World Cup 2022: Argentina 3-0 Croatia

Argentina 3-0 Croatia highlights

A dazzling performance from Lionel Messi led Argentina to their sixth World Cup final with victory over Croatia at Lusail Stadium.

Messi now gets one last chance to win the piece of silverware that has eluded him in his trophy-laden career, but Manchester City’s 22-year-old striker Julian Alvarez also shone as Argentina ensured they will return here on Sunday to face either France or Morocco.

Messi looked to be struggling with a hamstring problem early on but Argentina’s little genius recovered enough to break the deadlock from the penalty spot after 34 minutes following Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic’s foul on the marauding Alvarez.

Alvarez doubled Argentina’s lead five minutes later when he took Messi’s header just inside Croatian territory and embarked on a slaloming run, aided by fortunate bounces off Josip Juranovic and Borna Sosa, before beating Livakovic.

There was no fortune involved in a brilliant third after the break as Messi mesmerised Croatia’s excellent defender Josko Gvardiol on the byeline before playing in Alvarez for the finish.

Messi will now have the opportunity to make amends for the bitter disappointment of losing the 2014 World Cup final to Germany in Rio’s iconic Maracana.

Messi penalty gives Argentina the lead over Croatia

Messi’s last crack at World Cup glory

When Messi stretched and clutched the top of his left hamstring 19 minutes into this World Cup semi-final, there was a fear the dream for Argentina and their iconic number 10 might have the nightmare ending.

Instead, Messi recovered after a spell at walking pace to inspire Argentina as they go in search of a third triumph in the tournament following victories in 1978 and 1986.

And what a far cry it was from when Argentina were the victims of what is still the biggest shock of this World Cup in Qatar when they lost their opening game 2-1 to Saudi Arabia, despite Messi putting one of the pre-tournament favourites in front.

It was in 1990 that Argentina were stunned in similar fashion by Cameroon in their first game and went on to reach the final, losing 1-0 to West Germany.

Now they have the chance to go one better as the World Cup reaches its climax. And Messi can finally claim the crown in his final tournament.

Argentina used this meeting with the stubborn, resilient and talented 2018 finalists Croatia to produce their most convincing performance of this World Cup, suggesting Lionel Scaloni’s side are hitting their peak at the perfect time.

Messi, inevitably, was at the heart of it all and involved in every goal, but Alvarez has shown in Qatar that he has, barring accidents, a wonderful career ahead of him.

Much has been made of Manchester City’s big spending over the years but what a coup it was to sign Alvarez from River Plate for the bargain price of £14.1m.

Croatia bow out with heads held high

Croatia were undone, like so many before them, by the brilliance of Messi – as well as his young partner Alvarez – after making a confident and composed start to this World Cup semi-final.

Their defence was exposed in uncharacteristic fashion for Argentina’s first two goals and there was little even their outstanding young defender Gvardiol could do about Messi’s twisting run that set up the third.

Croatia, however, have had an outstanding tournament once more as the country with a population of only four million followed up their appearance in the final in Russia in 2018 with a place in the last four in Qatar.

If Argentina have Messi, then Croatia have their own master footballer in Luka Modric and he received warm applause from all parts of Lusail Stadium when he was substituted with nine minutes left.

He, like Messi, had his sights set on a World Cup triumph after experiencing the same pain of final defeat, but it was not to be.

Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic and his players can be proud of their efforts, despite being well beaten here, and in 20-year-old RB Leipzig defender Gvardiol they have unearthed one of the break-out stars of this World Cup who will serve them well for many years and is already a serious target for Europe’s elite clubs.

Player of the match

MessiLionel Messi

with an average of 8.46

Argentina

Squad number10Player nameMessi
Squad number9Player nameÁlvarez
Squad number20Player nameMac Allister
Squad number23Player nameE Martínez
Squad number24Player nameFernández
Squad number7Player nameDe Paul
Squad number19Player nameOtamendi
Squad number26Player nameMolina
Squad number13Player nameRomero
Squad number3Player nameTagliafico
Squad number5Player nameParedes
Squad number25Player nameLi Martínez
Squad number21Player nameDybala
Squad number14Player namePalacios
Squad number2Player nameFoyth
Squad number15Player nameCorrea

Croatia

Squad number10Player nameModric
Squad number8Player nameKovacic
Squad number4Player namePerisic
Squad number11Player nameBrozovic
Squad number1Player nameLivakovic
Squad number22Player nameJuranovic
Squad number15Player namePasalic
Squad number20Player nameGvardiol
Squad number9Player nameKramaric
Squad number13Player nameVlasic
Squad number6Player nameLovren
Squad number18Player nameOrsic
Squad number7Player nameMajer
Squad number16Player namePetkovic
Squad number19Player nameSosa
Squad number14Player nameLivaja

Line-ups

Argentina

Formation 4-4-2

23E Martínez
26MolinaSubstituted forFoythat 86′minutes
13RomeroBooked at 68mins
19OtamendiBooked at 71mins
3Tagliafico
7De PaulSubstituted forPalaciosat 74′minutes
5ParedesSubstituted forLi Martínezat 62′minutes
24Fernández
20Mac AllisterSubstituted forCorreaat 86′minutes
10Messi
9ÁlvarezSubstituted forDybalaat 74′minutes

Substitutes

1Armani
2Foyth
6Pezzella
11Di María
12Rulli
14Palacios
15Correa
16Almada
18Rodríguez
21Dybala
22La Martínez
25Li Martínez

Croatia

Formation 4-3-3

1LivakovicBooked at 32mins
22Juranovic
6Lovren
20Gvardiol
19SosaSubstituted forOrsicat 45′minutes
10ModricSubstituted forMajerat 81′minutes
11BrozovicSubstituted forPetkovicat 50′minutes
8KovacicBooked at 32mins
15PasalicSubstituted forVlasicat 45′minutes
9KramaricSubstituted forLivajaat 72′minutes
4Perisic

Substitutes

2Stanisic
3Barisic
5Erlic
7Majer
12Grbic
13Vlasic
14Livaja
16Petkovic
17Budimir
18Orsic
21Vida
23Ivusic
24Sutalo
25Sucic
26Jakic

Referee:: Daniele Orsato
Attendance:: 88,966

Live Text

Match ends, Argentina 3, Croatia 0.
Second Half ends, Argentina 3, Croatia 0.
Attempt missed. Dejan Lovren (Croatia) left footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Mislav Orsic.
Attempt missed. Nikola Vlasic (Croatia) left footed shot from the right side of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Mateo Kovacic.
Corner, Croatia. Conceded by Nicolás Tagliafico.
Mateo Kovacic (Croatia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Exequiel Palacios (Argentina).
Foul by Lovro Majer (Croatia).
Ángel Correa (Argentina) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Attempt saved. Lovro Majer (Croatia) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Mateo Kovacic.
Dejan Lovren (Croatia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Paulo Dybala (Argentina).
Substitution, Argentina. Juan Foyth replaces Nahuel Molina.
Substitution, Argentina. Ángel Correa replaces Alexis Mac Allister.
Corner, Croatia. Conceded by Nicolás Tagliafico.
Attempt missed. Alexis Mac Allister (Argentina) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Paulo Dybala following a set piece situation.
Foul by Marko Livaja (Croatia).
Exequiel Palacios (Argentina) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Substitution, Croatia. Lovro Majer replaces Luka Modric.
Attempt missed. Mislav Orsic (Croatia) right footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses the top right corner. Assisted by Ivan Perisic.