Lionel Messi one step away from the Grail! With a double from Julian Alvarez on Tuesday, Argentina punished Croatia (3-0) in the semi-finals of the 2022 Football World Cup and offered its captain a new planetary final on Sunday, against France or against Morocco. , opposed on Wednesday.
Eight years after having stumbled on the last rung of the 2014 World Cup (1-0 against Germany), the Albiceleste seems carried by a sacred mission in Qatar: to hoist its captain and number 10 on the roof of the world, at the same altitude as the icon Diego Maradona.
Messi in great shape
And after Australia in the round of 16 (2-1), after the Netherlands in the quarters (2-2 ap, 4 tab to 3), this time it was Croatia, vice-world champion 2018, who succumbed in the semi-finals in front of the Argentinian and the magic of his number 10.
Best squire of “King Leo”, the untenable Julian Alvarez first caused a penalty, converted by Messi (34th) who at the same time joined Mbappé at the top of the scoring charts with a 5th achievement. The young Manchester City striker then doubled the bet after a disheveled counter-attack, with all the success of his 22 years and two favorable counterattacks (39th). But Messi remains Messi: on the third goal, it was the star of Paris SG who drove the Croatian defense crazy before serving back Alvarez (69th), author of his 4th goal in this World Cup.
In a Lusail stadium acquired from the sky and white camp, these goals freed the thousands of Argentine supporters massed in the stands, religiously devoted to the cause of “their” Messi (35) despite the initial difficulties of the Albiceleste in Qatar (including a 2-1 defeat against Saudi Arabia).
Heartbreak for Modric
They hope to be just as numerous and just as happy on Sunday for the final, scheduled in the same stadium (4:00 p.m.), while Croatia will have to settle for the match for third place on Saturday (4:00 p.m.), against the loser of the other half. -final, France-Morocco, scheduled for Wednesday (8:00 p.m.).
This outcome is heartbreaking for the Croats and for their playing master Luka Modric (37), who undoubtedly dreamed of the most beautiful scene to end his career in the World Cup… even if a possible third podium world after 1998 (3rd) and 2018 (2nd) would reward the immense footballing talent of this small country of less than 4 million inhabitants.
Who will stand in the way of Messi and a whole people on Sunday? France, reigning world champion and executioner of Argentina in the eighth in 2018 (4-3)? Or the amazing Morocco, the first African team qualified for the last four and emblem of the Arab world?
Messi in the light
In the meantime, between Messi and Modric, the duel for the Ballons d’Or did not really take place on Tuesday evening, as Argentina quickly sanctioned the defensive mistakes of the Croats. The score, mirror of the resounding Croatian victory in the group stage of the World Cup-2018 (3-0), also has an air of affront washed for the Albiceleste.
There was little more than a small bridge from Modric to enthuse the supporters at the checkered flag at the start of the match, before Messi took all the light: with the 11th goal of his career in the World Cup, here is the “Chip “the only Argentine scorer in the history of the premier competition. By the way, his tenure on Tuesday earned him to equal the record for the number of matches played in the World Cup, with 25 games, as much as the German Lothar Matthaüs (from 1982 to 1998).
The 26th should arrive quickly: Sunday, for the sixth world final in the history of the Albiceleste, Messi and his gang can win a third title after 1978 and 1986, which would make the mute little elf the equal of another little legendary striker, Diego Maradona, consecrated 36 years ago and died in 2020. And for all the Argentine people, “Diego” awaits “Leo” in football paradise.