Argentina vs Croatia Semi Final Highlights: Argentina beat Croatia 3-0 to enter the final
THE TIMES OF INDIA | Dec 14, 2022, 03:06:55 IST
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Argentina vs Croatia Semi Final Highlights: Argentina beat Croatia 3-0 to enter the final

Two goals by swashbuckling striker Julian Alvarez and a Lionel Messi penalty gave Argentina a 3-0 victory over 2018 runners-up Croatia in the first World Cup semi-final on Wednesday to set up a showpiece meeting with France or Morocco on Sunday.
22:40 (IST) Dec 13
It will help Croatia that Argentina also had to go to penalties in their emotionally draining quarter-final win over the Netherlands and a crucial factor on Wednesday will be which team finds themselves fresher for the task.
22:35 (IST) Dec 13
Croatia & extra time
Just as four years ago in Russia, where Croatia won every knockout round game after extra-time -- twice on penalties -- before the final, Zlatko Dalic's team have shown a remarkable ability to grind out results beyond the 90 minutes. Croatia conceded the first goal against both Japan and Brazil but came back to force the game into penalties and win. Will that impressive mental strength prove to be decisive again or will those extended battles take a toll physically?
22:31 (IST) Dec 13
With the ball, Croatia have their own diminutive veteran maestro in 37-year-old Luka Modric, whose ability to dictate the tempo, maintain possession and take his team forward into dangerous areas is fundamental for his country's hopes of reaching successive World Cup finals.
22:28 (IST) Dec 13
Argentina fan displays a banner with an image of Diego Maradona inside the stadium before the match
Argentina fan displays a banner with an image of Diego Maradona inside the stadium before the match

(Reuters Photo)

22:24 (IST) Dec 13
No man-marking for Messi
Croatia are unlikely to put a specific man-marker on Messi, relying on what has been a solid defence and one of the best midfielders in the tournament to gain the upper hand. Marcelo Brozovic occupies the deepest defensive role in the Croat midfield trio and is likely to have the most work to do in nullifying Messi, 35, but Mateo Kovacic put in a strong defensive shift against Brazil and is likely to be asked for a repeat performance.
22:15 (IST) Dec 13
Messi - a clever creator
The late-career evolution of Lionel Messi into a clever creator operating behind the front line has intensified at this World Cup. He illustrated just how effective he can be with his superb defence-splitting pass to set up the opening goal in the quarter-final against the Netherlands.
22:10 (IST) Dec 13
Coaches quotes
Coaches quotes
21:59 (IST) Dec 13

I'm optimistic and have full confidence in my players. They've shown their great quality and strength of character, and deserve to be in the final.

Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic

21:57 (IST) Dec 13
Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic said reaching the semis for a second straight World Cup was an "extraordinary success" but he was hungry to go further.
21:53 (IST) Dec 13
Croatia on the brink of a second successive final
The country of fewer than four million people shocked the football world by reaching the final four years ago in Russia, where France crushed their dreams with a 4-2 win. Croatia, with Real Madrid playmaker Modric still the leader on the pitch at the age of 37, have again defied the odds to stand on the brink of a second successive final.
21:47 (IST) Dec 13
Croatia, who beat Japan and pre-tournament favourites Brazil in penalty shoot-outs to reach the last four, have not won a knockout game in normal time at a major tournament since the 1998 World Cup, where they came third.
21:39 (IST) Dec 13

The game the other day was played in the right way by both teams. That is football. I don't buy this idea that we don't know how to win. The game was played in the right way.

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni

21:38 (IST) Dec 13
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni defended his players' conduct, insisting they had nothing to apologise for.
21:38 (IST) Dec 13
The Paris Saint-Germain forward was a pivotal figure in Friday's stormy quarter-final win over the Netherlands, when a record 18 yellow cards were shown and players from both sides were involved in a melee as the referee fought to regain control.
21:38 (IST) Dec 13
All eyes on Messi
All eyes will be locked on the cavernous Lusail Stadium, where Messi, now 35, will attempt to fire Argentina into the final for the second time in eight years against the 2018 runners-up. Messi, who suffered defeat to Germany in the 2014 final, is desperate to crown his extraordinary career by emulating another Argentine great, the late Diego Maradona, who lifted the trophy in 1986.
21:36 (IST) Dec 13
Lionel Messi and Luka Modric face off in a mouthwatering World Cup semi-final between Argentina and Croatia tonight, desperate to seize their final chance to win football's ultimate prize.
21:35 (IST) Dec 13
Hello and welcome to the live coverage of the first semi-final of the FIFA World Cup 2022 between two-time champions Argentina and 2018 runners-up Croatia at Lusail stadium in Qatar.