Argentina vs Croatia, FIFA World Cup 2022, Semi-Final Highlights: Lionel Messi Teams Up With Alvarez To Fire Argentina To 6th World Cup Final

FIFA WC: Thank you

That’s it for today! Tomorrow the second finalist will be decided. Either defending champion France or surprise package Morocco will face Argentina in the final! We will cover that game live. Do join us!

FIFA WC: Messi on a mission

Messi, 35, who suffered defeat to Germany in the 2014 final, is desperate to crown his extraordinary career by winning his first World Cup and bringing Argentina a third title to add to those won in 1978 and 1986.

FIFA WC: Record for Messi

It was Messi’s fifth goal of the tournament, making him joint top-scorer with France’s Kylian Mbappe. His 11th career goal — in a record-equalling 25th World Cup appearance — also took him past Gabriel Batistuta as Argentina’s all-time World Cup top scorer.

FIFA WC: Argentina beat Croatia

Argentina defeat Croatia 3-0 in the semi-final match and storm into the final of the FIFA World Cup 2022. Julian Alvarez scored a brace while Lionel Messi scored the opener as Argentina clearly dominated the game. 

FIFA WC: 5 mins of stoppage time

The stoppage time for the second-half of the first semi-final match between Argentina and Croatia is 5 minutes. Argentina have clearly dominated the game as they have taken a 3-0 lead. 

FIFA WC: Alexis Mac Allister misses the target

Argentina miss out on a chance to take a 3-0 lead as Alexis Mac Allister unleashes a shot towards the target but thee ball wide of the right post. 

FIFA WC: Croatia made changes

In the last 10 minutes of the game, Croatia make some changes in their lineup. Luka Modric gets replaced by Lovro Majer. 

FIFA WC: Ivan Perisic misses the target

Ivan Perisic delivers a shot towards the target but the ball goes over the crossbar and Croatia miss out on a golden opportunity to get a goal. 

FIFA WC: GOAL

GOAL!!! Julian Alvarez strikes twice as he provides Argentina with their third goal of the night. He gets an assist from Lionel Messi and easily dodges goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic. 

Live score: ARG 3: CRO 0 (69″)

FIFA WC: Messi hold the opponent

Argentina star Lionel Messi tries to hold one of his opponents and referee Daniele Orsato has clear sight of the incident and immediately stops the play. 

FIFA WC: Foul from Julian Alvarez

Referee Daniele Orsato wastes no time and signals a foul after Argentina’s Julian Alvarez recklessly brings an opponent down while trying to snatch the ball. 

FIFA WC: No goal for Argentina

Argentina’s Lionel receives a good pass and fires a shot towards the target. However, goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic makes a brilliant effort and stops the goal from close range. Argentina in 2-0 lead. 

FIFA WC: Luka Modric misses the target

Croatia’s Luka Modric delivers the ball into the penalty area from a free-kick. However, Argentina goalkeeper makes a good effort and deny Croatia an easy goal. 

FIFA WC: Foul from Nicolas Otamendi

Referee Daniele Orsato wastes no time and signals a foul after Argentina’s Nicolas Otamendi slides between the feet of an opposition player and brings him down. 

FIFA WC: We are back underway

Hello and welcome back to the second-half of semi-final match between Argentina and Croatia. Argentina are in 2-0 lead and Croatia need to redeem themselves in order to win the game. 

FIFA WC: Half-time

This marks the end of the first-half of the semi-final match between Argentina and Croatia. The Lionel Messi-side have taken 2-0 lead over Croatia. Messi and Julian Alvarez provided Argentina with the breakthroughs. 

FIFA WC: 4 mins of stoppage time

The stoppage time for the first-half of the semi-final match between Argentina and Croatia in 4 minutes. Argentina clearly dominated the game so far as they have taken 2-0 lead over Croatia. 

FIFA WC: Good save from Dominik Livakovic

Argentina’s Alexis Mac Allister receives a good pass from the corner and produces a good header towards the target. However, goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic makes a comfortable save to deny Argentina their third goal. 

FIFA WC: GOAL

GOAL!!!! Few minutes after the first goal, Julian Alvarez provides Argentina with their second breakthrough of the night. After receiving a pass, Alvarez makes his way through the defenders and places the ball into the nets.

