World Cup 2022: Argentina books place in final after 3-0 win against Croatia
Argentina has booked its place in the World Cup final on the back of a brilliant performance from Lionel Messi. But the match didn’t lack controversy.
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An inspired Lionel Messi scored from the penalty spot and Julian Alvarez struck twice as Argentina beat Croatia 3-0 to reach their second World Cup final in eight years.
The two-time world champions, backed by a huge majority of the crowd at the Lusail Stadium, produced their best display of the tournament to ensure they will meet the winners of semi-final clash between holders France and Morocco in the final.
Messi, 35, who suffered defeat to Germany in the 2014 final, is desperate to crown his extraordinary career by winning his first World Cup and bringing Argentina a third title to add to those won in 1978 and 1986.
And after getting his team on the way to victory with a perfectly struck first-half penalty he made sure of the win by brilliantly creating the third goal.
However, not everyone was impressed with the decision to award the penalty.
Speaking on ITV’s broadcast Gary Neville was strong in his stance that the referee made a mistake.
“This is not a penalty,” Neville said.
“What else can he do? He has to make that motion to try and save the ball, he plants his feet.
“If he’d carried on running out and taken out Alvarez then fair enough, but he stops before it and I don’t know if that’s a penalty.”
Meanwhile, on SBS’s coverage, hosts Craig Foster and Mark Bosnich disagreed on if it was the right call.
Bosnich: “What is Livakovic supposed to do? He is standing there and Alvarez pokes it past him and he is allowed to stand there. That was a very harsh penalty.
Foster: “No, come on. He came out and fouled him, Boz.”
Bosnich: “I really don’t think that was a penalty. I don’t know what you expect Livakovic to do.”
Foster: “He could come and save the shot but he come to make a challenge.”
Bosnich: “But if he stops, you can’t just jump out of the way because somebody is running into you.”
Foster: “But you don’t have to be there, that is the thing. It is a foul on the player. The ball has gone over, he (Alvarez) can collect it on the other side. So he has to give a foul. The keeper could stay on his right.”
Bosnich: “But he could stand.”
Foster: “He wasn’t standing, he had come out.”
Even without the penalty, Argentina was clearly the better side, with Alvarez’s two goals ensuring there would be no nervous moments in the second half.
RECAP THE LIVE ACTION
ARGENTINA 3 v CROATIA 0 - 90’
Five minutes of extra time have been added. Which is five more minutes for the Argentina fans to enjoy this moment.
ARGENTINA 3 v CROATIA 0 – 69’
The Alvarez-Messi combination strikes again!
And it all started with more Messi magic. He danced his way around multiple defenders before driving down the right and crossing the ball to Alvarez who finishes off the pin point pass by finding the back of the net.
That’s his second goal of the match.
It’s almost impossible to see Croatia coming back here.
ARGENTINA 2 v CROATIA 0 – 62’
Argentina has made a change with Paredes going to the bench and Lisandro Martinez coming on.
Croatia aren’t going away here and have enjoyed plenty of possession in this second half.
But so far they are yet to have a shot on target.
Meanwhile, Argentina is 30 minutes away from booking its place in the final.
ARGENTINA 2 v CROATIA 0 – 52’
Sub alert!
Croatia has made two changes to start this second half.
Vlasic has replaced Pasalic and Orsic has replaced Sosa.
ARGENTINA 2 v CROATIA 0 - 46’
How was Croatia’s defence during that opening half?
Sky Sports’ Zinny Boswell didn’t pull any punches, describing it as “almost comical”.
“Croatia have collapsed. Just as there was for the first goal, big defensive question marks here, too,” he said.
“Sosa looked absolutely lost as the last man and Alvarez bundles home. Somehow, Argentina are 2-0 up.
“Out of nowhere.”
Play has resumed in the second half. Can Croatia bounce back and make a run?
ARGENTINA 2 v CROATIA 0 – HT
As we head to the break, it is all Argentina here.
The first 20-25 minutes were relatively even but as we approached the half-hour mark, Argentina flicked the switch.
While the attention is always on Messi, Alvarez has been nothing short of amazing.
The question around Argentina has always been can they get enough support for their superstar?
Alvarez has answered that so far today.
ARGENTINA 2 v CROATIA 0 – GOAL! 39’
More Messi magic.
This time he sends Argentina forward before a perfect ball to Alvarez.
The striker then drives into the box, easily moving past Juranovic and Sosa before sending the ball into the bottom right corner of the net.
The lead is now two goals and this is officially a disaster for Croatia.
They look badly out of sorts and have lost all composure.
Meanwhile, Messi and Alvarez are showing no signs of slowing down.
ARGENTINA 1 v CROATIA 0 - GOAL! 34’
Who else?
Lionel Messi has given Argentina the perfect start after converting a penalty kick.
It came after Alvarez was taken down by keeper Livakovic in the box.
Livakovic was handed a yellow card for the tackle and he was lucky it wasn’t a red.
The magician Messi then steps up to the spot and easily converts the penalty kick.
What a start and what a moment for Argentina, who are now well on top.
ARGENTINA 0 v CROATIA 0
The first moment of real drama here as Messi tumbles to the ground after contact with Josko Gvardiol.
The Argentine superstar desperately appeals for a free kick but referee Daniele Orsato is having none of it.
ARGENTINA 0 v CROATIA 0
It has been slow going through the opening 10 minutes. But if you’re a Croatia fan, you should be feeling good.
They have enjoyed far more of the possession although, they have been unable to make a meaningful play on the goals.
HOW LATE CHANGE WILL IMPACT MESSI
Midfielder Leandro Paredes and defender Nicolas Tagliafico were brought into Argentina’s starting line-up.
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni drafted in Tagliafico in place of the suspended left-back Marcos Acuna and Paredes took the spot of centre-half Lisandro Martinez.
The switch means Argentina are likely to revert to four at the back rather than the five-man defence with advanced wing-backs that they used in the penalty shoot-out win over the Netherlands.
STARTING LINE-UPS:
ARGENTINA (4-4-2) Emiliano Martinez; Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Nicolas Otamendi, Nicolas Tagliafico; Rodrigo De Paul, Leandro Paredes, Enzo Fernandez, Alexis Mac Allister; Lionel Messi (capt), Julian Alvarez Coach: Lionel Scaloni (ARG)
CROATIA (4-3-3) Dominik Livakovic; Josip Juranovic, Dejan Lovren, Josko Gvardiol, Borna Sosa; Luka Modric (capt), Marcelo Brozovic, Mateo Kovacic; Mario Pasalic, Andrej Kramaric, Ivan Perisic Coach: Zlatko Dalic (CRO)
Referee: Daniele Orsato (ITA)
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