Croatia v Argentina: Keys to the World Cup semi-final

Croatia and Argentina face each other on Tuesday at the Lusail Stadium with a place in the World Cup final at stake.

AFP Sport looks at some of the keys to the game.

Messi or Modric magic?

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.

Croatia are unlikely to put a specific man-marker on Messi, relying on what has been a solid defence and one of the best midfields 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.

With the ball, Croatia have their own diminutive veteran maestro in 37-year-old Luka Modric, whose ability to dictate the tempo, maintain possession and take his team forward into dangerous areas is fundamental for his country's hopes of reaching successive World Cup finals.

Croat resilience or tiredness?

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?

It will help Croatia that Argentina also had to go to penalties in their