World Cup 2018: 3 key factors which could decide the Argentina versus Croatia game

Modified Jun 20, 2018 21:54 GMT

#3 The aerial threat posed by Mario Mandzukic

Mario Mandzukic has earned 84 caps for the Croatian national team and scored 30 goals. This is his third World Cup, and the veteran Juventus midfielder would like to use his size and strength against the Argentine centre-backs.

The tall Mandzukic always poses an aerial threat for the opposition defenders as he has a very good header on him. His diving header led to the opening goal against Nigeria. Nicolas Otamendi and Marcos Rojo the Argentine centre-backs could find him to be very difficult to handle.

The Croatians are likely to play frequent crosses into the Argentine box, especially through their expeditious right back Sime Vrsaljko.

Mandzukic would relish such opportunities and could decide the game with one of his lethal headers. He would be a perennial threat from set-pieces as well.

About the author

Subhadeep, an adept tennis journalist at Sportskeeda, has been writing about the sport for seven years. He is known for his exclusive match reviews and opinion pieces, utilizing his MBA degree to tackle them effectively with his problem-solving abilities.

Subhadeep lives and breathes tennis. He watches matches regularly and engages in social media platforms to stay on top of the latest happenings. As a writer, he brings the fan's perspective to his pieces, ensuring his readers enjoy an exceptional experience every time.

Growing up, he idolized Boris Becker, but he now firmly believes Novak Djokovic stands alone as the 'Greatest of all Time', especially considering the 24-time Grand Slam champion's incredible stats. One thing that still puzzles Subhadeep, however, is how Becker's Wimbledon tally might have reached five if not for Pete Sampras.

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Edited by Anthony Akatugba Jr.