Thanks to a great gala by Lionel Messi and a great show by Julián Álvarez, Argentina broke Croatia’s resistance on Tuesday evening (December 13, 2022) – and is well deserved in the final of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
It was a performance of the century by Messi, who intoxicated the fans in the Lusail Iconic Stadium and on television screens worldwide with the 3-0 (2-0) especially with his solo before the third goal. At the age of 35 he can finally fulfill his dream of crowning this unique career with a world championship title. He may have found his heir in Julián Álvarez that evening.
“Feel Great Happiness”
Messi then expressed himself almost euphorically for his standards: “I feel great happiness and great joy. We’re enjoying that for now. We’re in the final of the World Cup, we’ve always believed in that, we’ve always hoped for that. I’m not thinking about records now, I’m thinking about what we achieved here .”
Álvarez felt something similar: “I’m very happy. But we deserved it because we played a great game. It’s also a huge joy for our families, our friends and our fans.”
A lot of fight, little goal danger
For a long time this game was not a sure-fire success for Argentina. In the first 25 minutes, both teams had completely neutralized each other. The action took place exclusively between the two penalty areas, there were a few attempts to inspire respect for the opponent with hard-fought duels, but referee Daniele Orsato from Italy remained calm and clear.
Croatia initially had significantly more ball possession, at times it was 62 percent – but the Argentines recorded the first somewhat more intensive goal approach: Enzo Fernández, one of the great discoveries of this tournament, flicked the ball on goal from 20 meters, Dominik Livaković only saved it on the second try (25th minute).
A penalty without a question mark
Shortly thereafter, Livaković was asked to use his core competence: the ball was on the spot eleven meters away from him. Livaković himself had earlier brought down Argentinian centre-forward Julián Álvarez, who came completely clear in front of him after a brilliant through ball from Fernández – Orsato defensibly allowed him to escape with a yellow card.
It is quite conceivable that Messi may have thought before taking the penalty that this goalkeeper had already decided the knockout games against Japan and Brazil on penalties with his saves. Because he chose an execution that left no questions unanswered: Messi chased the ball into the right angle with such determination that even the penalty killer didn’t stand a chance.
It was a special goal for Messi and his country. On the day when the best footballer in the world drew level with the previous leader Lothar Matthäus (both are now 25) after World Cup appearances, he also got the only Argentinian top scorer record at World Cups: With his eleventh goal he drew Gabriel Batistuta over.
Great moment of Álvarez
After that, Croatia wobbled and Argentina turned up the heat. Álvarez started the next solo five minutes after winning his penalty and this time he let no one stop him. Twice the attacker sat down from Manchester City in a press shot, was also very lucky, especially in the duel with Borna Sosa, that the ball jumped in front of his feet again. But the will to remain stable, to assert oneself and to complete this solo successfully was rewarded in the end with the 2:0.
It was Livaković’s worst half of the tournament so far, but he got a chance to excel in the 43rd minute. After a corner by Messi, Alexis Mac Allister was free to head on goal from the six-yard box, Croatia’s goalkeeper prevented the 0-3 with an outstanding save.
More risk with Petković
The resilience and frustration tolerance of Zlatko Dalić’s team, which had been proven over and over again in the course of the tournament, was now more in demand than ever in the second round. Five minutes after the restart, the coach increased the risk and brought in Bruno Petković, the equalizer from the quarter-finals against Brazil.
Croatia then upped the ante again, but what they didn’t up was the goal threat. Argentina stayed a class better and Livaković had to prevent the third goal in the 58th minute after another magical Messi moment. But that was only postponed.
Gvardiol surrenders
In the 69th minute Messi started an extraordinary slalom run, the pole was called Josko Gvardiol three times. The player from Leipzig, who had become one of the best players at this World Cup, finally had to capitulate, Messi dribbled through to the baseline and passed back to Álvarez, who refined this fantastically beautiful attack to make it 3-0.
After that, the Croatians’ faith was actually broken, a visible sign was the substitution of Luka Modric in the 80th minute. In all likelihood, that was not his last World Cup appearance: Croatia will meet the loser of the duel between France and Morocco on Saturday (17.12.2022) in the match for third place.