World Cup

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World Cup | Semi-Finals

Dec 13, 2022 at 7pm UK

Lusail Iconic Stadium

Argentina
3 - 0
Croatia

Messi (34' pen.), Alvarez (39', 69')
Romero (68'), Otamendi (71')

FT(HT: 2-0)

Kovacic (32'), Livakovic (32')

Argentina's Gonzalo Montiel, Marcos Acuna to miss World Cup semi-final with Croatia

By Oliver Thomas, Senior Reporter | 10 December 2022

Argentina's Montiel, Acuna to miss World Cup semi-final with Croatia

Argentina full-backs Gonzalo Montiel and Marcos Acuna will miss next Tuesday's 2022 World Cup semi-final with Croatia due to suspension.

Argentina full-backs Gonzalo Montiel and Marcos Acuna will miss next Tuesday's World Cup 2022 semi-final with Croatia due to suspension.

Having previously been booked in the group stage, both players then received their second yellow cards of the tournament in a chaotic quarter-final encounter against the Netherlands on Friday, which saw La Albiceleste win 4-3 on penalties after a 2-2 draw in 120 minutes.

Nahuel Molina – who started ahead of Montiel at right wing-back – netted his first international goal for Argentina to break the deadlock in the 35th minute, poking home from inside the area after receiving a sublime through-ball from Lionel Messi.

Argentina's No.10 then put his nation two goals in front from the penalty spot in the 73rd minute after Acuna had his ankle clipped inside the box by Dutch defender Denzel Dumfries.

The Netherlands fought back valiantly and substitute Wout Weghorst scored two late goals to send the tie into extra time, but their comeback was ultimately in vain as Argentina prevailed in the shootout.

Argentina's Gonzalo Montiel celebrates after he scores a penalty during a penalty shootout on December 9, 2022 © Reuters

Montiel was one of four Argentina players who successfully converted from 12 yards, while goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez saved the first two spot kicks that he faced from Virgil van Dijk and Steven Berghuis.

Argentina are now just one game away from booking their place in the World Cup final for the sixth time in their history, but they will have to cope without two players for their semi-final bout against Croatia.

Montiel and Acuna – who both ply their trade with La Liga outfit Sevilla – will have to watch on from the sidelines through suspension, with Lionel Scaloni forced to make at least two changes to his starting lineup on Tuesday.

The absence of Montiel will likely see Nahuel retain his place at either right-back or right wing-back, depending on how Scaloni intends to set up against Croatia, although Villarreal's Juan Foyth, who is yet to play in Qatar, is also an option on the right side.

Lyon's Nicolas Tagliafico is expected to replace Acuna, meanwhile, and start his first game since Argentina's shock 2-1 defeat against Saudi Arabia in their opening group game.

Argentina's Lionel Messi remonstrates with referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz on December 9, 2022 © Reuters

Argentina's fiery encounter with the Netherlands saw a remarkable 17 bookings and one red card handed out by referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz, who has received criticism from the likes of Messi and Emiliano Martinez.

Aston Villa shot-stopper Martinez labelled the Spanish official "useless" after the match, while Messi has urged FIFA to drop the 45-year-old for the rest of the World Cup.

Eight Argentina players received yellow cards at Lusail Stadium with six of those – Messi, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martinez, Leandro Paredes, Nicolas Otamendi and German Pezzella – receiving their first booking of the tournament.

However, due to a new rule imposed by FIFA, players will not be suspended for the World Cup final if they receive another booking as players are given a clean slate from the semi-final onwards.

Argentina are the last remaining South American nation at this year's World Cup after pre-tournament favourites Brazil lost 4-2 on penalties to Croatia.