The Argentina national team confidently defeated the Croats in the World Cup semi-final. — 2022. Eight years after his unfortunate defeat to the Germans, Lionel Messi’s team will again play in the World Cup final. Croatia could add the bronze of the Qatar tournament to the silver of the 2018 World Cup.

An unconvincing match with the Moroccans, clear luck with the unfortunate Belgians – the Croatian exit from Group F cannot be called unfair, but certainly lucky. There was also Japan in the 1/8 final … And again unconvincingly! Thanks to goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic, who saved the gate three times in the penalty shootout and gave the “checkers” a quarter-final ticket.

Then there was Brazil. Less is spoken about the incomprehensible team of Zlatko Dalic. The Underdogs turned the match with the main favorites of the tournament, beating the Pentacampeons in a penalty shootout (bravo, Livakovic!), forcing Neymar and the rest of Brazil to burst into tears.

Before the replay of the 2018 Russia World Cup final (there is little doubt that the French would be underestimated before facing Morocco), the Croats had a step to take. Again the South American team, again Leo Messi. “Checkers” were already defused four years ago.

The 3-0s at the Nizhny Novgorod arena showed fans and experts how the Albiceleste players came knocked down to the Russia World Cup.

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In Qatar, the course of the game was completely different. Argentina also proved to be completely different.

The starting half hour confirmed the 2022 World Cup’s trend towards the most mundane first halves. A viscous, swamp-like game could only be shaken by a goal. We waited for him in the 34th minute. Repeating Lothar Matthäus’ record for the number of matches in the world championships (25), Messi achieved another individual success.

The seven-time winner of the Golden Ball scored from the penalty spot. Leo became Argentina’s top scorer by scoring the 11th goal in the final stages of the World Cup. Behind him was Gabriel Batistuta).

However, less than five minutes had passed and the score on the scoreboard was 2:0. Dragging the ball halfway at the Lusail Iconic Stadium, Julian Alvarez knocked the defenders down as if they were under the influence of a footsim bug and buried the intrigues before the break.

okay okay Given the unpredictability of the current World Cup and the second 45 minutes full of twisted plans, the Croats shouldn’t have been buried so quickly. They fled with Brazil. Why is Argentina better?

Everything turned out to be better. Albiceleste players did not lose their advantage, they did not reach the final early. On the contrary, they went to score the third goal after eliminating Luka Modric and the other creatives of the opponent.

Alvarez scored a goal after Messi’s amazing assist, the youngest coach of the tournament, Lionel Scaloni, wept with happiness and the Croatians… “Checkers” finished the fight with just two hits into the goal.

Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez worked much less with the Saudis than he did in the first game of the World Cup. We hope both teams will spark on the pitch in tomorrow’s match between the Moroccans and France’s reigning world champions.

If you think that the usual World Cup final on Sunday awaits us (how can such a match be ordinary?), then you are wrong. After this event, world football history may take a sharp turn. After all, there is a century-old debate and the comparison of Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Both have numerous Ballon d’Ors, Champions League trophies, national championships. With the national teams, they won the Copa América in 2021 and the EURO 2016 respectively. Let’s not forget KriRo’s victory in the League of Nations.

They didn’t just lift the World Cup trophy over their heads. Perhaps the question of the greatest player in football history will be closed on Sunday.