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 targets 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 totally 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 a bit of early to be trying forward, but when Argentina progress Messi would have 4 days to get himself proper for a second try on the largest 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 outing so gained’t need to repeat that tonight.

It’s going to be very robust 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 data {that a} clear sheet will take them into the World Cup closing.

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

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

Croatia have been a bit of 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 properly, largely containing Argentina’s menace and creating some promising counters, however that may be a disastrous double blow which proper now feels nearly unattainable 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 an awesome 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 out a left hand and pushes it huge of the again publish! 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 recuperate 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 bought Nahuel Molina alongside him and the correct again makes a diagonal run throughout the field drawing away Borna Sosa.

There’s a deal with which knocks the ball free 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 bought booked throughout 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 brief to Brozovic however his tried cross is blocked.

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