Match Analysis: Argentina 3-0 Croatia - highlights, man of the match, stats

Lionel Messi and Julian Alvarez both starred for La Albiceleste as they ran out convincing winners to set up a showdown with either Morocco or France in Sunday's final.

It took half an hour for the game to get going, but a quickfire double from Argentina put them in control of proceedings before half time.

A record-breaking Messi opened the scoring with a thunderous penalty won by Alvarez, who then briefly outshone his illustrious teammate with a stunning solo effort to double Argentina's lead.

However, Messi responded in kind in the second half with a brilliant run to set up Alvarez for his second, putting the contest to bed and sealing Argentina's place in the World Cup final again.

Croatia offered little in response throughout the 90 minutes despite controlling possession and having more shots, as the star quality of Messi and Alvarez proved to be the difference, leaving Lionel Scaloni's men on the brink of a first world title since 1986.

HIGHLIGHTS

25th min: After a cagey start, Enzo Fernandez gets the first shot of note of the game from outside the area, but Dominik Livakovic is across to make a fairly comfortable save.

32nd min: Argentina win a penalty as Julian Alvarez steals in behind the defence and gets to the ball before Livakovic, poking the ball past the keeper who then clatters in to him. The referee waits briefly to see if there is any advantage with the ball running loose, before pointing at the spot.

34th min: Lionel Messi steps up to take the penalty and leaves the keeper no chance by blasting his spot kick into the top corner.

39th min: Argentina have a second, and this time it is all about Alvarez as he carries the ball almost 50 yards before poking home from inside the area. There is an element of luck involved as two Croatia players got their toes to the ball on the way through, only for Alvarez to get the luck of the bounce, but that was all about the Manchester City man's pure persistence.

42nd min: Croatia have their goalkeeper to thank for keeping them hanging on in this game, as Livakovic makes a really sharp reaction save to deny Alexis Mac Allister's header from a corner.

45th min: Josip Juranovic's cross from the right flank takes a deflection and it takes a smart save from Emiliano Martinez down low to his left to keep it out.

58th min: Almost a moment of Messi magic as he holds off a defender before playing a quick one-two and finding himself in on goal, but Livakovic denies him from a tight angle.

69th min: Alvarez puts the game to bed with his second of the match, but this goal is all about the genius of Messi. The seven-time Ballon d'Or winner beats Josko Gvardiol two or three times down the right channel, the final time of which sees him steal into the box and then lay the ball back for Alvarez, who is left with a simple finish.

83rd min: A quick free kick from Messi releases Argentina and after one failed backheel attempt, the ball is clipped to Mac Allister, who fires just wide on the volley.

MAN OF THE MATCH - LIONEL MESSI

It is no exaggeration to say that this was the type of performance which could underline Lionel Messi's status as the greatest of all time.

The seven-time Ballon d'Or winner has had a brilliant tournament in Qatar and can look back on an encyclopedia of great games in his career, but this display is right up there with the very best of them considering the stage and the pressure on his shoulders.

Messi will hope that more is to come on Sunday, of course, but he is only getting better in this tournament and this performance - on his record-equalling 25th World Cup appearance - was a joy to behold.

The 35-year-old's penalty saw him become Argentina's outright leading goalscorer at World Cups as he fired an unstoppable penalty into the top corner, while he also had a hand in the second goal as he poked the ball to Alvarez before his solo effort.

It was his assist for Alvarez's second which will live longest in the memory, though, as he turned Gvardiol inside out two or three times before laying the ball back for his eighth World Cup assist, equalling the all-time record of his hero, compatriot and GOAT rival Diego Maradona.

Messi is now also the first player to both score and assist in four separate World Cup matches, and has also equalled the record of 19 direct goal involvements at World Cups, jointly held by Gerd Muller, Miroslav Klose and Ronaldo.

Alvarez deserves a huge mention for his two goals and for winning the penalty - and on any other day he would have been a clear winner of this award - but this was a career-defining display in perhaps the greatest career of all.

STANDOUT MOMENT

Having been on the wrong end of one of the all-time great World Cup solo efforts at the hands of Michael Owen in 1998, Argentina had a similar one to celebrate as Julian Alvarez carried the ball for almost 50 yards before keeping his composure to finish at the end of it all.

There was a hint of Saeed Al-Owairan about the goal too, and while there was also an element of luck involved as he got fortunate bounces off two Croatian defenders after they got something on the ball, the goal was just reward for his determination and persistence.

The Croatian defending left a lot to be desired, but it is not often you see a 50-yard solo effort in a World Cup semi-final, so it earns our award for the standout moment - even ahead of Messi's magic and record-breaking exploits.

BEST STATS

MATCH STATS

Possession: Argentina 39%-61% Croatia

Shots: Argentina 9-12 Croatia

Shots on target: Argentina 7-2 Croatia

Corners: Argentina 2-4 Croatia

Fouls: Argentina 15-8 Croatia

LINEUPS

ARGENTINA (4-4-2): E Martinez; Molina (Foyth 86'), Romero, Otamendi, Tagliafico; De Paul (Palacios 74'), Fernandez, Paredes (L Martinez 62'), Mac Allister (Correa 86'); Messi, Alvarez (Dybala 74')

CROATIA (4-3-3): Livakovic; Juranovic, Lovren, Gvardiol, Sosa (Orsic 46'); Modric (Majer 81'), Brozovic (Petkovic 50'), Kovacic; Pasalic (Vlasic 46'), Kramaric (Livaja 72'), Perisic