FIFA World Cup Football 2018: Argentina vs Croatia match in numbers
10:52 AM, June 21, 2018 / LAST MODIFIED: 12:14 PM, June 21, 2018

Argentina vs Croatia match in numbers

After a hiccup in their World Cup 2018 opener against Iceland, Lionel Messi and his troops will be looking to seal their first victory and ensure their survival in this edition of the football extravaganza as Argentina meet Croatia in their second match of the group stage at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium. However, Croatia are already on top of the group D as they had won 2-0 in their first match against Nigeria and will be desperate to hold their position at the top of the table with a win against the Albiceleste. The match is scheduled to start at 12:00 am in Bangladesh time. Let’s look at some of the statistics ahead of the thrilling encounter. 

Head-to-head:

1) Their four previous meetings have produced two wins for Argentina, one Croatian victory and a draw.

2) The only encounter at a World Cup came in the group stage at the 1998 World Cup. Both sides were already through to the last 16, but Argentina's 1-0 win - secured by a Mauricio Pineda goal - ensured they topped the group.

Argentina:

1) The last time Argentina failed to win either of their first two World Cup games was in 1974.

2) Their only defeat in their last 16 group games is the 1-0 loss to England in 2002 (W12, D3).

3) Lionel Messi has failed to score with his last 21 shots in matches at World Cup finals.

4) But over the last two years he has scored 14 goals in 17 games for Argentina, including six in his last four games (hat-tricks against Ecuador and Haiti).

5) Argentina had the worst shot conversation rate in South American qualifying (8.1%).

Croatia:

1) Victory would see the Croats win back-to-back World Cup games for the first time since 1998.

2) Croatia have never lost their second group game at a World Cup (W3, D1), conceding just one goal in four matches - in a 2-1 victory against Italy in 2002.

3) The Croats have lost all four of their World Cup games against South American opposition (three defeats versus Brazil and one against Argentina).

 


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