Nogometaši Hrvatske neće drugi put u nizu igrati u finalu svjetskog prvenstva, u polufinalnom dvoboju u Lusailu Argentina je pobijedila s uvjerljivih 3-0 (2-0). Julian Alvarez je postigao pogotke u 39. i 69. minuti, dok je Lionel Messi bio strijelac u 34. iz jedanaesterca. Cijelo prvo poluvrijeme odigrano je vrlo oprezno s obje strane, no Argentina je unatoč tome imala veliku prednost od 2-0. Za to je najzaslužniji bio mladi, 21-godišnji napadač Alvarez koji je u 34. minuti iznudio jedanaesterac kojeg je u 1-0 pretvorio Lionel Messi. Sudac Orsato jedanaestercem je prethodno okarakterizirao sudar Alvareza i Dominika Livakovića. Samo pet minuta kasnije već je bilo 2-0, a poentirao je spomenuti Alvarez nakon kontranapada. Juranović i potom Sosa nisu uspjeli riješiti situaciju u hrvatskom šesnaestercu, a Alvarez je postigao pogodak za veliko argentinsko slavlje koje je moglo biti i veće na samom kraju prvog dijela, ali je udarac Mac Allistera obranio hrvatski vratar Livaković. U nastavku je Hrvatska krenula na sve ili ništa. Ušli su Vlašić, Petković i Oršić, no bliže je pogotku bila Argentina koja je novi, treći, zabila u 69. minuti. Opet je strijelac bio Alvarez, ali sve je pripremio fantastični Messi koji je prošao Gvardiola i asistirao za konačnih 3-0. U nedjeljnom finalu (16 sati) Argentina čeka pobjednika polufinalnog dvoboja Francuske i Maroka koji se igra u srijedu (20 sati). Hrvatska će u subotu igrati utakmicu za treće mjesto, u 16 sati, protiv poraženog iz drugog polufinala. Argentina će u nedjelju loviti treću svjetsku krunu u povijesti. Svjetski prvaci bili su 1978. i 1986. godine, dok su posljednji put finale igrali 2014. godine kada su u finalu poraženi od Njemačke.
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