Argentina want more of feisty Messi

Lionel Messi wasn't available at the pre-match press conference for Argentina's World Cup semifinal against Croatia on Monday. He wasn't, in fact, expected to be; the PSG talisman hardly ever attends a press conference.

But that doesn't mean he is shying away from the focus or trying to steer off any controversy he caused during and after the game against the Netherlands.

We've already seen how Messi led his team against the Netherlands, with his skill and with his words, even turning violent at times. That is something Argentina team is apparently comfortable with – the feisty Messi, the Messi that rallies his team and teammates.

Lionel Scaloni, the Argentina coach and Nicolas Tagliafico, the midfielder, voiced their support to this new avatar of Messi, and they apparently want more of it.

"I am not surprised because I know him," Scaloni said of his talismanic forward. "It was always like this. He was always the same, a winner. And he has a pride and a desire to continue playing ball that they envy."

Taglificao, sitting beside Scaloni, was more forthright in his regards for Messi: "Having Messi motivates us, we are delighted that he is our captain"

Croatia's plans, meanwhile, will not centre around Messi only, as Bruno Petkovic said on Sunday that they would be looking to stop the entire team from working, not just Messi.

While Argentina had a rough start to the tournament with a stunning defeat against Saudi Arabia before kicking into gear in the group stages and then scripting exhausting wins over Australia and the Netherlands, Croatia too didn't make life easy for themselves with back-to-back shootout victories at the knockout stages. But that is something Croatia are happy to live with, having navigated the path to the final after extra-time in every knockout stage match in Russia four years ago. They are a battle-hardened side with plenty of strong characters in all the positions, with Luka Modric the creative spark, just like Messi.

Any notion of playing boring football was summarily brushed aside by Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic at the pre-match press conference. "We are in the semifinals and we are here by merit. That's the end of the topic," he said in reply to a question.

Selection-wise, Croatia are in a better position as they have no suspension and no serious injuries to contend with, unlike Argentina, who have defenders Gonzalo Montiel and Marcos Acuna suspended. However, the good news for the Argentines is that both Angel di Maria and Gonzalo Montiel are available for selection even though they are not likely to start.

With both teams having won twice against each other and the other match ending in a draw, there is not much to separate the two sides, even though the only time these two sides met in a World Cup ended in a convincing 3-0 win for the European side in Russia four years ago.

But that was a different Argentina team, who had only squeezed into the Round of 16 with a one-point advantage and made a meek exit after the Croatia thrashing. In Lusail tonight, they will certainly be a different beast, with a massive legion of fans egging them on for victory.