Argentina and Messi go to the Qatar 2022 final after beating Croatia 3-0

Argentina y Lionel Messi they extended their dream of being world champions until the final of Qatar-2022, after defeating Luka Modric’s Croatia resoundingly 3-0 in the semifinals, this Tuesday at the Lusail stadium.

Eight years after falling in the final of Brazil-2014 Against Germany, the Albiceleste will aspire on Sunday to achieve their third world crown after those of 1978 and 1986. Their rival will be known on Wednesday, after the semifinal between the defending champions France and the revelation Morocco.

Messi he opened the scoring after 34 minutes via a penalty and then set up Álvarez for a brace after 39 and 69 minutes, respectively.

With his fifth goal in Qatarthe “Flea” surpassed Gabriel Batistuta as the top “Albiceleste” scorer in the World Cups with 11 goals.

The victory against the last world runner-up will put the Argentine team in a game for the title after eight years, when they lost to Germany in Brazil in 2014.

In a game played at the Lusail stadium in front of 88,000 fans, Argentina and Croatia shared control of the ball in midfield from the start, without despairing of the first goal, in keeping with the style they displayed during the tournament.

The first approach to a goal was made by the Argentine national team at minute 24 through a long-distance shot by Enzo Fernández that required the goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic.

After that attempt, Fernández opened the Croatian defense with a deep pass that ended in Livakovic’s infringement on Álvarez and a penalty sanctioned by Italian referee Daniele Orsato.

Messi he took responsibility against the hero goalkeeper in penalty shoot-outs in the earlier rounds against Japan and Croatia, and he bested him with a high, hard, corner shot.

Argentina he took advantage of the rival’s confusion to score the second goal on a counterattack by Álvarez, after a pass from Messi and a run from behind the midfield line.

Croatia tried to react in the second stage, assuming greater risks to look for the discount, but left spaces in their field for the attacks of the Argentine national team.

Fernández had a good chance at minute 55, but he wasted it. Two minutes later, Livakovic blocked a shot from Messi.

The third goal that defined the semifinal came at 69 through Álvarez, after a brilliant play by Messi on the right sector.

At 3-0, the Argentine coach Lionel Scaloni completed the five modifications so that his replacement footballers add minutes before the final, while Zlatko Dalic replaced the veteran at 81 Luke Modricwho came out very applauded by the Argentine fans.

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