Speaking before this team’s World Cup semi-final meeting with Croatia, Lyon and Argentina left-back Nicolás Tagliafico explained that he was expecting a very different game compared to the two team’s previous World Cup encounter four years ago in Russia. Croatia, eventual finalists, ran out comfortable 3-0 winners on that occasion, but the 30-year-old said:
“Croatia is a very well-rounded team. There are similarities with the one we faced at the last World Cup, but we are a different team now. This game will be totally different from the one in Russia… The important thing is to concentrate on ourselves. We know what we’re up against, we’re in a World Cup semi-final and our opponent has great players but we’re a team that knows how to suffer. We have to focus on winning the game and trying to suffer less.”
GWFN