ARG 3-0 CRO, FIFA World Cup semifinal HIGHLIGHTS: Messi, Alvarez shine as Argentina reaches final; Croatia to play 3rd place play-off

Hello and welcome to Sportstar’s highlights of the FIFA World Cup semifinal between Argentina and Croatia, happening at the Lusail stadium. The latter then chipped it to Mac Allister who shot the volley wide 81’ Luka Modric OUT, Majer IN Magnificent Messi With a goal and two assists this game, Messi has become the first player to score and assist in three different games in a single edition of World Cup since 1966 74’ Substitution for Dybala Alvarez OUT, Dybala IN; De Paul OUT, Palacios IN 72’ Substitution for Croatia Kramaric OUT, Livaja IN 71’ YELLOW CARD Nicolas Otamendi is booked 69’ ALVAREZ AND MESSI!!! Modric takes it and whips in a searching lofted ball but Emi Martinez jumps to collect the ball 46’ Substitutions for Croatia Pasalic OUT, Vlasic IN; Sosa OUT, Orisic IN Second half underway Argentina begins as Messi kicks the ball End of first half Messi makes a brilliant run, dribbling past four defenders and reaches deep into the right flank but is pushed down. Argentina: Emiliano Martinez, Cristian Romero, Nicolas Otamendi, Nahuel Molina, Nicolas Tagliafico, Leandro Paredes, Rodrigo De Paul, Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernandez, Julian Alvarez, Lionel Messi Croatia: Dominik Livakovic, Borna Sosa, Ivan Perisic, Dejan Lovren, Mateo Kovacic, Andrej Kramaric, Luka Modric, Marcelo Brozovic, Mario Pasalic, Josko Gvardiol, Josip Juranovic 12:00am - If Lionel Messi plays, he will equal Lothar Matthaus for the most appearances in World Cup history. Predicted 11 Argentina: E. Martinez; Molina, Romero, Otamendi, Tagliafico; Fernandez, De Paul, Paredes, Mac Allister; Messi, Alvarez Croatia: Livakovic; Juranovic, Gvardiol, Lovren, Sosa; Modric, Brozovic, Kovacic; Pasalic, Kramaric, Perisic Head-to-head The head-to-head record between the two sides in World Cup is tied 1-1.