Argentina vs Croatia Semi Final Highlights: Argentina beat Croatia 3-0 to enter the final

Just as four years ago in Russia, where Croatia won every knockout round game after extra-time -- twice on penalties -- before the final, Zlatko Dalic's team have shown a remarkable ability to grind out results beyond the 90 minutes. Croatia conceded the first goal against both Japan and Brazil but came back to force the game into penalties and win. Will that impressive mental strength prove to be decisive again or will those extended battles take a toll physically?

Croatia are unlikely to put a specific man-marker on Messi, relying on what has been a solid defence and one of the best midfielders in the tournament to gain the upper hand. Marcelo Brozovic occupies the deepest defensive role in the Croat midfield trio and is likely to have the most work to do in nullifying Messi, 35, but Mateo Kovacic put in a strong defensive shift against Brazil and is likely to be asked for a repeat performance.

The late-career evolution of Lionel Messi into a clever creator operating behind the front line has intensified at this World Cup. He illustrated just how effective he can be with his superb defence-splitting pass to set up the opening goal in the quarter-final against the Netherlands.

The country of fewer than four million people shocked the football world by reaching the final four years ago in Russia, where France crushed their dreams with a 4-2 win. Croatia, with Real Madrid playmaker Modric still the leader on the pitch at the age of 37, have again defied the odds to stand on the brink of a second successive final.

All eyes will be locked on the cavernous Lusail Stadium, where Messi, now 35, will attempt to fire Argentina into the final for the second time in eight years against the 2018 runners-up. Messi, who suffered defeat to Germany in the 2014 final, is desperate to crown his extraordinary career by emulating another Argentine great, the late Diego Maradona, who lifted the trophy in 1986.