Argentina 3-0 Croatia FIFA World Cup 2022 semifinal highlights: Messi magic, Alvarez brace takes Argentina to final

LIVE BLOG

• 14 Dec 2022, 02:23 AM

  LIVE| Argentina vs Croatia FIFA World Cup 2022 latest updates: That's it, Argentina qualify for the final! 

  FT- Messi magic, and Julian Alvarez brace inspires Argentina to 3-0 win over Modric's Croatia as they reach the final of FIFA World Cup 2022.  

   

  
• 14 Dec 2022, 02:13 AM

  LIVE| Argentina vs Croatia FIFA World Cup 2022 latest updates: Argentina fans are already celebrating, and so are the players!

  90'- Five minutes added on and the Lusail Stadium has turned into an Argentine arena with fans of Messi's side singing loudly, and so are the players out on the bench, Angel Di Maria among them, Julian Alvarez who scored twice and made it all possible. 

   

   

  
• 14 Dec 2022, 02:11 AM

  LIVE| Argentina vs Croatia FIFA World Cup 2022 latest updates: Off comes Luka Modric to a thunderous standing ovation

  81'- End of the night, and perhaps, the swansong for Luka Modric's international career, he comes off to be replaced by his teammate and with Croatia trailing the match 3-0, it seems like it's the end of the road for Modric, a thunderous reception from the crowd for the little magician!

  
• 14 Dec 2022, 02:03 AM

  LIVE| Argentina vs Croatia FIFA World Cup 2022 latest updates: Croatia beat Argentina 3-0 the last time they played against each other

  How the tables have turned, four years ago Argentina lost 3-0 to Croatia at FIFA World Cup 2018 in Russia, and today they are leading by 3-0. And there could be more today. 

   

   

  
• 14 Dec 2022, 01:59 AM

  LIVE| Argentina vs Croatia FIFA World Cup 2022 latest updates:

   Messi sets up Alvarez again! ARG 3-0 up!

  69'-  Lionel Messi, sets up Julian Alvarez for a simple tap in and just like that Argentina might be going all the way! Messi bamboozled Gvardiol, turned him around and left him for dust, setting up his teammate who scores his second goal of the night. Game over for Croatia?

   

  
• 14 Dec 2022, 01:49 AM

  LIVE| Argentina vs Croatia FIFA World Cup 2022 latest updates: Croatia attack, Argentina defending with all might

  67'- Croatia trail 2-0 and in their search the goals, Luka Modric's side starting to throw an all-out attack, they need to overturn the deficit but at the moment they're getting little joy against Argentina who have been rock solid at the back. 

  
• 14 Dec 2022, 01:48 AM

  LIVE| Argentina vs Croatia FIFA World Cup 2022 latest updates: Chance for Messi, denied by Livakovic

  56'- Lionel Messi denied at the near post by Livakovic, brilliant give and give with his teammate by the Argentina skipper, beats Gvardiol and nearly gets his second goal but Livakovic got his hands right behind that. 

   

  
• 14 Dec 2022, 01:36 AM

  LIVE| Argentina vs Croatia semifinal 1 updates: Another change for Croatia

  49' - Bruno Petkovic who scored Croatia's all-important equalising goal late against Brazil comes on to replace, Brozovic, perhaps an injury-forced change. Argentina and Croatia exchanging punches early on in the second half. 

   

  
• 14 Dec 2022, 01:33 AM

  LIVE| Argentina vs Croatia FIFA World Cup 2022 latest updates: Croatia make 2 changes, ARG 45 mins away from history!

   45'- Argentina kick off the second half, they are 45 minutes away from the FIFA World Cup 2022 final. Needing a way back into the contest, Croatia have made 2 changes, they need 2 goals. Let's see if Modric and Co can conjure up some magic of their own. 

   

  
• 14 Dec 2022, 01:30 AM

  Lionel Messi becomes Argentina's top goal scorer in FIFA World Cup history

  Lionel Messi, the man who is known for his knack for breaking records has just broken another, he becomes Argentina's highest goal scorer, with 11 World Cup goals. A piece of history. 

  
• 14 Dec 2022, 01:17 AM

  LIVE| Argentina vs Croatia FIFA World Cup 2022 latest updates: ARG lead 2-0 through Messi's pen and Alvarez solo strike

  HT- A dream start for Argentina in their semifinal against Croatia, Lionel Messi's 34th-minute penalty, followed by a brilliant solo run from Julian Alvarez means the Argentines are 45 minutes away from the World Cup final. What can Croatia and Luka Modric conjure up in the second half, stay tuned, live action to resume shortly. 

  
• 14 Dec 2022, 01:15 AM

  LIVE| Argentina vs Croatia FIFA World Cup 2022 latest updates: Croatia hit side netting from Pasalic!

