First runner-up
Argentina booked their first ticket to the Qatar 2022 final with a convincing 3-0 win over Croatia at the Lusail Stadium on Tuesday, thanks to Leo Messi and Julian Alvarez, who scored a brace, after a match that Lionel Scaloni’s side dominated from start to finish against an opponent whose chances were reduced to a minimum.
Croatian errors
The Albiceleste took advantage of two set-piece errors by the Croatian side to seal the game before the break. Julián Álvarez became the man of the match after forcing the penalty for the first goal and scoring two goals, with the help of Leo Messi, who once again gave a master class leading his team’s play and guiding them to what will be their sixth World Cup final.
Revenge of the last World Cup
It was not the match that was expected, to the credit of the South American champions, who left no room for doubt in this one and took full revenge for the heavy defeat to the Croatians four years ago. The reigning world runners-up could not find a way to do any damage and Livakovic this time could not be decisive.
Awaiting opponent
Thus, the team coached by Lionel Scaloni fulfilled its goal and will be next Sunday in the final in Doha, to be played at the same venue, to try to win what would be its third World Cup title, after the ones won in 1978 and 1986. While awaiting to know the opponent between France and Morocco, the Argentineans, with this victory, presented their candidacy for the title.
Argentina struck first
Without the initial scoreline typical of a match of this magnitude, both teams took the field eager to show from the first minute. Although the duo of Luka Modric and Mateo Kovacic threatened to take control of the match, it was the Albiceleste who struck first. Livakovic brought down Julian Alvarez in the area and Daniele Orsato unhesitatingly pointed to the spot. Messi made no mistake and after a masterful execution, scored his eleventh goal in the World Cups, thus surpassing Gabriel Batistuta.
Croatian defense failed
However, Argentina were not satisfied with the advantage they had gained and went back on the attack, looking for the seams in a Croatian defense that seemed to be in trouble. Thus, Julian Alvarez took advantage of a corner badly taken by Zlatko Dalic’s team to set up the counter and, after running all over the field, beat Livakovic after taking advantage of some weakness in the Balkan defense. Horrible minutes from the current runners-up of the world that the two-time world champions were able to take advantage of to open the gap on the scoreboard.
Croatia held on before the break
Argentina could have extended its lead before going to the locker room, but a great intervention by the Croatian goalkeeper prevented Mac Allister’s header from going into the net. With the feeling of playing against a team that had been knocked out, the Albiceleste played their game in the opponent’s half, but Croatia managed to reach the break ‘alive’.
Argentina held the ball
However, after the break, the same script continued, with a very vertical Argentina team that, although more withdrawn at the back, also scored the first chance of the second half. Enzo Fernandez and Messi teamed up inside the area, but the ’10’ ended up crashing his left-footed shot into the hands of the Croatian goalkeeper. Scaloni’s team, despite the advantage, did not give up the ball and kept trying to increase their lead.
Messi’s genius, Alvarez’s goal
As a result of their persistence, the Copa America champions once again found the net, thus sealing the game with 20 minutes left to play. Julián Álvarez found the back of the net again after Messi’s genius, who, after getting away from his defender on the back line, put the ball on a plate for the ‘Spider’ to push it in.
Party in the stands
From then on, the party in the stands at the Lusail seemed to move to the pitch, where the Argentinians, with their place in the final already secured, dominated the final moments of the match at will. With hardly any opposition from the Croatian team, Dalic’s men put an end to their more than deserved World Cup adventure.
