December 14 – Lionel Messi is just one match away from the securing the biggest achievement of his glittering trophy-rich career after leading Argentina into their sixth World Cup final.
Messi has announced, in the aftermath of the 3-0 semi-final win over Croatia, that Sunday’s showpiece finale will be his final World Cup game, providing one last chance to win the ultimate piece of silverware that has eluded him.
Messi earned a last shot at World Cup glory after his penalty and a brace from Julian Alvarez swept Croatia aside to the delight of Argentina’s legions of fans in the Lusail stadium that, not for the first time, made it seem like a home game.
“Throughout the World Cup it has been incredible what we have lived through and we are going to play the last game which is what we wanted,” said 35-year-old Messi.
“I’ve been enjoying this for a long time, since we arrived at this World Cup. We asked people to trust us because we know who we are. It’s crazy, we did it … we’re going to play another final. Once again, Argentina are in a World Cup final.”
“I feel very happy, to be able to achieve this, to finish my World Cup journey by playing my last game in a final. It’s many years for the next one and I don’t think I’ll be able to do it. And to finish like this, it’s the best.”
“We’re just one step away, after fighting hard, and we’re going to give everything to try to make it happen this time.”
It is all a far cry from that opening group game when Argentina were stunned by Saudi Arabia. Now they are on the verge of a third world crown to go with 1978 and 1986, a feat that looked unlikely a few weeks ago when they were facing the prospect of elimination.
Croatia, beaten at the second straight World Cup in the semi-finals, couldn’t live with their opponents despite plenty of possession. But they have had an outstanding tournament once more for a country with a population of only four million.
And they had their own talisman in 37-year-old Luka Modric who received warm applause from all parts of the stadium when he was substituted with nine minutes left.
But both he and Croatia manager Zlatko Dalic were fuming over the penalty that gave Argentina the lead.
“We were doing just fine until the penalty, which for me it shouldn’t have been awarded,” Modric said of Italian referee Daniele Orsato.
“I don’t usually talk about referees, but today it’s impossible not to do so. He’s one of the worst I know and I’m not talking only about today, because I had him before and I never had a good memory of him.
“He’s a disaster. Even so, I want to congratulate Argentina, I don’t want to take credit away from them. They deserve to be in the final. But that first penalty destroyed us.”
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