Messi & Alvarez Lead Argentina Into WC Final

Lionel Messi’s penalty and two Julian Alvarez goals, one a stunner in the first half, helped Argentina beat a hapless Croatia 3-0 to reach the World Cup final at Lusail Iconic Stadium on Wednesday night.  

Messi, when Argentina were 2-0 just before the hour mark, nearly got the second on the night after he exchanged passes but Dominik Livakovic denied the great man with a super stop.

Argentina will now meet the winner between current holders France and Morocco in the final on Sunday, with these two set to battle in the second semi final at Bayt Stadium on Wednesday (21:00).

While Argentina have individual brilliance and artistry of Messi, Croatia in these World Cup finals, were not quick in transition and speed to beat opposition, but they work hard as the movement, and have resilience, something we saw against Brazil in quarter finals.

They also don’t have a proven centre forward who can score a lot of goals but they feed off each other’s energy, something that let them down here.

While Luka Modric has grabbed all the glory because of artistry, but Marcelo Brozovic in the deep lying role, has been the heartbeat of this side. He is good at breaking the lines from oppositions and that was also seen in the win over Brazil to reach this stage.

But Argentina has someone of that mould – Enzo Fernandez, who has been an unsung hero in this South America side.    

The match was dubbed as the last dance internationally for two of the best players in their generation – Messi and Modric, both captaining their sides and in the twilight of their careers. Surely Modric, 37, said goodbye in World Cup terms when he was taken off in the 81^st minute.

Though Croatia had been so solid and started well in this game, Dominik Livakovic had to make a dash off his line to bring down Alvarez, whose clipped shot was half cooked. Italian referee Daniel Orsato pointed to the spot kick and Messi, who else, took the penalty duties.

Messi made sure Livakovic is not a star as he has been saving penalties in this tournament, blasting it into the roof of the net with some power to score his 11^th World Cup goal in the 34^th minute.

Messi is now one more goal ahead of his compatriot Gabriel Bastituta in what was his fifth goal in these World Cup finals, tied with club teammate Kylian Mbappe.

Then Alvarez scored a sensational goal in the 39^th minute. He ran from his half – stumbling through a couple of challenges but the ball continuously falling to his path before stroking it in six minutes before half time.   

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Messi showed that he still got it on the big stage, taking Josko Gvardiol to the cleaners with a drop of the shoulder before laying in the path of the waiting Alvarez to score the second in the 69^th minute to all but secure their spot in the final.         

This was a sweet revenge for Argentina as Croatia beat them 3-0 in the group stages four years ago in Russia, with Croatia losing in the final to France.