Wednesday | December 14, 2022

The South Americans obliterated a stubborn Croatia’s concrete wall to secure their coveted place in the 2022 FIFA World Cup final in Qatar.

A Julián Álvarez brace and Lionel Messi penalty conversion propelled Argentina to a 3-0 victory against Croatia in the semi-final of the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Lusail Stadium in Lusail on Tuesday.

It was evenly poised in open minutes of the high calibre encounter until Croatia goalkeeper missed a near 50/50 ball and banged Alvarez in the 18-yard area. Argentina was awarded a penalty kick which captain Messi (34′) slotted in the back of the net emphatically.

Five minutes later, Álvarez got his name on the score sheet to double Argentina’s advantage.

Staring a monumental deficit in the eye, Croatia summoned the courage to claw back into the game which until then was slipping away. Argentina fortified their defence to ward off the Croatian onslaught to restore parity.

Against the run of play, Messi picked a ball near the halfway line and skilfully dragged his marker til he squeezed in a cross from the right which Álvarez latched and whipped the ball home (69′).

At 3-0 down, Croatia was in the doldrums. As fate would have it, Modric’s compatriots failed to dig themselves out of the hole while he watched from the sidelines after his substitution. The 37-year-old also knew his international career was teetering to its end.

On the other side, Lionel Messi was bestowed with the customer man-of-the-match accolade for yet another sterling performance at the age 35.

For now, Argentina will wait until tonight to confirm their opponents between France and Morocco scheduled for their semifinal at Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor Wednesday, Dec. 14.

The semi-final losers in this match will encounter Croatia for the 3rd place play-off at Khalifa International Stadium in Doha on Saturday, Dec. 17 at 17h00.