(VIDEO) Watch: Argentina vs Croatia Goals and Extended Match Highlights |FREE HD | Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup

(VIDEO) Watch: Argentina vs Croatia Goals and Extended Match Highlights |FREE HD | Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup

Argentina progressed to the World Cup final with a commanding 3-0 semifinal victory over Croatia at Lusail Stadium thanks to Lionel Messi and Julian Alvarez.

During a cagey first half-hour, Croatia, looking to repeat their triumphs from 2018, were the superior team, but Manchester City attacker Alvarez was taken down by Croatian goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic as he lifted the ball over him.

Livakovic was his country’s hero in the shootout wins over Japan and Brazil but he was left with no chance as Messi thumped his penalty into the top-right corner to join Kylian Mbappe at the top of the Golden Boot leading scorer race.

The goal scorers combined delightfully in the 69th minute when Messi tormented Josko Gvardiol with a winding dribble before setting up Alvarez for his fourth of the tournament. Alvarez then tenaciously bundled his way through a poorly organized Croatia backline on the counter-attack to double the lead.

Messi almost scored his second, exchanging passes with Enzo Fernandez to draw a fine stop from Livakovic at his near post, but he had one more piece of magic to give Alvarez a second goal that was far more straightforward than his first.

Argentina will take on the winner of the second semi-finals between Morocco and France in the finals.

Disclaimer: This video is provided and hosted by a 3rd party server. Sportelo helps you discover publicly available material throughout the Internet and as a search engine does not host or upload this material.