Being a favorite and reaching the World Cup final sometimes doesn’t work out, but Argentina behind the Lionel Messi and Julian Alvarez made it happen with 3-0 victory over Croatia in the semifinals on Tuesday.
Argentina will be playing in the World Cup Final against the winner of France/Morocco (Wednesday) on Sunday (9am CT, FOX), while Croatia gets to play in the third-place match on Saturday.
Two-goals in the first half about six minutes apart proved to be the difference for Argentina. Then, Argentina added another goal for insurance in the second half.
“I’m enjoying this moment a lot,” Messi said. “We feel strong before the game even after a very long last game. The previous one (against the Netherlands) wasn’t easy at all. We were tired but the group brought its energy on the pitch to face this game.
“It’s great to see the joy of our fans here and in Argentina. We’re going to give it all that we have in the final but also need to enjoy what we’ve achieved.”
Messi kicked his third penalty kick of the World Cup and scored the opening goal in the 34th minute for a 1-0 lead. Julian Alvarez had made a move with the ball and was knocked down by the Croatia keeper Dominic Livakovic in the penalty area in the 32nd minute that drew the pk.
Then a few minutes later, Alvarez from midfield brought the ball forward, beat three defenders and touched the ball past the keeper Livakovic for a 2-0 advantage in the 39th minute.
Messi set up the third goal in the second half, with his efforts of taking the ball to the end line and sending a pass back to the middle of the box. Which Alavarez hit a shot into the net for his second goal and a 3-0 lead in the 69th minute.
The way that Messi played in the semifinals caught the eyes of Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic and there wasn’t much Croatia could do to stop him.
“He’s the best player in the world,” Dalic said. “He was dangerous and has quality. He has technique and put in a high-level performance. It was a true Messi that we expected to see.”
Argentina reached its first final since 2014 and is trying to break a 36-year drought since its last time winning the World Cup in 1986.
“I try not to be too emotional,” Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said. “It’s very difficult to put this into words. This is what I had always dreamed as an Argentinean. Everyone would act the way I act when your country, your nation but it’s impossible not to do what my players do. It’s thrilling and it’s emotional.
“You can win or lose but what I can say is it’s really exciting. Our people were supporting us, we could feel their support and that’s something unforgettable. We’re making history and this a reason to be happy.”
Argentina started the World Cup with an upset loss to Saudi Arabia but has won every match from that one and could join Spain who won the World Cup in 2010 after they lost its first match.
