Fifa World Cup 2022: Messi and Alvarez propel Argentina past Croatia into final

A penalty by Messi in the 34th minute was followed by a brace by Alvarez, adding up to a commanding 3-0 semi-final win for La Albiceleste

Argentina now have another shot at the World Cup crown against either champions France or underdogs Morocco on Sunday

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Argentina’s Lionel Messi and Argentina’s Julian Alvarez celebrate after scoring during the World Cup semi-final match against Croatia in Lusail on Tuesday. Photo: AP

Published: 5:57am, 14 Dec 2022Updated: 7:52am, 14 Dec 2022

Lionel Messi remains on track to crown his stellar career with a World Cup title after the mercurial playmaker inspired Argentina to a place in the final of Qatar 2022, as Lionel Scaloni’s side secured a commanding 3-0 semi-final win over Croatia on Tuesday.

Messi scored with a 34th minute penalty to net his fifth goal of the tournament, and Julian Alvarez doubled his side’s lead five minutes later following a surging run from inside his own half to give the South American champions an unassailable advantage.

Alvarez added his second and Argentina’s third in the 69th minute, with Messi the driving force in a victory over a Croatia side that had finished runners-up in Russia in 2018 to set up a final meeting against either champions France or African underdogs Morocco on Sunday.

Argentina, and seven-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi in particular, will be looking for more of the same in the final as they aim to atone for the disappointment of 2014, the last time the country qualified for the decider and where they lost in extra-time to Germany.

Argentina’s Nicolas Tagliafico vies for the ball with Croatia’s Nikola Vlasic at Lusail Stadium in Qatar on Tuesday. Photo: Reuters

Success on Sunday would finally see 35-year-old Messi emulate the feat of the great Diego Maradona, who led Argentina to the country’s second and most recent World Cup title in 1986.