Live Score: ARG 2: CRO 0 (39″)

FIFA WC: GOAL

GOAL!!! Lionel Messi perfectly capitalizes on the given opportunity and converts the penalty into a goal. He brilliantly places the ball towards the target and leaves Dominik Livakovic completely bamboozled. 

FIFA WC: Yellow card to Dominik Livakovic

Referee Daniele Orsato signals a yellow card to Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic, after he commits a foul while defending a goal. Argentina get a penalty kick. 

FIFA WC: Good defence from Croatia

Argentina’s Rodrigo de Paul unleashes a shot inside the box but he fails to find any of his teammates. Croatia defenders get the ball and easily avert the coming threat. 

FIFA WC: Enzo Fernandez misses the target

Argentina’s Enzo Fernandez creates a good opportunity to score and fires a brilliant shot towards the right side of the goal. However, his effort goes in vain as goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic makes an easy save. 

FIFA WC: Croatia enjoying possesion

In the 22 minutes of the game so far, Croatia have been keeping the majority of possession on the field. Both the teams are trying hard but no goals have been scored yet. 

Possession: ARG 36: CRO 65

FIFA WC: Croatia miss the corner-kick

Croatia’s Dejan Lovren gets a cross in the box and unleashes a shot towards the target. However, the ball goes off the pitch and Croatia miss out on a good chance to score. 

FIFA WC: Foul from Mario Pasalic

Referee Daniele Orsato wastes no time and signals a foul after Croatia’s Mario Pasalic commits a rough tackle and brings an opponent down. 

FIFA WC: Good save from Dominik Livakovic

Rodrigo de Paul delivers a good pass into the opposition’s box but goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic makes a comfortable save to deny Argentina a chance to goal. 

FIFA WC: We are underway

The semi-final match of the FIFA World Cup 2022 between Argentina and Croatia begins now, at the Lusail Stadium. Croatia will be taking the kick-off. 

FIFA WC: Time for the national anthem

Players of both the teams are out on the field for their respective national anthems. The semi-final match between Argentina and Croatia will begin soon at the Lusail Stadium. 

FIFA WC: Daniele Orsato named as the referee

The referee for the semi-final match between Argentina and Croatia is Daniele Orsato. The match will begin at 12:30 AM. Stay tuned for live updates. 

FIFA WC: Bruno Petkovic starts on bench again

Forward Bruno Petkovic, whose late goal in extra-time forced the game into a penalty shoot-out, starts on the bench again.

FIFA WC: Croatia name unchanged team

Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic named an unchanged team to the one which beat Brazil on penalties in the last eight with Andrej Kramaric starting as the central striker.

FIFA WC: Messi equals world record

Argentina star Lionel Messi was set to equal Lothar Matthaus’ record for the most World Cup appearances with his 25th start in Tuesday’s semi-final against Croatia. Midfielder Leandro Paredes and defender Nicolas Tagliafico were brought into Argentina’s starting line-up. Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni drafted in Tagliafico in place of the suspended left-back Marcos Acuna and Paredes took the spot of centre-half Lisandro Martinez. The switch means Argentina are likely to revert to four at the back rather than the five-man defence with advanced wing-backs that they used in the penalty shoot-out win over the Netherlands.

FIFA WC: Here are the lineups

Argentina: Emiliano Martinez; Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Nicolas Otamendi, Nicolas Tagliafico; Rodrigo De Paul, Leandro Paredes, Enzo Fernandez, Alexis Mac Allister; Lionel Messi (capt), Julian Alvarez

Croatia: Dominik Livakovic; Josip Juranovic, Dejan Lovren, Josko Gvardiol, Borna Sosa; Luka Modric (capt), Marcelo Brozovic, Mateo Kovacic; Mario Pasalic, Andrej Kramaric, Ivan Perisic

FIFA WC: Throwback video for Messi and Modric

🇦🇷🇭🇷 Only one of these legends can progress to the #FIFAWorldCup Final…

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) December 13, 2022

FIFA WC: Morocco’s fantastic run

Morocco had a memorable run at the FIFA World Cup 2022 so far. After staying unbeatable in the group stages, Morocco continued the same momentum in the Round of 16 and quarterfinal matches. 

FIFA WC: Messi eyes finale seat

After defeating Netherlands in the quarterfinals, the Lionel Messi-led Argentina are all set to take on Croatia in the semi-final clash. 

FIFA World Cup: Hello and welcome!

The first semi-final of this World Cup will start in less than two hours! Follow all the live updates here