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A dazzling performance from Lionel Messi led Argentina to their sixth World Cup final with victory over Croatia at Lusail Stadium.

Messi now gets one last chance to win the piece of silverware that has eluded him in his trophy-laden career, but Manchester City's 22-year-old striker Julian Alvarez also shone as Argentina ensured they will return here on Sunday to face either France or Morocco.

Messi looked to be struggling with a hamstring problem early on but Argentina's little genius recovered enough to break the deadlock from the penalty spot after 34 minutes following Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic's foul on the marauding Alvarez.

Alvarez doubled Argentina's lead five minutes later when he took Messi's header just inside Croatian territory and embarked on a slaloming run, aided by fortunate bounces off Josip Juranovic and Borna Sosa, before beating Livakovic.

There was no fortune involved in a brilliant third after the break as Messi mesmerised Croatia's excellent defender Josko Gvardiol on the byeline before playing in Alvarez for the finish.

Messi will now have the opportunity to make amends for the bitter disappointment of losing the 2014 World Cup final to Germany in Rio's iconic Maracana.

Messi's last crack at World Cup glory

When Messi stretched and clutched the top of his left hamstring 19 minutes into this World Cup semi-final, there was a fear the dream for Argentina and their iconic number 10 might have the nightmare ending.

Instead, Messi recovered after a spell at walking pace to inspire Argentina as they go in search of a third triumph in the tournament following victories in 1978 and 1986.

And what a far cry it was from when Argentina were the victims of what is still the biggest shock of this World Cup in Qatar when they lost their opening game 2-1 to Saudi Arabia, despite Messi putting one of the pre-tournament favourites in front.

It was in 1990 that Argentina were stunned in similar fashion by Cameroon in their first game and went on to reach the final, losing 1-0 to West Germany.

Now they have the chance to go one better as the World Cup reaches its climax. And Messi can finally claim the crown in his final tournament.

Argentina used this meeting with the stubborn, resilient and talented 2018 finalists Croatia to produce their most convincing performance of this World Cup, suggesting Lionel Scaloni's side are hitting their peak at the perfect time.

Messi, inevitably, was at the heart of it all and involved in every goal, but Alvarez has shown in Qatar that he has, barring accidents, a wonderful career ahead of him.

Much has been made of Manchester City's big spending over the years but what a coup it was to sign Alvarez from River Plate for the bargain price of £14.1m.

Croatia bow out with heads held high

Croatia were undone, like so many before them, by the brilliance of Messi - as well as his young partner Alvarez - after making a confident and composed start to this World Cup semi-final.

Their defence was exposed in uncharacteristic fashion for Argentina's first two goals and there was little even their outstanding young defender Gvardiol could do about Messi's twisting run that set up the third.

Croatia, however, have had an outstanding tournament once more as the country with a population of only four million followed up their appearance in the final in Russia in 2018 with a place in the last four in Qatar.

If Argentina have Messi, then Croatia have their own master footballer in Luka Modric and he received warm applause from all parts of Lusail Stadium when he was substituted with nine minutes left.

He, like Messi, had his sights set on a World Cup triumph after experiencing the same pain of final defeat, but it was not to be.

Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic and his players can be proud of their efforts, despite being well beaten here, and in 20-year-old RB Leipzig defender Gvardiol they have unearthed one of the break-out stars of this World Cup who will serve them well for many years and is already a serious target for Europe's elite clubs.

Player of the match Messi Lionel Messi with an average of 8.46 Argentina Argentina Argentina

Croatia Croatia Croatia Argentina Avg Squad number 10 Player name Messi Average rating 8.46 Squad number 9 Player name Álvarez Average rating 8.41 Squad number 20 Player name Mac Allister Average rating 7.69 Squad number 23 Player name E Martínez Average rating 6.95 Squad number 24 Player name Fernández Average rating 6.81 Squad number 7 Player name De Paul Average rating 6.80 Squad number 19 Player name Otamendi Average rating 6.74 Squad number 26 Player name Molina Average rating 6.73 Squad number 13 Player name Romero Average rating 6.69 Squad number 3 Player name Tagliafico Average rating 6.66 Squad number 5 Player name Paredes Average rating 6.54 Squad number 25 Player name Li Martínez Average rating 6.30 Squad number 21 Player name Dybala Average rating 6.21 Squad number 14 Player name Palacios Average rating 6.03 Squad number 2 Player name Foyth Average rating 5.90 Squad number 15 Player name Correa Average rating 5.88 Croatia Avg Squad number 10 Player name Modric Average rating 7.21 Squad number 8 Player name Kovacic Average rating 6.42 Squad number 4 Player name Perisic Average rating 5.94 Squad number 11 Player name Brozovic Average rating 5.92 Squad number 1 Player name Livakovic Average rating 5.81 Squad number 22 Player name Juranovic Average rating 5.80 Squad number 15 Player name Pasalic Average rating 5.63 Squad number 20 Player name Gvardiol Average rating 5.62 Squad number 9 Player name Kramaric Average rating 5.50 Squad number 13 Player name Vlasic Average rating 5.49 Squad number 6 Player name Lovren Average rating 5.42 Squad number 18 Player name Orsic Average rating 5.33 Squad number 7 Player name Majer Average rating 5.31 Squad number 16 Player name Petkovic Average rating 5.30 Squad number 19 Player name Sosa Average rating 5.15 Squad number 14 Player name Livaja Average rating 5.05

