Lionel Messi bent over, clutched his left hamstring and appeared to grimace, immediately spreading panic through the soccer world but especially among all Argentines. (More Football News)
Was their superstar 바카라 their idol 바카라 injured? Was he going to have to come off early in the World Cup semifinals?
No such luck for Croatia.
Before long, Messi was producing perhaps the best performance of his record-tying 25 appearances at the World Cup, leading Argentina to a 3-0 victory over Croatia on Tuesday that set up a meeting with either France or Morocco in Sunday바카라s final.
Messi is back in soccer바카라s biggest match on his mission to win the game바카라s greatest prize for the first time. At 35, he could hardly be playing any better.
Messi converted a penalty and played a part in the other two goals by JuliĂĄn Ălvarez 바카라 one with an outrageous piece of skill that brought roars of approval from Argentina바카라s huge following 바카라 to turn an initially tense occasion into a procession.
바카라A lot is going through my head 바카라 it바카라s very emotional seeing all of this,바카라 Messi said in a post-match interview on the field as he looked up at Argentina바카라s celebrating, scarf-waving supporters. 바카라To see the fans 바카라 바카라the family바카라 바카라 during the whole tournament was so incredible. We바카라re going to the final, which is what we wanted.바카라
It will be Messi바카라s second World Cup final 바카라 Argentina lost the other one to Germany in 2014 바카라 in what might be his last appearance at the tournament.
The stage is set for a player widely regarded as one of the game바카라s best, if not the absolute best, to go out on the ultimate high.
He is thrilling his legion of fans along the way.
His swivel and driving run to set up the third goal for Ălvarez in the 69th minute left Josko Gvardiol 바카라 one of the best defenders at the World Cup 바카라 grasping at thin air and epitomized Messi바카라s confidence and swagger.
He is embracing the responsibility of leading Argentina to its third World Cup title, scoring in five of his six games in Qatar.
He even had a penalty saved in the one game in which he didn바카라t score.
바카라I am honored to train him and see him play,바카라 said Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni, who was in tears in the post-match celebrations. 바카라Every time you see him play, it바카라s a huge source of motivation for his teammates, fans and the whole world.바카라
Croatia failed in its bid to reach a second straight World Cup final after conceding two goals in a five-minute span from the 34th, just when the team was looking comfortable at Lusail Stadium and Messi was raising concerns by rubbing his hamstring.
Maybe it was a ruse. Messi was soon toying with his opponents in a way only he can and put Argentina ahead by lifting his penalty into the top corner after Ălvarez was taken out by Dominik Livakovic after clipping the ball past the Croatia goalkeeper.
Ălvarez scored himself in the 39th after a surging run from halfway, which started after he collected Messi바카라s short pass. Then came the crowning moment, Ălvarez바카라s second goal, after Messi took Gvardiol for a ride in the right corner.
It was one game too far for Croatia, which had beaten Japan and Brazil on penalties in the knockout stage, and star midfielder Luka Modric, who 바카라 at 37 바카라 has likely played his final World Cup match.
Summing up a frustrating game for the little midfield magician, he was substituted in the 81st minute and had a bright red nose after the ball slammed into his face moments earlier.
바카라The first goal took the match in a different direction,바카라 Croatia coach Zlatko DaliÄ said. 바카라It바카라s the true Messi we all expected to see.바카라
Argentina maintained its record of never having lost in the World Cup semifinals and has reached the final for the sixth time.
Those dark days after losing to Saudi Arabia in its opening group match seem so long ago now for Argentina, which will be hard to stop in the final with Messi playing this well.
바카라Even though we lost our first match, we were confident that this group was going to push forward,바카라 Messi said. 바카라We know what we are, and we called on the fans to believe in us.바카라
