Rob Green
Former England goalkeeper on BBC Radio 5 Live

Argentina have got space to get forward. Mac Allister is also taking up a really good position. Brozovic in the midfield, the sitting midfielder for Croatia, has got his work cut out because he has people coming off on either side so he will have to spend the whole night turning his head and picking his moment as to who to pick up.

A few little tackles going in early on. We're far from Netherlands-Argentina but it does suggest we're going to have a scrap on our hands.

Cristian Romero sticks in a naughty late boot but gets away with it.

Shamoon Hafez
BBC Sport at Lusail Stadium

Image source, BBC Sport

The excellent Josko Gvardiol is tight on the great Lionel Messi in the early stages of this contest. The two are in shot in the middle of the pic.

That is going to be an intriguing battle to watch tonight.

Leandro Paredes things Nahuel Molina and Lionel Messi are Road Runner. He pumps a ball forward, but Messi doesn't even bother getting those little legs whirling.

Andy Cryer
BBC Sport in Qatar

The Croatian fans are really making themselves heard... well until Argentina whistles drown them out.

Fair play to them, they aren't going to allow this to sound like an Argentina home game.

Image source, Getty Images

The first Croatia cross is hung up by Ivan Perisic, but there is Emi Martinez in typically authoritative fashion to claim the ball.

Nope, you're not having that Croatia forwards.

Rob Green
Former England goalkeeper on BBC Radio 5 Live

For me, I just felt the last game against Brazil for Croatia was their final. To go that step past Brazil, it took every ounce of energy to get to that stage. They are going to have to produce something phenomenal again.

To respond to that earlier text from Richard. You're going to judge me for this, but I loved all those antics in the quarter-final.

Awful if they do it to your lads, but great for a neutral.

I'm sorry. I've let you down.

Image source, Getty Images

The first little dart forward comes from Argentina, who set Nahuel Molina away down the right and beyond the backtracking full-back. His hooked cross into the middle finds nobody.

Alan Shearer
Former England striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

I don't think Argentina are that great a team but they have Messi who produces those moments of brilliance and has done in this tournament.

For Croatia, it all rides on their midfield and when there is 331 caps between them, that's as experienced as you're going to get so take your pick.

Unfortuntely, we've been denied the classic red and white checked shirts of Croatia tonight. They're in their change blue strip.

It's true Argentina though. Light blue and white stripes.

It's fizzing in the stands.

Image source, Getty Images

You know it's a big game when the man taking the kick-off lets out a mighty big breath of air from his lungs before kicking the ball.

Let's do this!

All the pre-match hype suggested this was going to be a tight old affair. We could be here for the long haul, people.

Strap in and enjoy yourselves...

Argentina are looking to reach the World Cup final for the sixth time, a figure bettered only by Germany (8). They've never been eliminated at the semi-final stage before, most recently beating the Netherlands in 2014.

Croatia were losing finalists in 2018, and could become the fourth European nation to reach consecutive World Cup finals after Italy (1934, 1938), Netherlands (1974, 1978) and Germany (1982, 1986, 1990).

Quite a few glassy-eyed blokes during those anthems.

More than a bit of blue steel about some of the stares forward too. Or is it La Tigre? Oh they're the same damn look!

Chris Bevan
BBC Sport at Lusail Iconic Stadium

Image source, BBC Sport

Apart from the pocket of Croatia supporters behind one goal, the steep stands of Lusail Stadium are like four walls of blue and white.

The Argentina fans were lively tonight anyway, but they are bouncing around even more now after greeting their anthem with great gusto.

Croatia have never failed to score in their 10 World Cup knockout stage matches. However, they've also conceded at least once in each of their last eight, with five of their last six such games going to extra time.

Despite being on the verge of reaching consecutive finals, Croatia haven't scored first in any of their last nine World Cup games, since a 2-1 win over Iceland in the 2018 group stages. This is the furthest into the competition any side has got without opening the scoring in any of their matches.

In contrast, Argentina have scored first in all five World Cup matches this year, although they failed to win after going two goals ahead in a World Cup match for the first time in their 2-2 draw with the Netherlands.

Andy Cryer
BBC Sport in Qatar

Here we go then.

The customary pre match light show is over.

Some atmosphere building here.

Image source, BBC Sport