Julian Alvarez scores brace as Messi converts from the spot against Croatia, whose World Cup overachieving run comes to an end.
Messi scored in the semi-final fixture against Croatia through the penalty spot in the 34th minute at the Lusail Stadium on Tuesday. The goal was historic as Messi becomes Argentina’s all-time top scorer at the World Cup, with 11 goals.
Croatia stuck to their regular game plan and wanted to direct the match from kickoff to full-time. However, it all crumbled down when Ivan Perisic failed to take advantage of Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez moving off his line and a counterattack is launched.
Julian Alvarez finds himself one-on-one with Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic and he is fouled. Yellow card for the keeper and a chance for Messi to make history from the spot. Messi scores by blasting into the top corner, no chance for the keeper.
5 minutes later Julian Alvarez is back at it! A fantastic break from Argentina’s goal line and Alvarez finds himself in on goal after two lucky bounces off Croatia’s defenders. He toe-pokes it and Argentina lead 2-0.
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A tournament that began with humiliation following a 2-1 loss to Saudi Arabia could well be Messi’s best chance to lift the World Cup. Argentina won the World Cup in 1986 and Diego Maradona, at the time aged 25, was the main orchestrator. Lionel Messi now has the chance to have his 1986 moment, astonishingly 10 years older than Maradona when he won the World Cup.
in the 69th minute, Messi outplays Croatia’s defending wonder kid Josko Gvardiol before providing the assist for Manchester City striker Julian Alvarez.
Croatia lacked the ability to finish their rare opportunities in the match and their mistakes cost them as the fixture slipped away from their grip. The 2018 finalists will be back in action at the Khalifa International Stadium on Saturday for the third-place playoff.
Argentina will face either France or Morocco in the final on Sunday, at the Lusail Stadium. The PSG forward now has the chance to engrave his status as the greatest player as well as the full admiration of the Argentinians, just like Maradona.
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