World Cup LIVE: Argentina vs Croatia teams; Lionel Messi starts after penalty nightmare

Lionel Messi will look to bounce back from his penalty nightmare as Argentina meet Group D rivals Croatia.

Croatia go into today’s game in pole position after starting their World Cup campaign with a 2-0 win over Nigeria while Argentina were held to a 1-1 draw by Iceland.

Messi was furious with himself for missing a penalty in the South Americans' opener against Iceland as he embarks on what may be his last chance to emulate Diego Maradona's feat of winning a World Cup for Argentina.

ARGENTINA vs CROATIA

Argentina XI: Caballero, Salvio, Mercado, Tagliafico, Otamendi, Acuna, Mascherano, Meza, Perez, Messi, Aguero.

Croatia XI: Subasic, Vrsaljko, Strinic, Lovren, Vida, Modric, Rakitic, Brozovic, Perisic, Rebic, Mandzukic.

OMEN…

18:47: Croatia have lost all four of their World Cup matches against South American sides, one at each of the four previous tournaments they've played in.

KALINIC SENT HOME

18:45: So what’s the story with Nikola Kalinic?

The AC Milan striker refused to come on as a substitute during Saturday 2-0 Group D win over Nigeria, and has subsequently been banished from the Croatia squad.

He’s not the first to have done this and probably won’t be the last.

Roy Keane, Diego Maradona and Nicolas Anelka spring to mind. You all remember Keane walking around Cheshire with his dog Triggs.

KIT UPDATE…

18:37: Look guys, I’m sorry to have to break the news to you but Croatia will NOT be wearing their iconic white and red checks tonight. It’s a snazzy black number instead.

STOP BLAMING MESSI

18:35: I can’t help but feel sorry for Lionel Messi. The guy has the hopes and dreams of 40 million Argentine’s on his shoulders.

Jorge Sampaoli is clearly of the same opinion after urging supporters to stop blaming Lionel Messi when games do not go to script.

"When Argentina don't win, we attribute responsibility to Leo. I think that's too easy a way for Argentinians to think," said Sampaoli. "There were lots of factors of irritation for not winning against Iceland. There are 40 of us at this World Cup. The team will be together when things go well and when things go badly."

MISSING GOAT

18:30: Now this is a storyline straight from Hollywood. You know, the scene just before it all kicks off!

The Argentina staff organised a father’s day BBQ for the squad, but Lionel Messi did NOT attend.

What was he doing? Well, he stayed in his room, alone. Apparently those who know him best say that could be dangerous for Croatia. I guess time will tell.

TWITTER ROUND-UP

Michael: The ‘good’ teams are lethargic, the ‘bad’ teams are a waste of time and the ‘awkward’ teams are so uninspiring it’s painful. Russia, that Spain-Portugal game and some Iranian bloke’s banter throw-in have pretty much the only things worth watching so far.

Paddy: A few poor games in the World Cup recently. The pressure is really on for Argentina v Croatia to deliver a 7- 7 to get this tournament back on track.

Kieran: Argentina had 27 shots against Iceland, more than any other team in the opening round. They're up against stronger opposition this time, but I think Lionel Messi & Co. will conjure up a couple goals.

ROW…

18:20: Did anyone see this story? It’s a belter. Vintage Sergio Ramos and Diego Maradona in every single respect.

Sergio Ramos responded to a putdown from Argentina great Diego Maradona by making an unlikely declaration of admiration for Lionel Messi, his usual enemy.

Maradona remarked this week that "Ramos is no superstar, the real superstar defender is Diego Godin.”

Ramos was asked what he made of Maradona's comments, and said: “I respect Maradona because he is an all-time great, I think he was a star, but I'll also tell you that Argentine football knows Maradona is light years behind their number one player, which is Messi.”

Ding ding, round one goes to the Real Madrid defender.

TEAM NEWS - CROATIA

18:15: Croatia boss Zlatko Dalic keeps things relatively simple. He makes one change from the comfortable win over Nigeria.

Marcelo Brozovic replaces Andrej Kramaric but there’s no sign of Nikola Kalinic, who was sent home after refusing to come on as a substitute.

TEAM NEWS - ARGENTINA

18:13: So those changes I was talking about. Argentina boss Jorge Sampaoli has made three.

Ex-Manchester United star Angel di Maria, current Manchester United defender Marcos Rojo and future Manchester United target Lucas Biglia all miss out.

There’s a theme developing here…

Anyway, Gabriel Mercado, Enzo Perez and Marcos Acuna are drafted into the starting XI alongside Lionel Messi, Sergio Aggro and Javier Mascherano.

THE STARTING XI

18:10: And your line-ups have arrived. Argentina have shuffled the pack with no less than three changes from the opening draw with Iceland.

Argentina XI: Caballero, Mercado, Otamendi, Tagliafico, Salvio, Mascherano, Perez, Acuna, Messi, Aguero, Meza.

Subs: Guzman, Ansaldi, Biglia, Fazio, Banega, Higuain, Di Maria, Rojo, Lo Celso, Dybala, Pavon, Armani.

Croatia XI: Subasic, Vrsaljko, Lovren, Vida, Strinic, Rakitic, Brozovic, Rebic, Modric, Perisic, Mandzukic.

Subs: Livakovic, Corluka, Kovacic, Kramaric, Jedvaj, Bradaric, Caleta-Car, Badelj, Pjaca, Pivaric, Nikola Kalinic, Lovre Kalinic.

Referee: Ravshan Irmatov.

HAVE YOUR SAY

18:05: If you want to vent your frustrations, or discuss any issues in the world of football (within reason), then get in touch!

You can either comment at the bottom of the page or contact me via Twitter using the hashtag #ExpressSport.

WELCOME

18:00: Hello everyone, welcome to our LIVE coverage of the World Cup.

No pressure guys, but this game HAS to deliver.

We’re on a quite incredible run of low score fixtures with four 1-0 results in the last five matches.

We were all expecting to see a different France turn up against Peru, but they just squeezed past the South American’s thanks to Kylian Mbappe’s first-half strike.

And who do you want on the field when you need a scorcher? Yep, Lionel Messi.