World Cup 2022 LIVE: Argentina v Croatia score and latest updates from semi-final – Lionel Messi and Julian Alvarez score

Lionel Messi has now scored 11 objectives on the World Cup, probably the most of any Argentina participant within the competitors’s historical past. Since the 1966 version, no participant has scored or assisted in additional completely different World Cup matches than Messi (13) – stage with Brazil’s Ronaldo.

That would have been an ideal half for Argentina, however there was one slight cloud: Messi repeatedly reached for his hamstring when the ball was out of play, seemingly grimacing.

He completed the half in full flight, nevertheless, dribbling on the Croatian defence and drawing a foul because the whistle blew, so let’s hope he’s OK to proceed.

It is slightly early to be trying forward, but when Argentina progress Messi would have 4 days to get himself proper for a second try on the greatest recreation of his life.

A Lionel Messi penalty and a lucky run from Julian Alvarez have put Argentina in agency management of this semi-final. They squandered a two objective lead in opposition to the Netherlands final day out so gained’t need to repeat that tonight.

It’s going to be very powerful for Croatia to gt again into this one.

45+4 minutes: Argentina head into the half-time break with a two-objective cushion and the information {that a} clear sheet will take them into the World Cup remaining.

The majority of supporters within the stadium are loving this. Croatia want one other huge second half comeback.

45 minutes: Four minutes of added time to play on the finish of the primary half. Argentina have a snug lead and appear actually assured of their play now.

Croatia have been slightly dazed after that one-two punch however a snapshot from the sting of the field by Luka Modric has woken them up once more.

44 minutes: The odd factor is that Croatia had been doing fairly nicely, largely containing Argentina’s menace and creating some promising counters, however that may be a disastrous double blow which proper now feels nearly not possible to come back again from.

They have been punished for going forwards in numbers and exposing their sluggish defence to a fast striker in Julian Alvarez.

The Argentina followers are bouncing, chanting, drumming, whereas the Croatia contingent to our proper have gone very quiet.

42 minutes: SAVE! Argentina win their first nook of the sport and whip a terrific cross into the six-yard field the place Alexis MacAllister wins the ball within the air and guides a header in the direction of objective.

The ball bounces off the turf however Livakovic stands proud a left hand and pushes it broad of the again submit! What a response save from the Croatian goalkeeper that’s!

39 minutes: Fortune for Julian Alvarez however Argentina double their lead on the counter-assault!

Argentina get better the ball on the sting of the field and ship it as much as Lionel Messi who turns it ahead to Alvarez earlier than being taken out. The referee performs on as Alvarez drives down the pitch, he’s obtained Nahuel Molina alongside him and the proper again makes a diagonal run throughout the field drawing away Borna Sosa.

There’s a deal with which knocks the ball unfastened but it surely bobbles up kindly for Alvarez who chests it down and pokes it previous Dominik Livakovic!

37 minutes: Dominik Livakovic and Mateo Kovacic each obtained booked in the course of the penalty incident. Livakovic for the problem on Alvarez and Kovacic for dissent and arguing with the referee.

Croatia gained’t panic, they’re the kings of coming from behind. Another nook is knocked quick to Brozovic however his tried cross is blocked.

34 minutes: Oof! Pick that one out. Dominik Livakovic dives the proper method however Lionel Messi blasts the penalty kick into the roof of the web leaving the keeper no probability to put it aside.