LUSAIL, Qatar — The most clinical of smash-and-grabs kept Lionel Messi on track for his date with destiny and broke Croatian hearts as Argentina reached Sunday’s World Cup final with a 3-0
Either France or Morocco will face Argentina who were fired-up and orchestrated by a majestic Messi on Tuesday. Considered by many to be the world’s best, Messi now has a chance to put behind him defeat in the 2014 World Cup final and fill the only blank on his career resume.
The same gameplan they had used to confound the Brazilians, never worked against Argentina. Croatia’s tightly-controlled possession play was on Tuesday night a little more loose, a little more ragged.So, for all their greater possession and early domination, Croatia went in at halftime 2-0 down thanks to two classic sucker-punches from their South American opponents.
There had seemed little Livakovic could have done to avoid clattering the striker, but referee Daniele Orsato pointed straight to the spot, booked Livakovic and also Mateo Kovacic for complaining before Messi strode to the penalty spot. Already rocked, worse was to come for Croatia five minutes later when, after a similar pattern of losing possession Alvarez broke free again. Two attempted tackles only saw the ball bobble off Alvarez and on he went, before poking the ball past Livakovic to double Argentina’s lead.
“We knew Croatia would have possession but we had strength to recover the ball. They were not tidy in possession,” Messi said.
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