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Featured Image Credit: Alamy
Topics: Football, Football World Cup, Croatia, Argentina, Lionel Messi
Rory O'Callaghan
Topics: Football, Football World Cup, Croatia, Argentina, Lionel Messi
Argentina take on Croatia on Tuesday in the first semi-final of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Lionel Messi's hopes of winning international football's biggest trophy are still alive after Argentina scraped past the Netherlands in the previous round.
The two-time winners had led 2-0 in their quarter-final but were stunned when the Dutch equalised with a sensational free-kick routine in the dying moments of normal time.
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The match eventually went to penalties, with Argentina winning 4-3 thanks to two superb saves from their goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.
Croatia booked their place in the last four with an equally dramatic win over Brazil.
After a goalless 90 minutes, Croatia fell behind to a goal from Neymar but found a way to equalise through Bruno Petkovic with just minutes remaining in extra-time.
The European side then won 4-2 on penalties, stunning the five-time champions and pre-tournament favourites.
The winner of Argentina vs Croatia will face either Morocco or defending champions France, who meet in the other semi-final on Wednesday.
Italian referee Daniele Orsato has been named as the referee for Tuesday's match at Lusail Stadium.
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Orsato is an extremely experienced official, having become a FIFA referee back in 2010.
He was the man in the middle for the 2020 Champions League final between Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich and has taken charge of two matches so far at the World Cup in Qatar.
Orsato was the referee for Ecuador's 2-0 win over the host nation in the opening match of the tournament.
He later took charge of Argentina's 2-0 win over Mexico, during which he handed out five yellow cards.
Assistant referees: Ciro Carbone (Italy), Alessandro Giallatini (Italy)
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Fourth official: Mohammed Abdulla Hassan Mohamed (United Arab Emirates)
Reserve assistant referee: Mohamed Al-Hammadi (United Arab Emirates)
Video assistant referee: Massimiliano Irrati (Italy)
Assistant video assistant referees: Paolo Valeri (Italy), Kathryn Nesbitt (United States), Juan Soto (Venezuela)
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Stand-by video assistant referee: Bastian Dankert (Germany)
Stand-by assistant video assistant referee: Kyle Atkins (United States)