Argentina vs Croatia history: Head-to-head matches at World Cup, last meeting, team records ahead of 2022 semifinal

Joshua Thomas

Argentina vs Croatia history: Head-to-head matches at World Cup, last meeting, team records ahead of 2022 semifinal image

Argentina and Croatia will face off for a place in the 2022 FIFA World Cup final. 

Both sides sealed their place in the semifinals with penalty shootout victories last time out against the Netherlands and Brazil respectively. 

These two teams are no strangers to deep runs at World Cups with Croatia looking to make consecutive finals, while Argentina played the decisive match back in 2014. 

Only one of the nations can progress to another final, however, with these two boasting an even and fascinating record against the other. 

MORE: When is Argentina vs. Croatia at World Cup? Date, time, early odds

Argentina vs Croatia history

Argentina and Croatia have played each other at two previous World Cups in 1998 and 2018. 

Both those games were in the group stages, however, with their next match looming as the biggest between the two. 

This fixture has only been played five times before with a relatively high 12 goals scored across the matches to date. 

Argentina vs Croatia head-to-head

In terms of past results, there is no splitting these two teams on paper.

They have both won two games each after drawing their first ever match 0-0 back in 1994. 

Across the five fixtures, Croatia have managed to score more goals than Argentina with seven strikes compared to five. 

Notably, Lionel Messi has scored twice across his three matches against Croatia and comes into this semifinal with four goals in five games in Qatar. 

Argentina vs Croatia: Last five meetings

Date Competition Result Scorers
June 21, 2018 World Cup
(Group stages)
Croatia 3
Argentina 0
Rebic (53'), Modric (80'), Rakitic (90')
November 12, 2014 Friendly Argentina 2
Croatia 1
Ansaldi (49'), Messi (57'); Sharbini (11')
March 1, 2006 Friendly Croatia 3
Argentina 2
Klasnic (3'), Srna (52'), Simic (90');
Tevez (4'), Messi (6')
June 26, 1998 World Cup
(Group stages)
Argentina 1
Croatia 0
Pineda (36')
June 4, 1994 Friendly Croatia 0
Argentina 0
 

Last Argentina vs Croatia match

Argentina will be hoping to avoid a repeat of the result last time they faced Croatia. 

Back at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, they were smashed 3-0 in the group stages by Croatia which ultimately saw them finish second Group D.

That resulted in Argentina facing and losing to eventual champions France in the Round of 16, while Croatia were given an easier knockout stage route as they reached the final.

Argentina edged possession last time they faced Croatia but were ineffective with the ball - something they can't afford to be in 2022. They will also aim to avoid the defensive mistakes that killed them in this match

Argentina vs Croatia World Cup betting odds

Despite their even history, Argentina will come into their next match as clear favourites with the bookmakers. 

Croatia are viewed as real outsiders but have been backed to make this a tight, low-scoring contest. 

Odds via BetMGM (USA), Sports Interaction (Canada), SkyBet (UK), and Ladbrokes (Australia).

  BetMGM Sports
Interaction
SkyBet Ladbrokes
Argentina win -110 1.77 3/4 4/5
Draw +240 3.25 12/5 9/4
Croatia win +375 4.80 17/4 4/1
Both teams
to score Y / N
+125 / -185 2.20 / 1.53 11/8, 8/15 5/4, 3/5
Over / Under
2.5 goals
+145 / -210 2.46 / 1.49 13/8, 4/9 6/4, 1/2
Argentina -0.5 -135 1.77
Croatia +0.5 -110 1.99
Argentina advance -275 1.36 1/3 4/11
Croatia advance +185 2.90 9/4 2/1

Note: Odds above for 90 minutes of regulation except "to advance".

Joshua Thomas

Joshua Thomas Photo

Josh has been covering sport for nearly a decade now having fallen in love with football at a young age. A UTS graduate, Josh has previously worked for GOAL and now covers football closely for The Sporting News.