Argentina, first finalist after beating Croatia (3-0)

Euskaraz irakurri: Argentina, munduko txapelketako lehen finalist Kroaziari irabazita (3-0)

Argentina got the first ticket to the grand final of Qatar 2022 after beating Croatia with solvency (3-0) on Tuesday at the Lusail Stadium, thanks to Leo Messi and Julián Álvarez, author of a double, after a match that Lionel Scaloni’s men dominated start to finish against a rival who saw their options reduced to a minimum.

Both teams took to the field wanting to demonstrate from the first minute. Thus, although the duo formed by Luka Modric and Mateo Kovacic threatened to take control of the clash, it was the Albiceleste who struck first. Livakovic brought down Julián Álvarez in the area and Daniele Orsato without hesitation pointed out the eleven meters. Messi did not fail and after a masterful execution, he wrote down his eleventh goal in the World Cups, thus surpassing Gabriel Batistuta.

However, Argentina was not satisfied with the income obtained and returned to the charge, looking for the seams of a Croatian defense that seemed to be leaking. A) Yes, Julián Álvarez took advantage of a poorly taken corner by those of Zlatko Dalic to mount the contra and, after going around the entire field, he beat Livakovic after also taking advantage of a certain weakness of the Balkan defense. Horrible minutes from the current world runner-up that the two-time world champion knew how to take advantage of to open a gap on the scoreboard.

Argentina was able to expand their advantage before going to the changing rooms, but a great intervention by the Croatian goalkeeper prevented Mac Allister’s header from slipping between the three sticks. With the feeling of playing against a team that was mentally knocked out, the Albiceleste turned their game over in their rival field, but Croatia managed to arrive alive at half-time.

But after passing through the changing rooms, the same script continued, with a very vertical Argentine team that, although more withdrawn back, also scored the first chance of the second half. Enzo Fernandez Y Messi They teamed up inside the area, but the 10th ended up crashing his left foot into the hands of the Croatian goalkeeper. Good minutes from Scaloni’s men who, despite the lead on the scoreboard, did not give up the ball and kept trying to extend their income.

As a result of his insistence, the Copa América champion he found the goal prize againthus sentencing the clash when there were still 20 minutes to play. Julian Alvarez he saw the door again a genius of Messi who, after getting away from his defender on the bottom line, put a ball on a tray so that the “Spider” only had to push it.

From there, the party in the Lusail stands seemed to move onto the pitch, where the Argentines, with their place in the final already secured, dominated the last moments of the game at will. With hardly any opposition from the Croatian team, Dalic’s men put an end to their more than meritorious World Cup adventure.

Data sheet:

3 – Argentina: Emiliano Martinez; Molina (Foyth, d. 86), Romero, Otamendi, Tagliafico; De Paul (Palacios, m. 74), Paredes (Lisandro Martínez, m. 62), Enzo Fernández, Mac Allister (Correa, m. 86); Messi, Julián Álvarez (Dybala, m. 74).
0 – Croatia: Livakovic; Juranovic, Lovren, Gvardiol, Sosa (Orsic, m. 46); Brozovic (Petkovic, d. 50), Kovacic; Pasalic (Vlasic, m. 46), Modric (Majer, m. 81), Perisic; Kramaric.

goals: 1-0, m. 34: Messi, penalty. 2-0, m. 39: Julian Alvarez. 3-0, m. 69: Julian Alvarez.

Referee: Daniele Orsato (Italy). He admonished the Croatians Livakovic (m. 32) and Kovavic (m. 32) and the Argentines Romero (m. 69) and Otamendi (m. 71). He sent off Mario Mandzukic, a member of the Croatian coaching staff, for a direct red card in the 34th minute.