Argentina v Croatia: Key moments as Messi guides Albiceleste to final
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Key moments
90+5' The match has just finished.
86' Lionel Scaloni prepares a substitution. Nahuel Molina is replaced by Juan Foyth (Argentina).
86' It's time for a substitution. Angel Correa (Argentina) comes on in place of Alexis Mac Allister.
83' Alexis Mac Allister (Argentina) receives a brilliant pass and wastes a big opportunity as his shot from inside the penalty area flies narrowly wide of the right post. The ball is off of the pitch and it's a goal kick for Croatia.
81' The manager has decided to make a substitution and Luka Modric walks off the pitch to be replaced by Lovro Majer (Croatia).
74' Julian Alvarez will be replaced by Paulo Dybala (Argentina).
74' Lionel Scaloni has decided to substitute Rodrigo de Paul and he is replaced by Exequiel Palacios (Argentina).
72' The referee stops play so that a substitution can be made and Andrej Kramaric leaves the pitch and Marko Livaja (Croatia) comes on.
71' This yellow card was deserved. The tackle by Nicolas Otamendi (Argentina) was quite harsh and Daniele Orsato didn't hesitate to show him a yellow card.
69' 3 - 0 Goal - 3:0! Lionel Messi laid the ball off to Julian Alvarez (Argentina), who shot from close range low into the back of the net, leaving the goalkeeper helpless.
68' It must be a yellow card. It is. Cristian Gabriel Romero (Argentina) receives the caution after an awful tackle.
62' Dejan Lovren (Croatia) drifts into the box to meet the ball from the free kick and plants a header towards the middle of the target. One of the defending players gets in its way and blocks it.
62' Substitution. Lisandro Martinez (Argentina) on for Leandro Paredes.
58' Lionel Messi (Argentina) receives a precise pass and is given time inside the box to send a promising strike towards the middle of the goal. Dominik Livakovic guesses his intention and denies him with a fine save.
50' Here's the change. Marcelo Brozovic leaves the pitch and Bruno Petkovic (Croatia) comes on as a substitute.
46' Substitution. Borna Sosa leaves the pitch and is replaced by Mislav Orsic (Croatia).
46' Half-time substitution. Mario Pasalic is replaced by Nikola Vlasic (Croatia).
46' The second half has just started.
45+5' The referee blows his whistle for half-time, bringing to a close the first 45 minutes of the match.
42' Alexis Mac Allister (Argentina) rises highest from the corner and heads at goal, but his effort towards the bottom right corner is saved by Dominik Livakovic.
39' 2 - 0 GOAL! Julian Alvarez (Argentina) receives the ball after a swift counter attack. Still with some work to do, he weaves his way through the defence to score a wonderful goal from close range to make it 2:0.
34' 1 - 0 Goal! Lionel Messi (Argentina) puts the ball into the top right corner past the outstretched arm of Dominik Livakovic.
32' Mateo Kovacic (Croatia) was probably a bit loose with his words to Daniele Orsato, who decides to show him a yellow.
32' A yellow card for a tackle by Dominik Livakovic (Croatia). Daniele Orsato doesn't hesitate at all to make this decision.
32' Daniele Orsato couldn't ignore the rough tackle by Dominik Livakovic (Croatia) and blew his whistle. The referee points to the penalty spot. Argentina are awarded a penalty kick!
1' The match has just started.
Argentina starting XI: Martinez, Romero, Otamendi, Molina, Tagliafico, Paredes, De Paul, Mac Allister, Fernandez, Alvarez, Messi
Croatia starting XI: Livakovic, Sosa, Perisic, Lovren, Kovacic, Kramaric, Modric, Brozovic, Pasalic, Gvardiol, Juranovic
Preview
Argentina’s quarter-final win over the Netherlands highlighted their best and worst qualities as after some Lionel Messi magic put them 2-0 ahead, the game descended into an ill-tempered affair before they held their nerve to win on penalties.
Under pressure following their shock 2-1 group-stage defeat to Saudi Arabia, they’ve battled their way through to the last four for the sixth time in their history, with Messi and penalty-saving goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez at the fore.
When La Albiceleste get this far, they usually continue as they’ve never failed to reach the final after having reached the last four, and as reigning Copa Ámerica champions they’re hardened knockout competitors. After one defeat across their last 41 matches (W30, D10) they’re just a game away from a sixth World Cup final - and likely Messi’s final chance at winning football's biggest national trophy - and will have the added bonus of being roared on by thousands of passionate Argentine fans in Lusail.
Runners-up four years ago, Croatia broke Brazilian hearts by beating the South Americans on penalties after a 1-1 draw to reach their third World Cup semi-final (W1, L1), proving again they are also masters of going the distance. They’ve won five of their last six World Cup knockout games after extra-time, four of them via a penalty shootout, meaning they possess a perfect World Cup penalty shootout record (W4).
"We are experienced and we are raised as fighters," was how coach Zlatko Dalić explained Croatia’s ability to keep on digging deep against Brazil. "Only Croats can do that," he added, although Argentina will have something to say about that as they look to avenge Croatia’s 3-0 group-stage head-to-head win four years ago that levelled up the overall head-to-head stakes (W2, D1, L2).
Players to watch: Two of their generation’s finest competitors, Argentina’s Messi and Croatia’s Luka Modrić, will look to dictate play. Modrić may have just one assist in this tournament (Messi: G4, A2) but his influence is enormous, and he was instrumental in helping his club side Real Madrid beat Messi’s PSG in the Champions League knockouts last term.
Hot stat: Croatia are yet to score first during this tournament (W3, D2).
World Cup trivia: Robert Prosinečki is the only player to score in the World Cup for two different countries - Yugoslavia in 1990 and Croatia in 1998.
