Angel Di Maria and Marcos Rojo have been omitted from Argentina's starting XI for Thursday's World Cup Group D meeting with Croatia in Nizhny Novgorod.

Albiceleste coach Jorge Sampaoli has made three changes from the 1-1 draw with Iceland last time out, Lucas Biglia also losing his place in the starting lineup.

Marcos Acuna comes in for the Paris Saint-Germain winger, while Enzo Perez replaces Biglia in midfield and Gabriel Mercado comes in for Rojo at the back.

Croatia, meanwhile, make just one change from the 2-0 win over Nigeria as former Leicester City striker Andrej Kramaric drops to the bench.

Coach Zlatko Dalic has decided to bolster his midfield as Marcelo Brozovic is drafted into the starting XI, while Nikola Kalinic is unavailable after being sent home due to his refusal to come on as a substitute against Nigeria, citing a back problem.

Argentina: Caballero; Salvio, Mercado, Tagliafico, Otamendi; Perez, Mascherano; Acuna, Meza, Messi; Aguero
Subs: Guzman, Ansaldi, Biglia, Fazio, Banega, Higuain, Di Maria, Armani, Rojo, Lo Celso, Dybala, Pavon

Croatia: Subasic; Strinic, Vida, Lovren, Vrsaljko; Brozovic, Rakitic; Perisic, Modric, Rebic; Mandzukic
Subs: Livakovic, Corluka, Kovacic, Kramaric, L. Kalinic, Judvaj, Bradaric, Caleta-Car, Badelj, Pjaca, Pivaric, N. Kalinic

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Written by
Giuseppe Labellarte