Watch how world ranked number one side Brazil were knocked out of the World Cup on penalties as Croatia kept their nerve to edge through to the semi-finals.

Who is the real Lionel Messi? There's a fascinating documentary on the Argentina superstar to be watched on iPlayer.

Rob Green
Former England goalkeeper on BBC Radio 5 Live

It really is set up as the battle of two great footballers. All eyes will be on Argentina’s Lionel Messi and Croatia's Luka Modric, as it could be their last World Cup before they retire.

Croatia will fancy themselves, they’ll say 'we’ve been here before we know how to do this', they’ve won every single penalty shoot-out that they’ve ever been involved in in the World Cup.

You’re looking at that going 'you know what you’re good at, you know what you’re about, back yourselves' and they did it against Brazil and maybe they might do it again against Argentina.

But with Argentina you’ve got the desperation of everybody wanting to do it for Messi and then you’ve got 10,000 fans screaming for the full-time whistle.

It worked against the Netherlands because panic set in.

BBC Radio 5 Live

Croatia football expert Daniela Rogulj, speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, looks ahead to tonight's World Cup semi-final against Argentina: "We have this saying, we’re a small nation that achieves great things. Croatian people have hope and faith that [they] will play in the final on Sunday.

"But Argentina is the one team that could give Croatia a run for their money on penalties, they’re incredible penalty takers."

On Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric, 37, who Daniela refers to as the "poster boy for the country": "If you don’t know much about Croatia but if you know about Luka Modric then you know everything about Croatia.

"It’s such a pleasure to watch him still and still being an incredible impact for Croatia."

Pablo Zabaleta
Ex-Man City and Argentina defender

Image source, Getty Images

Gary Lineker made a really good point on BBC One after we had beaten the Netherlands, saying that when Argentina won the 1986 World Cup it was a very similar scenario.

Like Lionel Messi is now, Maradona was always the best player on the pitch then, but he also had a group of good players behind him who were steady and gave everything for the team, and some of them stepped up at different times.

I am hoping that this story has the same ending for us, but what Croatia did to Brazil showed how difficult Tuesday's game will be, and we cannot make any more mistakes.

The reason football is so emotional is because it is so unpredictable, and I don't think anyone is expecting this to be a straightforward game. Yes, we can see the final - but we are not there yet.

Read Pablo Zabaleta's full column here.

Time to start some proper build-up to the first World Cup semi-final.

Argentina against Croatia is just over seven hours away.

CountFord: The simple fact that Southgate is 'conflicted' means he should go. He should be looking forward to taking England to the next tournament, not 50/50 about if he wants to bother or not.

He's had three tournaments now, time to try something new.

England

Gareth Southgate has won 49 of his 81 games in charge of England, with Saturday's loss to France being his 14th. His win rate of 60.49% ranks him fourth among England managers.

But it remains to be seen whether he will lead the Three Lions into the Euro 2024 qualifying campaign which starts in March 2023.

Southgate says he is "conflicted" about his future.

"When I've been through the past few tournaments, my emotions have been difficult to really think through properly in those following few weeks," added the England boss.

"It took so much energy out of you and you have so much going through your mind.

"I want to make the right decision either way because it has to be the right one to go again, or the right one not to go again - and I don't think tonight is the time to make a decision like that.

"Neither are the next few days really."

The Football News Show is joined by football reporter Maz Farookhi to look at the four World Cup semi-finalists and their chances of going all the way.

The team also look at Gareth Southgate's future as England manager.

Click on this link to watch the whole show via iPlayer.

Mic Medeska: We’ve won matches we should, but under Southgate we don’t win the BIG ones. He doesn’t bring a tactical advantage that gives the players a chance to beat a team like France. I think any average manager would’ve had the same result.

Chris Sutton
Former England striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

Gareth Southgate talked about the abuse he received after the defeat to Hungary at Molineux.

I think we all understand that. No one likes being abused. Before the World Cup he probably felt that things were not moving in the right direction and was probably thinking 'I will see this World Cup out and then step down gracefully'.

But what has happened has possibly perked him up where he thinks 'this is an opportunity for me now to go and actually win a major tournament'.

The performance against France has almost sucked him in.

Image source, BBC Sport

The latest edition of the excellent World Football in Qatar podcast is available to listen to now with a preview of the World Cup semi-finals.

Host Mani Djazmi is joined by Argentine journalist Marcela Mora y Araujo and Moroccan Amine El Amri.

Hear from Moroccan fans in Doha after they knocked out Portugal and discuss whether the post-colonial relationship with France will give the players an extra incentive.

Celtic right-back Josip Juranovic and Croatia broadcaster Sasa Lugonjic, from Nova TV, also report from the Croatia camp to get the lowdown on their midfield trio of Luka Modric, Mateo Kovacic and Marcelo Brozovic.

And former Croatia player Igor Stimac examines how the team's spirit and character was forged during the Balkan wars of the 1990s.

Image source, Reuters

TrevsDeftHeader: I think Southgate should stay. OK, we went out in the 1/4s but he has instilled and maintained a culture of playing for the pride in the shirt and we don't lie down in front of anyone. When you consider some past debacles from England at previous tournaments then you have to say Southgate has done well.

Dan Roan
BBC sports editor in Doha

If Gareth Southgate does decide to resign, he will always be remembered as the man who revitalised the national team after years of under-achievement, but who did not quite manage to lead it over that final hurdle to silverware.

And whoever replaced him would inherit one of the most exciting and promising squads England has seen.

Whatever he decides to do, English football has much to thank him for.

Tam: Winning a World Cup is incredibly difficult, even with a world class squad and a great manager. 31 teams will go home disappointed, including favourites Brazil. Just because England haven't won doesn't mean Southgate isn't the one to get us there.

England

More from England boss Gareth Southgate, who says he is "conflicted" about his future.

"I've found large parts of the last 18 months difficult," said Southgate, who has a contract until December 2024.

"For everything that I've loved about the last few weeks, I still have how things have been for 18 months - what's been said and what's been written, the night at Wolves [0-4 defeat to Hungary on 14 June].

"There are lots of things in my head that are really conflicted at the moment, so what I want to make sure, if it's the right thing to stay, is that I've definitely got the energy to do that."

Image source, Getty Images

There were no police incidents or arrests of British nationals in Qatar during England and Wales' World Cup campaigns.

British police officers were deployed to the country to act as "cultural interpreters" between fans and local law enforcement.

The head of UK football policing, Chief Constable Mark Roberts, praised fans in Qatar for their "exemplary behaviour".

However, there have been 531 football-related incidents in the UK.

Read more here.

Eight hours until Argentina-Croatia and even elephants in Thailand are getting into the World Cup spirit before the first semi-final.

Image source, Reuters