quarter-final and does not start again, but Rodrigo De Paul is fit.
Lionel Messi leads Argentina as ever, looking to add to his four goals in Qatar, and Julian Alvarez starts alongside the captain as Lautaro Martinez misses out once again.
Croatia have no fresh injury or suspension concerns, Borna Sosa having returned to start their dramatic win over Brazil in the last round and he lines up at left-back again.
Bruno Petkovic’s late leveller is not enough for him to start, as Andrej Kramaric keeps his place despite a quiet performance. Mario Pasalic also starts in the front three attack, with Ivan Perisic on the left wing again.
Argentina XI: Martinez, Molina, Romero, Otamendi, Tagliafico, De Paul, Paredes, Fernandez, Mac Allister, Messi, Alvarez
Croatia XI: Livakovic, Juranovic, Lovren, Gvardiol, Sosa, Brozovic, Modric, Kovacic, Pasalic, Kramaric, Perisic
