Since the last two World Cups, we have seen intense clashes between two teams that have rarely faced each other before. And the Argentina national football team vs Croatia national football team stats prove to us why going into the future this clash in the World Cup could provide us with incredible moments.
An incredibles thing about this clash is that the winner at least makes it to the semi-finals. While Argentina have always been a force to reckon with at the world stage, Croatia have come into the limelight only in the last three decades.
In fact, after their incredible 1998 FIFA World Cup campaign, Croatia went into a dip for the next two decades before arriving back in style that left opponents (including Argentina dazzled). This rivalry was extended to the 2022 FIFA World Cup, where the two sides faced off in the semi-final.
So, without further ado, here are the Argentina national football team vs Croatia national football team stats from the FIFA World Cup.
Argentina national football team vs Croatia national football team stats
Games Played
The two teams have met each other three times at the biggest football tournaments. Their first meeting came in the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France. Croatia had just gained independence in 1991, and qualifying for the 1998 FIFA World Cup was considered a great achievement.
The Vatreni were put in Group H along with two other World Cup debutants, Japan and Jamaica, and two-time world champions, Argentina. Both teams won two games against Japan and Jamaica before facing one another.
Croatia played some brilliant football, but Argentina’s experience came to their rescue. Mauricio Pineda scored the only game goal in the 36th minute.
However, despite the loss, Croatia fared much better, going all the way to the semi-finals, defeating teams such as Romania and Germany. Argentina’s campaign, meanwhile, came to an end at the hands of the Netherlands.
Read More: Germany vs France at the FIFA World Cup
Their second meeting would come 20 years later at France’s 2018 FIFA World Cup. Once again, the two teams were drawn together alongside Nigeria and Iceland. Croatia won their first game against Nigeria, while Argentina could only muster a draw against World Cup debutants Iceland.
This meant that there was more pressure on Argentina to win the game. However, in one of their best displays at the tournament, Croatia blew away La Albiceleste 3-0 courtesy of goals from Ante Rebic, Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic.
Argentina would win their last game to qualify as the second-placed team. However, their journey would end at the hands of eventual winners, France, in the round of 16. Croatia, meanwhile, would go on to script history.
After defeating Denmark and hosts Russia in the round of 16 and quarter-finals, respectively, they faced England in the last four. They would defeat the Three Lions in extra time to go into their maiden final, where they lost to France.
Argentina, however, would get their revenge on the Vatreni four years later at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. This time, the two teams met in the semi-finals, and it was a reversal of the scoreline four years back.
Lionel Messi opened the scoring with a penalty before a Julain Alvarez brace put the game beyond Croatia’s reach. Argentina would go on to win the finals against France in perhaps the most entertaining World Cup final ever as Lionel Messi fulfilled his destiny as the greatest player ever to play the game.
Read More: Argentina and Brazil at the FIFA World Cups
Argentina vs Croatia top performers stats
Julain Alvarez’s brace in the 2022 World Cup makes him the top scorer in the Argentina national football team vs Croatia national football team stats record. The rivalry has seen 13 yellow cards, and both teams have never been on the scoresheet.
The teams have played five, including non-competitive games, with both sides boasting two wins each, while one match ended in a draw.
