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Argentina vs Croatia: Messi scores and assists to reach World Cup final

Published

2 years ago

December 13, 2022

Argentina 3-0 Croatia: Messi scores and assists to reach final in last World Cup chase

Lionel Messi once again scored and delivered an unreal assist to help Argentina reach World Cup final in his last chase for the ultimate glory.

Zlatko Dalic’s side crashed out to the South Americans in the semi-final, losing 3-0 thanks to a brace from Julian Alvarez and a penalty from Lionel Messi.

Croatia will face either Morocco or France in the third place play-off match on Saturday

Messi now gets one last chance to win the piece of silverware that has eluded him in his trophy-laden career but Manchester City’s 22-year-old striker Alvarez claimed at least an equal share of top billing as Argentina ensured they will return here on Sunday to face either France or Morocco.

Argentina’s little genius looked to be struggling with a hamstring problem early on but recovered enough to break the deadlock from the penalty spot after 34 minutes following Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic’s foul on the marauding Alvarez.

Alvarez doubled Argentina’s lead five minutes later when he took Messi’s header just inside Croatian territory and embarked on a slaloming run, aided by fortunate bounces off Josip Juranovic and Borna Sosa, before beating Livakovic.

There was no fortune involved in a brilliant third after the break as Messi mesmerised Croatia’s excellent defender Josko Gvardiol on the byeline before playing in Alvarez for the finish.

Messi will now have the opportunity to make amends for the bitter disappointment of losing the 2014 World Cup final to Germany in Rio’s iconic Maracana.