LUSAIL, Qatar (Reuters) – Argentina beat defending runners-up Croatia 3-0 in the semi-finals of the Qatar World Cup on Wednesday for the first time in 2014. It was the first time in two tournaments that they progressed to the finals for the sixth time in total.
At the 34th minute of the first half, Argentina’s captain, Lionel Messi, scored a penalty kick won by Julián Alvarez to take the lead. Five minutes later Alvarez scored the second from a 50-metre dribble. Moreover, in the second half, Alvarez poured in from Messi and the third goal took the bad push.
This is Messi’s fifth World Cup appearance. With a total of 11 World Cup goals, he has emerged as the player who has scored the most for the Argentine national team. After the match, Messi said, “This tournament remains an unbelievable experience. I was able to play in the last match, as I wanted.”
Argentina, who are aiming for a third World Cup title, will face the winner of defending champions France-Morocco in the final on the 18th. Argentina won the 1978 and 1986 tournaments.
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