Scoreo

Argentina vs CroatiaWorld Cup 2026

Argentina
Argentinaadvanced
FT
30
HT: 20
Croatia
Croatia
J. Álvarez 69', 39'
L. Messi 34' (pen)
12/13/2022World CupWorld Cup · Semi-finalsLusail Iconic Stadium

Match Prediction

Statistical Prediction

Based on goals from last 8+ matches

Argentina53%
×Draw23%
Croatia24%
Correct in 50 of 100 matches — 5 more than always backing the home side
Model
50.2%
Always home
44.5%

The model picks a winner (home or away) for each finished match using only pre-kickoff data, then checks it against the real result: 50.2% correct across 585,598 matches, vs 44.5% for always backing the home side.

Home picks 50.5% correct · Away picks 49.3% correct

Football matches only. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Expected goals in this match

What is xG?

Every shot is scored 0–1 by how likely it is to be a goal from that spot — a chance in the middle of the box ≈ 0.4, a long shot from a tight angle ≈ 0.03, a penalty ≈ 0.76. Add them up over a match and that is the xG.

The scoreline can lie: you can win 1-0 on a fluke while creating half the chances. xG shows who was really closer to scoring — and over a season it predicts results better than goals alone.

Argentina
1.88
Croatia
1.19

Argentina creates 58% more chances

Season form · 10 home / 8 away

creates per match

Argentina
2.00
Croatia
1.38

allows per match

Argentina
1.00
Croatia
1.75

finishing

Argentina+0.00on par
Croatia+0.00on par

Total goals

59%Over
  • Over59
  • Under41

3+ goals likely

Both teams score

59%Yes
  • Yes59
  • No41

Both teams likely to score

Score probability

Probability of each scoreline, %

Argentina

Croatia
0
1
2
3
4
0
005%
016%
023%
031%
040%
1
109%
1110%
126%
132%
141%
2
208%
2110%
226%
232%
241%
3
305%
316%
324%
331%
340%
4
402%
413%
422%
431%
440%

Most likely 1–1 (10%) · grid covers 95% of scorelines

More markets

Total goals

OverUnder0.5
95%5%1.5
81%19%2.5
59%41%3.5
37%63%4.5
19%81%

Double chance

Argentina or draw
76%
Argentina or Croatia
77%
Draw or Croatia
47%

Winning margin

Argentina wins by 2+
30%
Croatia wins by 2+
10%

Team goals

Argentina 1+ goals
85%
Argentina 2+ goals
56%
Argentina 3+ goals
29%
Croatia 1+ goals
70%
Croatia 2+ goals
33%
Croatia 3+ goals
12%

Draw no bet

Argentina (draw refunded)
69%
Croatia (draw refunded)
31%

Combos

Both score & 3+ goals
48%
Both score & under 3
10%

Model probabilities, not odds. For information only.

How is this calculated?

Every number below comes from this match — nothing is made up.

1

Recent form of each side

Argentina at homecreates 2.00, concedes 1.00 · 10 matches

Croatia awaycreates 1.38, concedes 1.75 · 8 matches

Home and away form are counted separately — the home-field edge is already baked into these numbers.

2

Expected goals for this match

Argentina attack 2.00 + Croatia defence 1.75 → ÷2 → 1.88

Croatia attack 1.38 + Argentina defence 1.00 → ÷2 → 1.19

Each side's attack is blended with the other's defence, then averaged.

3

Chance of every scoreline

From those two numbers a Poisson distribution gives the probability of each exact score — the grid shown above.

4

The answer to "why 53%?"

Argentina scores more
53%
level
23%
Croatia scores more
24%

Argentina at 53% is simply the biggest of the three — that is the pick.

What the model can't see

It reads only the stats of recent matches. It knows nothing about:

  • injuries & suspensions
  • the matchday lineup
  • motivation — cup, relegation, a title race
  • weather & pitch condition
  • in-game coaching decisions

So 53% does not mean "Argentina will win" — it means "on the available stats, this is the most likely result."

Statistical model based on expected goals (xG). For informational purposes only.

Player of the match

9
J. ÁlvarezArgentinaArgentina · F
8.3

Possession

39%Argentina

Shots

9Argentina

Pass accuracy

49%Argentina

Statistics

ArgentinaCroatia
Overview
39%Possession61%
9Total Shots12
2Corners4
15Fouls8
Shots
9Total Shots12
7On Target2
1Off Target7
1Blocked3
6Inside Box6
3Outside Box6
Passing
39%Possession61%
399Total Passes608
333Accurate Passes532
83%Pass Accuracy88%
Goalkeeping
3Saves4
Discipline
15Fouls8
2Yellow Cards2
1Offsides0

Argentina 3 – 0 Croatia

Argentina beat Croatia 3-0 in World Cup on December 13, 2022.

Goals: L. Messi (34' pen), J. Álvarez (39', 69').

Croatia controlled possession (61%) and registered 12 shots to 9.

The match was played at Lusail Iconic Stadium in Lusail.