  45'- Luka Modric lets one fly, brilliant block from Argentina's defence, the ball gets recycled and Pasalic connects to the cross at near post but Martinez is there to deny him, and he hits the side netting. 

   

  
• 14 Dec 2022, 01:13 AM

  LIVE| Argentina vs Croatia FIFA World Cup 2022 latest updates: MacAllister brings out WORLD CLASS save from Livakovic!

  42'-  Argentina have blown away Croatia, they look rattled, MacAllister could have added a third, he nods Messi's header downward, but Livakovic is there to deny him with a world-class save. Keeps his side in the tie. 

   

  
• 14 Dec 2022, 01:09 AM

  LIVE| Argentina vs Croatia FIFA World Cup 2022 latest updates: Argentina score again! Julian Alvarez!

  39'-  Argentina have doubled their lead, Julian Alvarez scores and they're flying high now, the Croatians get caught on counter attack, some desperate defending but Alvarez just wouldn't be denied, and for a fifth consecutive game, they have scored two goals! 

   

  
• 14 Dec 2022, 01:08 AM

  LIVE| Argentina vs Croatia FIFA World Cup 2022 latest updates: Messi's 11th FIFA World Cup goal in 25 appearances 

  Lionel Messi has scored his 11th FIFA World Cup goal, fifth at this current edition in Qatar. All of it in just 25 appearances in the World Cup, and now he's level with Kylian Mbappe for top-scorers list. 

  
• 14 Dec 2022, 01:03 AM

  LIVE| Argentina vs Croatia updates: Lionel Messi scores!

  33'- The deadlock is broken! MESSI! The man for the occasion rifles his pen into the right top corner and celebrates in style! My oh my, it's all imploding for Croatia, they began the match well but have shot themselves in the foot. 

   

  
• 14 Dec 2022, 01:01 AM

  LIVE| Argentina vs Croatia FIFA World Cup 2022 latest updates: ARGENTINA get penalty, oh my word!

  31'- Livakovic oh my word, he's been a wall so far, but he completely took out Julian Alvarez, he was nowhere near the ball, Argentina split open Croatian defence with a long ball. 

   

  
• 14 Dec 2022, 12:57 AM

  LIVE| Argentina vs Croatia FIFA World Cup 2022 latest updates: Free kick for Croatia, Argentina survive

  27'- A free kick taken by Luka Modric, great defending from Argentina, they break with pace but Croatia also defend well, dealing with the danger well. It's even stevens so far.

   

  
• 14 Dec 2022, 12:51 AM

  LIVE| Argentina vs Croatia FIFA World Cup 2022 latest updates: Messi has started to light up the play

  22'- Lionel Messi has started to find his groove somewhat, Gvardiol gave the ball away to Messi, but luckily for him, Messi couldn't control or else he would have been through on goal. Croatia survive. 

   

  
• 14 Dec 2022, 12:47 AM

  LIVE| Argentina vs Croatia FIFA World Cup 2022 latest updates: Argentina growing into the game

  20'- After a sustained period of possession for Croatia, Argentina keep the ball for a while, but Croatia regain possession again, both sides giving the ball away at the moment too easily, perhaps a few nerves given the occasion. 

   

  
• 14 Dec 2022, 12:45 AM

  LIVE| Argentina vs Croatia FIFA World Cup 2022 latest updates: First corner for Croatia

  15'- First corner of the match goes Croatia's way taken short, they recycle the ball, it's delivered to Lovren whose headed effort goes wide but it's a clash of heads, no malice done though. 

   

  
• 14 Dec 2022, 12:43 AM

  LIVE| Argentina vs Croatia FIFA World Cup 2022 latest updates: Early shout for foul on Messi denied

  13'- Lionel Messi brought down just outside the box but the referee was not at all interested, told Messi to get up and keep playing. Good break from Argentina, but Croatia remain disciplined. 

   

  
• 14 Dec 2022, 12:40 AM

  LIVE| Argentina vs Croatia updates: Croatia dominating possession, Argentina defend well

  10'- The story of the first ten minutes has been all about Croatia who have kept the ball well, Argentina are also defining well, disciplined, but its Modric's side who have dominated the ball early on. 

   

  
• 14 Dec 2022, 12:38 AM

  LIVE| Argentina vs Croatia FIFA World Cup 2022 latest updates: Modric and Messi have had their first touches

  8'- Both captains, Messi and Modric have touched the ball a couple of times already, they will be hoping for more of those, both will try to dictate play for their respective sides. 

