Despite Croatia's good start in the match, the penalty awarded to Argentina in the 34th minute changed the game and from here, Croatia's return to the match was not possible. Perhaps it was the brilliance of Messi's supremely confident penalty that swung the momentum completely in Argentina's favor.
Now, one of the greatest football players in the world, Lionel Messi, has his last chance to win the World Cup. This is the trophy that Messi has failed to win in his successful career.
However, today, not only Messi, but Manchester City's 22-year-old striker Alvarez was no less, and his strong pace and two excellent goals ensured Argentina's passage to the final.
Now Argentina will face one of Morocco or France in the final on the same ground on Sunday.
Argentina's 'little genius' appeared to be struggling with a hamstring problem at the start of the match, but after scoring the penalty, there was no stopping him in Croatia's defence.
The penalty awarded in the first half was awarded to Argentina due to a foul on Croatian goalkeeper Dominik Lukovic, and Messi fired it into the right corner of the goal to give Argentina the lead.
Alvarez doubled the lead just five minutes after taking the ball alone in the Croatia half to set up a run that was as much a part of his luck as poor Croatian defending. made
However, Messi's beautiful run in the second half and the resulting goal are being compared by Argentina fans to Maradona's 'goal of the century' against England in the 1986 World Cup.
The historic run saw 35-year-old Messi reminisce about his younger days as Croatia and the tournament's best defender, Josco Guardiola, danced the ball into the d-ball before passing it to Alvarez, who slotted it into the goal. It didn't take long to convert.
Now Messi will have another chance to forget the disappointment of losing to Germany in the 2014 World Cup final and make history.
Messi
, image source GETTY IMAGES
Messi's last chance to lift the World Cup
When Messi grabbed his hamstring in the 19th minute and tried to stretch for a while, Argentina fans around the world feared that it might not be the end of Messi's career.
However, Messi slowed down for a while and produced a performance that gave Argentina a chance to get back into the match after a quiet start. Argentina are now looking to win their third World Cup, with the South American side having previously achieved victories in 1978 and 1986.
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In 1990, Argentina also suffered a similar defeat against Cameroon at the start of the tournament, but were defeated by West Germany in the final.
Now they have a golden opportunity to win the World Cup once again in what will surely be Messi's last tournament.
It was arguably Argentina's best performance of the tournament and they easily defeated a talented and defensively strong Croatia, who managed to reach the finals of the 2018 World Cup.
Perhaps it would be fair to say that manager Lionel Scaloni has peaked in the tournament at the right time.
Messi played a central role throughout the match but Alvarez showed today that he has a bright future ahead of him.
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