Martin Rogers
Fox Sports Insider
Lusail, Qatar – and so on Lionel Messi He’ll get his shot, the chance to give his legacy everything a footballer could ask for, to go from greatness to true immortality.
Once again, Messi was front and center of it all Argentina at 3-0 world Cup Semi-final victory over Croatia at Lusail Stadium on Tuesday. This night was about him as it always has been. That’s just the way it goes when you have one of the best ever, 35-year-olds, chasing the ultimate validation.
Argentina will play for the final prize on Sunday (10 a.m. ET on FOX and the FOX Sports app).
His contribution to his team’s first goal was to calmly and furiously shoot from the penalty spot after overtime by the others. Argentina came second in a remarkable solo race Julian Alvarez.
[Related: Lionel Messi’s World Cup résumé stands apart as he pushes Argentina into final]
Then, 69 minutes later, it was the real masterstroke, the dazzling Messi running close to the halfway line before latching on a pass to Alvarez to finish the game and negate any slight chance of a response.
Messi’s penalty kick, awarded by goalkeeper Alvarez in the penalty area Dominic Levakovic, he was pushed non-stop into the top corner on 34 minutes. Not only did he put the South American ahead against the run of play, but he elevated Messi to a solo spot as his country’s all-time leading scorer at World Cup finals with 11 points, breaking a tie with Gabriel Batistuta.
It sure was a long time ago that Argentina lost their opening match at this World Cup in a stunning upset Kingdom Saudi ArabiaWe briefly wondered if he could even make it out in the group stage.
Now, chance is the match Diego Maradona the historic 1986 title and to atone for the disappointment of 2014, when Messi was excellent at qualifying for the final but losing to Germany on the big night.
Here, everything was set up by Argentina’s explosiveness at the end of the first half and the opening goal that changed the character of the night. With Croatia under pressure, Alvarez’s quick break showed clear and unmarked, before he was fouled by Levakovic, who was booked for his trouble.
Levakovic, who was very effective in the penalty shootout for Croatia, had no chance when Messi shot with his left foot at a perfect angle, high and to the left of the goalkeeper.
Lionel Messi leads BK
Lionel Messi scores a penalty to give Argentina an early lead.
Croatia did not score first in any of their matches in the tournament, with two goalless draws in the group, and they come from behind against Canadaand won on penalties twice after a draw against Japan And the Brazil.
The 2018 finalist would have liked his chances to fight again in this bout, but a two-goal hole was a different proposition.
The second came when Álvarez got into a counter and had options to pass the ball to both sides, only to decide to go on his own. A pair of rebounds from defenders fell directly into his path, and Manchester city Forward poked the ball into the net to extend the advantage.
Julian Alvarez makes it 2-0
Minutes later it was nearly three minutes when Alexis McAllisterLevakovic’s header was saved, and in this way, the sting was taken out of Croatia, so resolute throughout the campaign behind the midfield supremacy in Luka Modric.
Zlatko Dalic’s side tried to press forward in the second half, but Argentina were in control. Messi, of course, is not done yet. His dance trajectory wouldn’t be thwarted, and when he reached the finish line, he just needed to hit Alvarez’s unmarked trajectory.
Messi sets up Alvarez
Argentina’s Julian Alvarez made it 3-0 in the 69th minute, putting Argentina in complete control.
Success breeds opportunity, and that’s what Argentina has right now.
The chance to become the first World Cup winner from outside Europe for 20 years. To secure the biggest soccer trophy for the third time. To complete the resurrection from that bad beginning.
And to give Messi everything.
Highlights Argentina and Croatia
Lionel Messi leads Argentina to the World Cup final on Sunday.
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Martin Rogers is a columnist for FOX Sports and author of the FOX Sports Insider newsletter. Follow him on Twitter @MRogersFOX And the Subscribe to our daily newsletter.
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