Wed 14 Dec 2022, 14:18:00

Doha: In the FIFA World Cup, Argentina stormed into the final after beating Croatia 3-0 in the first semi-final at Lusail Iconic Stadium in Qatar last night. Argentina captain Lionel Messi netted the first goal of the match with a successful penalty kick in the 34th minute while Julian Alvarez scored brace in 39th and 69th minutes to give his team 3-nil lead.

During the match, Messi equalled former West Germany captain Lothar Matthäus' record for the most appearances in FIFA World Cup matches. Matthaus made 25 World Cup appearances in his career.

Messi broke Gabriel Batistuta's record to become the highest goalscorer for his country in the history of the World Cup tournament. He has now scored five goals in the 2022 edition and is tied alongside Frenchman Kylian Mbappe in the race for the Golden Boot, awarded to the highest goalscorer of a particular World Cup tournament.

The 2nd Semi-final will be played between France and Morocco tonight at 12.30 AM Indian Time. The Final will be played on Sunday.

Now Croatia will face the loser of the second semi-final in the third-place match on Saturday.

Lionel Messi-led Argentina have hammered Croatia 3-0 to enter its 6th final at the FIFA World Cup. Messi-inspired

Argentina have outclassed Luka Modric and Co. to become the first finalists of the Qatar World Cup. Meessie's' run is always mesmerizing it leaves you enraptured. Neither it does reflects hurried urgency, nor a man on a mission with his single point focus.

With this incomparable run he destroyed the Croatian defence single-handedly. His late-career evolution of 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 in this match.

The Argentine captain scored his fifth goal of the tournament with a spot-kick while Julian Alvarez scored a brace in the 39th and 69th minutes to secure Argentina's emphatic win against Croatia. It's been over 36 years since Diego Maradona lifted the World Cup for Argentina at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.

With every subsequent World Cup failure, the craving of the fans just intensified. The failures never deterred Argentine fans for travelling with the team, cheering them on, living the dream of Lionel Messi of a hand on the cherished trophy.

A finalist in 2014, they are just one win away from doing what Maradona and his men achieved in 1996.

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