5 talking points as Messi helps Argentina beat Croatia to reach World Cup final

Argentina reached their sixth World Cup final after securing an impressive victory against 2018's runners-up Croatia.

Lionel Scaloni's side will face the winner of France vs Morocco in the final at the Lusail Stadium on Sunday thanks to a penalty from Lionel Messi and two strikes from Julian Alvarez. Argentina began their tournament with a shock 2-1 defeat by Saudi Arabia but have responded with five successive wins to book their place in the final.

After a cagey and even first 30 minutes, the game sprung into life when Alvarez got in behind the Croatia defence and was brought down by goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic. Messi stepped up and smashed in the resulting penalty to make it 1-0.

Argentina doubled their lead shortly after as Alvarez ran from the halfway line, avoiding tackles and benefiting from some fortunate ricochets to smash in from close range. Croatia rarely threatened and the game was put beyond their reach when Messi and Alvarez combined again.

Messi produced some trademark magic to get past Josko Gvardiol and set up Alvarez for a tap-in - his fourth goal of the tournament - which made things safe. They will now have the chance to rectify their pain from the 2014 tournament, when they fell at the final hurdle.

Here are Mirror Football's five talking points from the semi-final.

Messi landmark

Another game, another Messi moment. The Paris Saint-Germain magician had been very quiet for the majority of the opening 30 minutes before Livakovic's foul on Alvarez allowed him another chance to make history.

His supremely confident spot-kick saw him overtake Argentina football icon Gabriel Batistuta as the nation's top ever scorer at a World Cup. It was his fifth goal of this tournament and his 11th in World Cups altogether.

We have been blessed to see many brilliant moments from Messi - and this didn't stand out in the grand scheme of things - but it was still a real show of composure under huge pressure.

If the penalty didn't excite you, then his play to set up Alvarez's second should have. His innate ability, close-control and change of speed bamboozled Gvardiol and put it on a plate for Alvarez.

Solidity deserts Croatia

Croatia progressed to the semi-finals thanks to their organisation, hard work and determination. Their defence had kept clean sheets against Morocco and Belgium and limited Brazil's star-studded attack to one goal in 120 minutes of play.

In Gvardiol they possess one of the breakout stars of the entire tournament, a young centre-back of impressive athleticism and anticipation. And in Livakovic they have benefited from one of the tournament's stand-out goalkeepers - a player who has got them through two penalty shoot-outs by making four saves.

All of that dissolved in nine minutes of madness against Argentina. One ball over the top beat the defence for the penalty incident before Alvarez was allowed to run and run for the second.

Zlatko Dalic's side were uncharacteristically sloppy - and it cost them. They conceded as many goals in 90 minutes here as they had in the rest of the tournament.

Alvarez shines

Manchester City paid River Plate an initial fee of just £14million for Alvarez in January. That fee already looks like an absolute steal.

The 22-year-old forward has perhaps gone slightly under the radar at City this season, given Erling Haaland 's ridiculous start to life at the club. But it seems unlikely that will continue now.

Alvarez was exceptional against Croatia, with his pace and directness causing the defence, and Dejan Lovren in particular, a nightmare. Some players, when playing alongside Messi in a World Cup semi-final, would be beset by nerves. Not Alvarez, who scored twice and won the penalty through his tenacity, skill and speed.

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Modric bows out

This match was Luka Modric's 161st for Croatia since his debut in 2006. He has been a near ever-present for his country for 16 years - and they have come to rely on him more and more.

The Real Madrid midfielder won the Ballon d'Or on the back of his performances for Croatia at the 2018 World Cup, when they reached the final before being beaten by France, and he has been similarly influential in Qatar.

Every time you think his 37 years of age might be about to catch up on him, he proves you wrong. His passing range is never likely to fade, but his stamina, turn of pace and sharpness will eventually go. Not yet though. Remarkably, he remains at the top of his game.

This wasn't his night and it will surely be his last World Cup. He deserves to be remembered in its history books as one of the very best. The ovation he received when he was taken off in the 81st minute suggested he will be.

Chance at redemption

Argentina are one of the World Cup's most successful teams, having won it twice, but they haven't lifted the trophy since 1986, when Diego Maradona inspired them to victory in Mexico.

They have been runners up three times, in 1930, 1990 and 2014, and have felt the pain acutely. Argentina have been wonderfully supported in Qatar and their footballing legacy is in no doubt whatsoever.

After falling short in Brazil, when they lost 1-0 to Germany in extra-time, Messi has another chance to add the trophy to his staggering collection. Aged 35, it might well be his final shot.