FIFA World Cup

FT Tuesday, December 13, 2022
Croatia DWDWW 0
–
Argentina LWWWW 3
1st2ndT
CRO000
ARG213
Lusail Stadium · 88,966 att. · FOX

Match Report

Messi, Argentina beat Croatia 3-0 to reach World Cup final

— Lionel Messi bent over, clutched his left hamstring and appeared to grimace, immediately spreading panic through the soccer world but especially among all Argentines.

Full story at ESPN →

Team Stats

8
Fouls
15
2
Yellow Cards
2
0
Red Cards
0
0
Offsides
1
4
Corner Kicks
2
4
Saves
3
60.8
Possession
39.2
12
SHOTS
9
2
ON GOAL
7
0.2
On Target %
0.8
0
Penalty Goals
1
0
Penalty Kicks Taken
1
531
Accurate Passes
333
607
Passes
399
0.9
Pass Completion %
0.8
4
Accurate Crosses
1
20
Crosses
6
0.2
Cross %
0.2
31
Long Balls
43
17
Accurate Long Balls
20
0.5
Long Balls %
0.5
3
Blocked Shots
1
15
Effective Tackles
9
19
Tackles
22
0.8
Tackle %
0.4
5
Interceptions
8
7
Effective Clearances
21
7
Clearances
21

Highlights

01:48 Is Messi winning the World Cup for Argentina inevitable? Watch on ESPN

Head to Head

Series tied 2-2

Lineups

ARG · 4-4-2

  1. 23Emiliano MartínezG
  2. 19Nicolás OtamendiCD-L
  3. 13Cristian RomeroCD-R
  4. 3Nicolás TagliaficoLB
  5. 26Nahuel MolinaRB
  6. 24Enzo FernándezCM-L
  7. 5Leandro ParedesCM-R
  8. 20Alexis Mac AllisterLM
  9. 7Rodrigo De PaulRM
  10. 9Julián ÁlvarezCF-L
  11. 10Lionel MessiCF-R

CRO · 4-3-3

  1. 1Dominik LivakovicG
  2. 20Josko GvardiolCD-L
  3. 6Dejan LovrenCD-R
  4. 19Borna SosaLB
  5. 22Josip JuranovicRB
  6. 11Marcelo BrozovicCM
  7. 8Mateo KovacicLM
  8. 10Luka ModricRM
  9. 9Andrej KramaricF
  10. 4Ivan PerisicLF
  11. 15Mario PasalicRF

Timeline

  1. 32' Dominik Livakovic (Croatia) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
  2. 32' Mateo Kovacic (Croatia) is shown the yellow card.
  3. 34' Goal! Argentina 1, Croatia 0. Lionel Messi (Argentina) converts the penalty with a left footed shot to the top right corner.
  4. 39' Goal! Argentina 2, Croatia 0. Julián Álvarez (Argentina) right footed shot from very close range to the bottom left corner following a fast break.
  5. 45' Substitution, Croatia. Mislav Orsic replaces Borna Sosa.
  6. 45' Substitution, Croatia. Nikola Vlasic replaces Mario Pasalic.
  7. 50' Substitution, Croatia. Bruno Petkovic replaces Marcelo Brozovic because of an injury.
  8. 62' Substitution, Argentina. Lisandro Martínez replaces Leandro Paredes.
  9. 68' Cristian Romero (Argentina) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
  10. 69' Goal! Argentina 3, Croatia 0. Julián Álvarez (Argentina) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Lionel Messi.
  11. 71' Nicolás Otamendi (Argentina) is shown the yellow card.
  12. 72' Substitution, Croatia. Marko Livaja replaces Andrej Kramaric.
  13. 74' Substitution, Argentina. Exequiel Palacios replaces Rodrigo De Paul.
  14. 74' Substitution, Argentina. Paulo Dybala replaces Julián Álvarez.
  15. 81' Substitution, Croatia. Lovro Majer replaces Luka Modric.
  16. 86' Substitution, Argentina. Ángel Correa replaces Alexis Mac Allister.
  17. 86' Substitution, Argentina. Juan Foyth replaces Nahuel Molina.

FIFA World Cup News

All news
ESPN ESPN Messi tracker: Goals, assists, key moments in 2026 ESPN provides game-by-game analysis of Lionel Messi's performances for Inter Miami and Argentina. News Adriana Garcia Lionel Messi: Argentina's 2026 World Cup final heartbreak "part of my football journey" Lionel Messi has accepted that Argentina's 2026 World Cup extra-time defeat to Spain was a part of his football journey. News Associated Press Asian football chief backs Gianni Infantino for another term as FIFA president The Asian Football Confederation endorsed Gianni Infantino on Friday for a fourth term as FIFA president. News Associated Press AFC president unclear on backing for Infantino's FIFA reelection The president of the AFC gave no hint Thursday about the body's support or opposition to the reelection of Gianni Infantino as FIFA president.