By Karolos Grohmann
Julian Alvarez scored twice and earned a penalty converted by Lionel Messi as Argentina swept past Croatia 3-0 and into the World Cup final where they will face either holders France or Morocco at the weekend.
While all eyes were on captain Messi and his fifth bid to win the one major trophy eluding him, it was Alvarez who stole the show on Wednesday (AEDT), earning the penalty and scoring once in each half including after a scintillating 50-metre run.
Messi put away the spot kick in the 34th minute, after Alvarez was brought down by goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic, to become his country’s all-time World Cup top scorer with 11 goals, before the 22-year-old Manchester City forward took matters into his own hands to add a second five minutes later.
The pair combined perfectly in the 69th for Alvarez to tap in his second goal following a mesmerising Messi drive to the byline and perfect cut-back to make sure of Argentina’s sixth World Cup final appearance.
Finalists as recently as 2014, Argentina will look to land a third world crown after victories in 1978 and 1986.
Clinching the world title would also elevate seven-time Ballon D’Or winner Messi to the mythical status that the late Diego Maradona enjoys in Argentina.
Lionel Messi and Julian Alvarez celebrate a goal.Credit:AP
In the final they will face either defending champions France or surprise package Morocco, the first Arab country in a World Cup semi-final, who play each other on Wednesday.
Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic said Messi took the game away from his side.
“He is the best player in the world, he was dangerous and he has quality,” Dalic said. “He has technique and put in a high-level performance, it was the true Messi we expected to see.
“Argentina have an excellent team and Messi being a player of such quality and with thousands of supporters behind him, they play as they best see fit.
“Today they had four midfielders in the middle and we tried to play aggressively. But Messi can make one move and make a difference, which he did for the third goal.”
Dalic said the penalty awarded when Livakovic fouled Alvarez was a bit “suspicious” but chose not to dwell on the referee’s decision, lamenting his side’s sterile possession in the opening stages before they conceded.
“We had ball possession but didn’t create specific opportunities,” he added. “We’ll not say we object to the referees but the first goal took the match in a different direction.”
Dalic said Croatia had suffered a “deserved defeat”.
“I congratulate Argentina on reaching the final,” the 56-year-old added. “Sometimes luck favours you, sometimes not. That’s the way it is. We have nothing to complain about.”
Croatia had the lion’s share of possession but just two shots on target, neither of which unduly troubled Argentina keeper Emiliano Martinez.
Dalic was left to rue his team’s lack of cutting edge.
“We had a lot of good situations, but we weren’t mobile,” he added. “Especially in the attacking phase, we weren’t concrete. We lacked that one real attacker to break through. We didn’t do it.
“We know what we are and what we’re not. That’s it.
“When we conceded the third goal, it was really difficult to come back. It was a deserved defeat.
“If someone had offered us this before the World Cup, we would have accepted it, this is a great success for the Croatian national team and we are proud.”
Croatia, who finished runners-up in 2018, may have seen the last of many players from their “golden generation”, with 37-year-old Luka Modric receiving a standing ovation when the former Ballon d’Or winner was substituted.
Dalic said many of them have played their last World Cup but may feature in the 2024 European Championship.
Reuters
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