Julián Álvarez excels alongside Lionel Messi in Argentina’s win over Croatia. The young striker embodies like no other the will that brought Argentina to the final.
“Football is one”, said Lionel Scaloni. The coach, who led Argentina to the World Cup final with a 3-0 win over Croatia, was the answer when asked if his team had more heart than they played football or if they played more football than they had heart.
Skill, passion, tactics, overcoming, finesse – for Scaloni, all of this is part of the one, all-encompassing football.
Álvarez shines in the semifinals
Julián Álvarez proved this thesis in a game that was his best and most important for the national team.
After a deflected corner kick, he got the ball in his own half, sprinted with it and completed the counter a few seconds later with the goal to 2-0 against Croatia.
It was a solo far from the genius of the solos known for, say, Diego Maradona, the late Argentine soccer icon, or Lionel Messi, the living.
Álvarez with the absolute will
“He knows I have to bang my head against the wall now”said sports show expert Almuth Schult about the run “embodied the will” for whom the mass of the Argentine team stands much more than for art, even if the footballing skills of Enzo Fernández, for example, are underestimated in such a view.
Álvarez’s solo, however, showed everything that coach Scaloni sees in football together, plus an element that so often decides between victory and defeat – luck. Álvarez got a shot in the 39th minute despite two Croatians getting the ball earlier. But it was also his day on that Tuesday (December 13, 2022) in the Lusail Stadium, where the final of the World Cup will also be held on Sunday. “I saw that my colleagues were left and right. But I thought I’d just give it a try. It was a chance, just through”, said Alvarez.
Four times in the penalty area – two goals, one penalty
The 22-year-old forward from Manchester City scored a second goal and won the penalty that Messi converted to make it 1-0. It was enough for this record that he only had the ball four times in the Croatian penalty area.
Julián Álvarez, also just 1.70 meters tall, has now scored four goals in his six games at the tournament. He came on as a substitute in the first two games, after which he was in the starting XI. Lautaro Martínez was considered the second striker next to Messi, but the Inter Milan pro played poorly and missed even the best chances.
Messi still reigns supreme
It took a long time before Lionel Scaloni was asked about Álvarez in the press conference on Tuesday. Everything initially revolved around Messi and – with plenty of pathos – also the pride of having made around 47 million Argentines happy again.
Then Álvarez became an issue and the manager said he played “excellently” and that it’s very nice for a striker to score two goals. In addition, Julián Álvarez was also “very helpful” because he supported the midfield so well in defensive work.
Messi’s brilliance and efficiency on offense, discipline, order and above all dedication in every duel on defense – that’s Scaloni’s football.
Álvarez now a regular
Julián Álvarez has found his place in the side that can start converting from the start. A place alongside Messi, his idol, with whom he took a photo ten years ago that is now sweeping social media.
At Manchester City in the shadow of Haaland
Even if Álvarez returns to his club as a world champion, a starting place will most likely stay away. Coach Pep Guardiola relies on a central striker at Manchester City, and his name is usually Erling Haaland, i.e. in important games. A spot on the wings is also difficult to find given competition from the likes of Phil Foden and Riyad Mahrez.
Álvarez has what it takes to be a star
However, Julián Álvarez has proved in the eyes of the world public that Manchester City made a good purchase for the comparatively modest sum of just over 21 million euros. In January 2022, the English champions brought the striker from River Plate, but initially loaned him out again for six months to the traditional Argentine club with whom Álvarez won the Copa Libertadores in 2018. Three years later he became champion with River Plate and celebrated the Copa America victory with Argentina, Messi’s first title with the ‘Albiceleste’.
The second is still a win away and Julián Álvarez should be the front man and first aider again in the final in a side that lack brilliance as a team but form a unit, as the coach would like.