• The two sides last crossed swords at Russia 2018
• Croatia booked their semi-final place at Qatar 2022 with victory over Brazil
• Argentina edged out Netherlands in a tense quarter-final
Croatia and Argentina have been relatively infrequent rivals over the years. Their particular story began with a goalless draw in a friendly in Zagreb in June 1994, an occasion on which Diego Maradona presented flowers and a shirt in honour of Croatian basketball star Drazen Petrovic, who had died a year earlier.
France 1998: Argentina victorious but Croatia go further
The first official meeting between the sides came four years later at the 1998 FIFA World Cup France, when they faced off in a Group H also containing Jamaica and Japan.
La Albiceleste won the meeting between the sides thanks a solitary strike from Mauricio Pineda and topped the group with maximum points and seven goals scored, including a Gabriel Batistuta hat-trick against the Jamaicans.
Coached by Miroslav Blazevic, Croatia placed second in the group but progressed further than the Argentinians. In kicking on to finish third in the competition, behind only Brazil and France, they showed that their impressive performance at UEFA EURO 1996 had been no fluke.
Messi opens his account
Their next encounter came in a warm-up match for Germany 2006, a game Argentina lost 3-2 but in which Lionel Messi scored the first of his many goals for the national team.
Wearing the No. 19 jersey and having made his international debut a year earlier, the young forward from Rosario opened his international account in what would become a trademark move of his. Picking up possession on the right, he cut inside onto his favoured left foot and curled the ball just inside the far post from the edge of the box.
Russia 2018: Croatia too good
Argentina and Croatia's most recent encounter came in the group phase at Russia 2018. The two sides were drawn in Group D, which also contained Nigeria and Iceland.
Runners-up four years previously in Brazil, Argentina began the group as firm favourites but were held to a 1-1 draw by Iceland in their opening match and encountered even more problems against the Croatians.
Goals from Ante Rebic, Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic gave the European side a comprehensive 3-0 win. Though La Albiceleste recovered to qualify for the knockout phase, they went out in the last 16 to France. Modric and Co. made it all the way to the Final, where they came off second best to the French.
Messi versus Modric
Tuesday's match will include a showdown between two great No. 10s and former Best FIFA Men's Player award winners, both of whom are coming towards the end of their glittering careers.
Luka Modric and Lionel Messi are appearing at what will surely be their last World Cup competition and are aiming to make history and return home with the Trophy.