Argentina vs Croatia will be a game of nerves

Croatia have played five matches in this World Cup. They started off with a draw against Morocco, followed that up with a win against Canada and then drew against Belgium in the group stage. Then, they beat Japan in the Round of 16 via a penalty shootout before beating Brazil in the quarter-finals on penalties after being level 1-1 at the end of extra time.

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Some might wonder how they do this? How do they find a way to win even when it seems difficult? The answer is mental strength.

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This comes from everything that has gone on in our region. We fought for our land, we fought for our country, perhaps we have genetically become like this. The younger generation are told the tales too. They won't be allowed to forget. When you have had to fight in this way, when it comes down to survival... sometimes football seems like it is an easy game.

Argentina, though, also have someone who can make the game look easy. Croatia have to respect Lionel Messi. There is no reason to say otherwise. His genius isn't a secret but at the same time, Croatia don't have to change their game because of him. They have a system that works; a system that has helped them beat Brazil. So, why would you change that?

On paper, one can say that Croatia have lesser quality at an individual level. But they have their own method. I read a lovely piece in The Guardian which described Croatia as "the masters of walking football". That was written after the Japan game but we saw more evidence of that in the match against Brazil.

Tite's side started the match better but the manner in which Croatia dragged the match to their own pace was very impressive. This is a team that makes you play at a pace of their choosing. There are very few teams at the international level that can do that. Luka Modric, Mateo Kovacic and Marcelo Brozovic control possession and then play in the way they know best. They find their comfort zone.

Without the ball, Brazil couldn't do much. For all their talent, they spent the second half of the game just chasing the game.

Against Argentina, Zlatko Dalic's team will need to do that again. If they seek inspiration, they will find it in what happened four years ago. Croatia had beaten Argentina 3-0. It was a group game but Messi was there, four years younger, and he was beaten.

This is a different Argentina now. Only Messi and a few others survive from that group. Croatia need to cut the areas in front of Messi and make the Argentinian defence play the long balls. If they can, it will be a huge step in the right direction.

The other huge differentiator will be how well the two sides have recovered from their quarter-finals. Perfect plans don't mean much if you don't have the legs to carry them out. So, the team that recharges better, the team that has the legs will have a huge advantage. If you are tired, your brain won't work as it should. It is all connected.

This is a very hard-working and technically proficient Argentina team. They will put in the hard yards and look to Messi for some magic.

But this match will be as much about the nerves as it will be about belief. If you don't start well, you will suffer. If you concede early, you will suffer. If you are nervous, you will suffer. If you don't believe, it won't happen.

Croatia will like to believe that they have the advantage in the midfield. They have more experience and they control the game better. They are also very solid in the back with Dejan Lovren and Josko Gvardiol. Very few goals have been conceded but up front, they will now run into the challenge of Messi — this is where Argentina are better. They have the edge.

To counter Messi, we will need Dominik Livakovic to be at his best. He has really matured and seems all set for an even brighter future. At the start of the tournament, he wasn't showing enough and in that game against Belgium, he seemed hesitant and not confident enough. It made the defence seem shaky as well. But he has recovered brilliantly since then.

The big challenge for Croatia will be to try and finish the match in 90 minutes. They must try and do that. For that to happen, they will need to go forward with more resolve. The first strike will be an important one and that is something both teams will realise, for a good beginning is half the job done.

Igor Stimac is coach of the Indian men's football team. He was a member of the Croatia team that finished third in the 1998 World Cup

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