Live: It’s Lionel Messi vs Luka Modrić as Argentina and Croatia clash in the World Cup semis

Both Croatia and Argentina made it through to this game on the back of penalty shootouts.

The quarterfinal win over Brazil marked Croatia’s second straight shootout victory, after Dominik Livakovic saved three Japanese penalties in the round of 16.

They also won shootouts in the same stages en route to the final at the last World Cup, against Denmark and Russia.

Argentina’s shootout win over Netherlands was full of mind games and a bit of animosity, leading to this famous shot after the final penalty.

Here are the starters for both sides, with Argentina’s 4-4-2 against Croatia’s 4-3-3.

Gonzalo Montiel and Marcos Acuña are out due to too many yellow cards in the tournament.

NB. The cumulative count is scrapped at this stage, so players on one yellow card, including Luka Modrić, won’t get banned for the final for one slightly overzealous challenge.

Two of football’s biggest names, Lionel Messi and Luka Modrić, are ready to take the field for another shot at history at the FIFA World Cup.

Messi took Argentina to the 2014 final in Brazil, Modrić did the same with Croatia in 2018 in Russia, but neither got over the hump.

Today Argentina and Croatia will try to return to the final, and I’ll be with you every step of the way as these two football-mad nations face off.