PREVIEW-Soccer-Croatia in the way of Argentina's dream of a World Cup final spot

Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 - Argentina Training - Qatar University Training Site 3, Doha, Qatar - December 10, 2022 Argentina's Paulo Dybala with teammates during training REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed

DOHA (Reuters) - Argentina, led by superstar Lionel Messi, came into the World Cup as one of the favourites but they face a big roadblock in the semi-final on Tuesday with 2018 runners-up Croatia, who proved too much for the other title contenders, Brazil.

The Croats stunned the tournament favourites in the quarter-finals with a vintage performance, after going a goal down in extra-time but digging deep to bounce back and force a penalty shootout that they ended up winning.