World Cup 2018, Argentina vs Croatia: What time is kick-off today, what TV channel is it on and what is our prediction?
What is it?
The second round of matches is underway as Argentina and Croatia - the two heavyweights of Group D - go head to head. Argentina desperately need three points after drawing with Iceland in their opening match. Croatia got up and running with a 2-0 win over Nigeria.
When is it?
Thursday, June 21.
What time is kick-off?
7pm UK time.
What TV channel is it on?
BBC One. Alternatively, you can follow the match live with us on Telegraph Sport.
Where is the game being played?
The Nizhny Novgorod Stadium in Nizhny Novgorod.
What is the team news?
Stung by his failure to score a penalty and avert a disappointing draw against Iceland, the pressure is on Argentina's captain and talisman, Lionel Messi, to make amends against Croatia.
Having led Argentina to an agonising World Cup final defeat to Germany four years ago, Messi turns 31 in a few days and may be playing his last World Cup. He needs to win it to rival fellow great Diego Maradona.
Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic has unashamedly turned to midfielder Ivan Rakitic - a team mate of Messi's at Barcelona - for tactics to stop him.
For reasons hard to fathom, Argentina have looked ponderous and lacking in creative thrust throughout coach Jorge Sampaoli's year in charge despite boasting Messi and other big names like Paulo Dybala, Gonzalo Higuain, Sergio Aguero and Angel di Maria.
Sampaoli hasn't used the same line-up twice in the 12 games he's been in charge and he'll probably juggle again, this time starting with 22-year-old Boca Juniors forward Cristian Pavon up front with Messi. Pavon is quick, can play on the right or left and is likely to replace Di Maria.
Croatia themselves are not short on top-quality players. As well as Rakitic, they also have the talented Luka Modric in midfield and towering hitman Mario Madzukic up front.
The squads in full:
Argentina
Sergio Romero, Willy Caballero, Franco Armania, Gabriel Mercardo, Cristian Ansaldi, Nicolas Otamendi, Federico Fazio, Marcos Rojo, Nicolas Tagliafico, Marcos Acuna, Javier Mascherano, Eduardo Salvio, Lucas Biglia, Giovani Lo Celso, Ever Banega, Manuel Lanzini, Maximiliano Meza, Angel Di Maria, Cristian Pavon, Lionel Messi, Paulo Dybala, Gonzalo Higuain, Sergio Aguero.
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Croatia
Goalkeepers: Danijel Subasic (Monaco), Lovre Kalinic (Gent), Dominik Livakovic (Dinamo Zagreb)
Defenders: Vedran Corluka (Lokomotiv Moscow), Domagoj Vida (Besiktas), Ivan Strinic (Sampdoria), Dejan Lovren (Liverpool), Sime Vrsaljko (Atletico Madrid), Josip Pivaric (Dynamo Kiev), Tin Jedvaj (Bayer Leverkusen), Duje Caleta-Car (Red Bull Salzburg)
Midfielders: Luka Modric (Real Madrid), Ivan Rakitic (Barcelona), Mateo Kovacic (Real Madrid), Milan Badelj (Fiorentina), Marcelo Brozovic (Inter Milan), Filip Bradaric (Rijeka)
Forwards: Mario Mandzukic (Juventus), Ivan Perisic (Inter Milan), Nikola Kalinic (AC Milan), Andrej Kramaric (Hoffenheim), Marko Pjaca (Schalke), Ante Rebic (Eintracht Frankfurt)
What's the latest news on the two teams?
As mentioned earlier, Messi's 31st birthday this weekend is an ominous reminder Russia may be his last World Cup and final chance to emulate fellow Argentine great Maradona in lifting the ultimate prize.
The diminutive Argentine captain, known as "La Pulga" (The Flea), has won every club accolade imaginable with Barcelona, but has agonisingly missed out on international trophies both at the World Cup and Copa America.
For many Argentines that means that while he may currently be the world's best player, Messi has not entered the same pantheon as Maradona, "El Pibe" (The Kid), who won the 1986 World Cup.
With Argentina looking dysfunctional and under-performing throughout the qualifiers, Messi's dream of matching Maradona in Russia always looked a tall order.
But it became harder in the 64th minute of Argentina's opener when his tame penalty was saved by Iceland's goalkeeper - watched inevitably by Maradona who had lapped up adoring cries of "Dieeeeego!" beforehand.
Though Maradona, 57, consoled Messi that even he too once missed five consecutive penalties and the 1-1 draw with Iceland was a collective failure, the signs are bad.
"Look, I love Messi, we all do. But it's just not working out for him internationally," said Guillermo Aguirre, strolling round Nizhny Novgorod as Argentine fans begin to arrive for Thursday's game.
"I want to see him lift the cup so the Maradona debate can be ended because it's not fair on him. But if I'm realistic, Brazil was the best opportunity."
What are the odds?
Guide to the best World Cup free bets and offers >>
Argentina win - EVENS
Draw - 9/4
Croatia win - 3/1
What's our prediction?
This is going to be so tight and could go either way. Both teams have quality, but Croatia are more of a team, Argentina too reliant on one man - Messi. If Argentina are to prevail it will be thanks to a moment of brilliance from Messi or Aguero or Dybala. Croatia, though, are too organised to give them that many openings.
Prediction: Argentina 1 Croatia 1.