Line-ups

Match Stats

Live Text Line-ups Argentina Formation 4-4-2 23 E Martínez 26 Molina 13 Romero 19 Otamendi 3 Tagliafico 7 De Paul 5 Paredes 24 Fernández 20 Mac Allister 10 Messi 9 Álvarez 23 E Martínez

26 Molina Substituted for Foyth at 86' minutes

13 Romero Booked at 68mins

19 Otamendi Booked at 71mins

3 Tagliafico

7 De Paul Substituted for Palacios at 74' minutes

5 Paredes Substituted for Li Martínez at 62' minutes

24 Fernández

20 Mac Allister Substituted for Correa at 86' minutes

10 Messi

9 Álvarez Substituted for Dybala at 74' minutes Substitutes 1 Armani

2 Foyth

6 Pezzella

11 Di María

12 Rulli

14 Palacios

15 Correa

16 Almada

18 Rodríguez

21 Dybala

22 La Martínez

25 Li Martínez Croatia Formation 4-3-3 1 Livakovic 22 Juranovic 6 Lovren 20 Gvardiol 19 Sosa 10 Modric 11 Brozovic 8 Kovacic 15 Pasalic 9 Kramaric 4 Perisic 1 Livakovic Booked at 32mins

22 Juranovic

6 Lovren

20 Gvardiol

19 Sosa Substituted for Orsic at 45' minutes

10 Modric Substituted for Majer at 81' minutes

11 Brozovic Substituted for Petkovic at 50' minutes

8 Kovacic Booked at 32mins

15 Pasalic Substituted for Vlasic at 45' minutes

9 Kramaric Substituted for Livaja at 72' minutes

4 Perisic Substitutes 2 Stanisic

3 Barisic

5 Erlic

7 Majer

12 Grbic

13 Vlasic

14 Livaja

16 Petkovic

17 Budimir

18 Orsic

21 Vida

23 Ivusic

24 Sutalo

25 Sucic

26 Jakic Referee: Daniele Orsato Attendance: 88,966 Match Stats Live Text Post update Match ends, Argentina 3, Croatia 0. Full Time Second Half ends, Argentina 3, Croatia 0. Post update Attempt missed. Dejan Lovren (Croatia) left footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Mislav Orsic. Post update Attempt missed. Nikola Vlasic (Croatia) left footed shot from the right side of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Mateo Kovacic. Post update Corner, Croatia. Conceded by Nicolás Tagliafico. Post update Mateo Kovacic (Croatia) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Post update Foul by Exequiel Palacios (Argentina). Post update Foul by Lovro Majer (Croatia). Post update Ángel Correa (Argentina) wins a free kick on the left wing. Post update Attempt saved. Lovro Majer (Croatia) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Mateo Kovacic. Post update Dejan Lovren (Croatia) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Post update Foul by Paulo Dybala (Argentina). Substitution Substitution, Argentina. Juan Foyth replaces Nahuel Molina. Substitution Substitution, Argentina. Ángel Correa replaces Alexis Mac Allister. Post update Corner, Croatia. Conceded by Nicolás Tagliafico. Post update Attempt missed. Alexis Mac Allister (Argentina) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Paulo Dybala following a set piece situation. Post update Foul by Marko Livaja (Croatia). Post update Exequiel Palacios (Argentina) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Substitution Substitution, Croatia. Lovro Majer replaces Luka Modric. Post update Attempt missed. Mislav Orsic (Croatia) right footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses the top right corner. Assisted by Ivan Perisic. Page 1 of 5 rewind previous Navigate to the next page next Navigate to the last page forward

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