   

  
• 14 Dec 2022, 12:33 AM

  LIVE| Argentina vs Croatia FIFA World Cup 2022 latest updates: Both sides exchanging early blows

  5'- A lung-bursting run for Kovacic sees him feed the ball to his teammate but there was no danger as Molina cleared it away. A cross from the Croatian left wing was easily collected by Martinez, and an early exchange of blows from both sides. 

  
• 14 Dec 2022, 12:32 AM

  LIVE| Argentina vs Croatia FIFA World Cup 2022 latest updates: ARG start on the front foot

  2'- Argentina begin on the front foot, they try to whip in a cross but it caused no harm, Croatia begin again trying to compete for the ball players from both sides. 

   

   

  
• 14 Dec 2022, 12:29 AM

  LIVE| Argentina vs Croatia kick-off: One final Test for Modric-Messi

  1' - Live action is underway, FIFA World Cup 2022 will gets its first finalist today, will it be Messi and his Argentina or Modric's Croatia, we will know soon enough, Croatia in their dark blue kit attacking from right to left, Argentina in their famed kit, left to right. Enjoy!

   

  
• 14 Dec 2022, 12:23 AM

  LIVE| Argentina vs Croatia FIFA World Cup 2022 latest updates: Live action set to get underway in front of a jam-packed Lusail Stadium

  The teams are coming out! It's a jam-packed Lusail Stadium, Argentina on one side, Croatia on the other, Messi and Modric set for one last battle. Live action to get underway very soon, but first the national anthems!

   

  
• 14 Dec 2022, 12:17 AM

  LIVE| Argentina vs Croatia FIFA World Cup 2022 latest updates: Lionel Messi equals Lothar Matthaus' record

  If there's one man who is no stranger to records, its Lionel Messi and he's equalled another one, becoming the player with joint highest appearances in a World Cup, equalling Germany's Lothar Matthaus' record. 

   

   

  
• 14 Dec 2022, 12:11 AM

  LIVE| Argentina vs Croatia FIFA World Cup 2022 latest updates: Ivana Knoll grabs eyeballs

  Not just the players, but some fans are also grabbing the limelight in FIFA World Cup 2022, Croatia's Ivana Knoll has been a major talking point for her clothing in Qatar, despite all the restrictions. She's even promised to bare it all if Croatia win the World Cup, and she's up for the semifinal as well!

   

   

   

   

  View this post on Instagram

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

  A post shared by Ivana Knöll (@knolldoll)

   

   

  
• 14 Dec 2022, 12:04 AM

  FIFA World Cup 2022 ARG vs CRO semifinal: Modric and Messi in the house

  Modric and Messi both the captains are in the house, in the Lusail iconic Stadium, preparing for what could be one of the biggest games of their international careers. They've been here before, but who can reach their second FIFA World Cup final?

  Only 30 miutes to go!#FIFAWorldCup | #ARG #HRV

  — FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) December 13, 2022

  
• 14 Dec 2022, 12:02 AM

  LIVE| Argentina vs Croatia FIFA World Cup 2022 latest updates: History between Modric and Messi

  Luka Modric made his debut against Argentina and on that day, Lionel Messi scored a goal. The two players have locked horns plenty of times while playing for Real Madrid and Barcelona, and it seems that they are set to for one last battle. 

   

  
• 13 Dec 2022, 11:58 PM

  LIVE| ARG vs CRO FIFA World Cup semifinal latest updates: No Martinez and Di Maria for Argentina

  Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni has made some big changes, leaving Lisandro Martinez and Angel Di Maria on the bench. Remains to be seen whether his decision turns out in favour of Argentina or not. 

   

  
• 13 Dec 2022, 11:55 PM

  LIVE| Argentina vs Croatia FIFA World Cup 2022 latest updates: Team news

  Argentina XI: Martinez; Molina, Romero, Otamendi, Tagliafico; De Paul, Paredes, Fernandez, Mac Allister; Messi, Alvarez

  Croatia XI: Livakovic; Juranovic, Lovren, Gvardiol, Sosa; Modric, Brozovic, Kovacic; Pasalic, Kramaric, Perisic.

  
• 13 Dec 2022, 11:54 PM

  LIVE| Argentina vs Croatia FIFA World Cup 2022 latest updates: 

  Argentina finished second best in 2014, Croatia in 2018, only one team can reach the final today but who will be it? Follow all the latest updates live here. 

  
• 13 Dec 2022, 11:53 PM

  LIVE| Argentina vs Croatia FIFA World Cup 2022 latest updates: 

  It will be a tough fight between two players who are widely considered the best ever in their respective positions, but history beckons today and there can only be one winner. 

   

  
• 13 Dec 2022, 11:53 PM

  Hello and welcome to the live coverage of FIFA World Cup 2022 semifinal 1 between Lionel Messi's Argentina who will lock horns with Luka Modric's Croatia.