Argentina will have the chance to book their place in the 2022 World Cup final when they face 2018 runners-up Croatia on Tuesday night.
Key to their efforts will undoubtedly be Lionel Messi. The Paris Saint-Germain forward is playing at his final World Cup and has been desperate to win this competition to cement his place in Argentinian folklore alongside Diego Maradona, rather than beneath him.
Messi has played every minute of the World Cup so far and is expected to start once again for Lionel Scaloni’s side when they come up against Croatia.
Brief fears were sparked when Messi was not spotted in Argentina’s team training session in the aftermath of their gruelling penalty shoot-out victory over the Netherlands in the quarter-final, but the 35-year-old’s fitness is simply being managed.
As was the case earlier in the tournament, Messi was swiftly restored to training after Argentina doctors were satisfied that he was not at risk of injury.
Joining in training was fellow veteran Angel Di Maria, who has struggled with his fitness this tournament and played just eight minutes towards the end of the Netherlands game.