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Argentina VS Croatia / FIFA World Cup 2022 / Match Analysis
![Match photo of Argentina VS Croatia, FIFA World Cup 2022, 1st Semi Final (Image Source - aljazeera.com)](https://i0.wp.com/www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/SOR1937.jpg?w=1200&ssl=1)
It’s time for Argentina VS Croatia World Cup 2022, Semi-Final Round. In the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar, Croatia reached the Semi-Finals by winning only 1 match within 90 minutes. Luka Modrić won both knockout matches in Tiebreakers. Croatia won against Japan in the Round Of 16 & Brazil in the Quarter Final Round. In both knock-out matches, Croatia’s goalkeeper Livaković won the Tiebreaker after the match was tied at 1 – 1 after 120 minutes. On the other hand, after starting the World Cup in Qatar with a loss to Saudi Arabia, Argentina played impeccably in all the matches. Australia has beaten Mexico & Poland in the Group Stage Round. Argentina then went on to beat Australia in the Round Of 16 & Netherlands in the Quarter Final & now they’re up against Croatia in the Semi-Final Round. This is the fight to reach the Finals.
Argentina has never lost a World Cup Semi-Final so far. Now let’s see if Croatia will change that history. In the tournament’s Group Rounds in 1998 & 2018 FIFA World Cup, the 2 nations came up against 1 another twice. Argentina defeated Croatia 1 – 0 in their 1st meeting in the 1998 FIFA World Cup. But Croatia defeated Argentina by 3 – 0 in the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Since 1994, the teams have faced off 5 times, including 3 friendly matches, with each team winning 1 & the other ending in a scoreless draw. The games have been high-scoring affairs, with Argentina scoring 5 goals & Croatia scoring 7 goals.
Argentina VS Croatia World Cup 2022 / Great save from Dominik Livaković
Dominik Livaković easily stops Argentina from scoring after Rodrigo Javier De Paul sends a quality pass into the box.
Mario Pašalićmade a foul
Mario Pašalićof Croatia makes a hard tackle & knocks down an opponent. Referee Daniele Orsato doesn’t waste any time in calling a foul.
Croatia ruins a scoring opportunity from the Corner Kick
Dejan Lovren of Croatia receives a cross in the penalty area & fires a shot in the direction of the goal. However, the ball leaves the field, costing Croatia a golden opportunity to score.
Enzo Jeremías Fernández fails to score
Enzo Fernándezof Argentina creates a nice scoring opportunity & unleashes a spectacular shot toward the right side of the goal. But Dominik Livaković easily saves the shot.
Croatia displayed a strong defense
Inside the box, Rodrigo Paul fires a shot, but he is unable to connect with any of his teammates. When Croatian defenders receive the ball, they simply deflect the incoming danger.
18 Minutes / Argentina – 0, Croatia – 0
18 minutes into the game now. Neither team could open the goal. However, Croatia is ahead in the ball position. Argentina holds 34 %, while Croatia holds 66 %.
30 Minutes / Argentina – 0, Croatia – 0
30 minutes into the game now. Still, no goals have been scored in the match. But this time, Argentina is slowly taking possession of the ball possession.
The penalty is given in favor of Argentina
Dominik Livaković of Croatia is shown a yellow card by referee Daniele Orsato for a foul Livaković committed while defending a goal. Argentina is awarded a penalty shot.
Argentina VS Croatia World Cup 2022 / GOAAAAAAL – Messi scores – Argentina 1 – 0 ahead
GOAAAAAAL. Lionel Messi properly takes advantage of the situation & scores a goal from the penalty. He skillfully directs the ball in the direction of the goal, completely confusing Dominik Livaković.
Argentina VS Croatia World Cup 2022 / GOAAAAAAL – Argentina 2 – 0 ahead
A short while after the opening goal, Julián Álvarez scores Argentina’s 2nd goal of the match. Álvarez receives a pass, maneuvers past the defense & brilliantly puts the ball in the goal.
Another great save from Dominik Livaković
Alexis Mac Allister receives a very good pass. He successfully heads the ball toward the target. Dominik Livaković makes another great save to stop Argentina from scoring the 3rd goal.
Argentina VS Croatia World Cup 2022 / 4 minutes of Extra Time
The 1st Half Extra Time for Argentina’s Semi-Final match against Croatia is 4 minutes. Argentina has a 2 – 0 lead over Croatia, demonstrating their strong dominance thus far. The 1st Half of Argentina’s Semi-Final match against Croatia has come to an end. Croatia is now down 2 – 0 to Argentina. Argentina made strides thanks to Messi and Julián Álvarez.
Argentina VS Croatia World Cup 2022 / The 2nd Half of the game begins
Nicolás Hernán Gonzalo Otamendi made a foul. Otamendi pulls down an opponent by sliding between his feet, prompting referee Daniele Orsato to call a foul right away.
Luka Modrić fails to score
Luka Modrić sends the ball toward the penalty area from a Free Kick. A great save from Argentina’s goalie Damián Emiliano Martínez to prevent Croatia from scoring a goal.
Julián Álvarez made a foul
Julián Álvarez carelessly knocks down his opponent while attempting to snatch the ball. Daniele Orsato does not waste any time in calling a foul.
Argentina VS Croatia World Cup 2022 / GOAAAAAAL – Argentina 3 – 0 ahead
Julián Álvarez scores again. He receives a brilliant assist from Lionel Messi & Argentina is now ahead by 3 – 0. Croatia is almost knocked out of the tournament.
Ivan Perišić fails to score
Ivan Perišić attempts to score with a shot. But the ball sails over the crossbar, denying Croatia a great chance to score.
Changes for Croatia
We’re into the last 10 minutes of the game now. Croatia makes some lineup changes. Lovro Majer will take the place of Luka Modrić.
Alexis Mac Allister fails to score
Alexis Mac Allister fires a shot at the goal, but it misses the right post, denying Argentina the opportunity to go up by 4 – 0.
Argentina VS Croatia World Cup 2022 / 5 minutes of Extra Time
Croatia & Argentina’s 1st Semi-Final encounter has a 5-minute Injury Time in the 2nd Half. Croatia is down by 0 – 3 indicating that Argentina has dominated the match.
Argentina VS Croatia World Cup 2022 / Croatia lost to Argentina by 0 – 3
Argentina advances to the FIFA World Cup 2022 Final with a 3 – 0 victory over Croatia in the Semi-Final game. Lionel Messi scored the opening goal of the match & Julián Álvarez scored 2 fantastic goals later.
Record for Lionel Messi
Messi scores the 5th goal of the FIFA World Cup 2022 tournament. He’s now tied with Kylian Mbappé Lottinof France in scoring. Messi surpassed Gabriel Omar Batistuta to become Argentina’s all-time leading scorer in the World Cup with his 11th career goal, which came in a record-equaling 25th World Cup appearance. Messi, 35, who lost to Germany in the 2014 FIFA World Cup Final, is eager to cap off an exceptional career by helping Argentina win its 3rd World Cup title.
Team | 1 H | 2 H | Final Score |
Argentina | 2 | 1 | 3 |
Croatia | 0 | 0 | 0 |