Argentina vs Croatia Full Match Replay - World Cup 2022_p2
world cup, 2022
world cup 2022
fifa world cup 2022
t20 world cup 2022
ind vs pak world cup 2022
world cup 2022 final
world cup 2022 bracket
messi world cup 2022
fifa world cup 2022 schedule
t20 world cup 2022 schedule
t20 world cup 2022 winner
world cup 2022 standings
world cup 2022 argentina
world cup 2022 argentina vs france
world cup 2022 argentina team
world cup 2022 awards
world cup 2022 all matches
world cup 2022 argentina jersey
world cup 2022 attendance
world cup 2022 argentina games
world cup 2022 argentina vs netherlands
argentina world cup 2022
australia world cup 2022
argentina squad world cup 2022
argentina vs france world cup 2022
argentina vs australia world cup 2022
argentina team world cup 2022
argentina starting 11 world cup 2022
argentina vs netherlands world cup 2022
argentina vs croatia world cup 2022
argentina penalties world cup 2022
world cup 2022 ball
world cup 2022 brazil
world cup 2022 ball size 5
world cup 2022 brazil team
world cup 2022 ball price
world cup 2022 book
world cup 2022 belgium
world cup 2022 brazil vs croatia
brazil world cup 2022
belgium world cup 2022
brazil starting 11 world cup 2022
brazil squad world cup 2022
brazil vs croatia world cup 2022
ball world cup 2022
brazil team world cup 2022
benzema world cup 2022
brazil players world cup 2022
brazil vs serbia world cup 2022
world cup 2022 cricket
world cup 2022 champion
world cup 2022 cleats
world cup 2022 colombia
world cup 2022 cards
world cup 2022 countries
world cup 2022 croatia
world cup 2022 costa rica
world cup 2022 controversy
world cup 2022 cricket schedule
club world cup 2022
cricket world cup 2022
croatia world cup 2022
cameroon world cup 2022
canada world cup 2022
costa rica world cup 2022
cristiano ronaldo world cup 2022
cricket world cup 2022 schedule
cup world cup 2022
chess world cup 2022
world cup 2022 dates
world cup 2022 documentary
world cup 2022 dvd
world cup 2022 denmark
world cup 2022 doodle game
world cup 2022 doodle
world cup 2022 dataset
world cup 2022 death
world cup 2022 documentary netflix
world cup 2022 dates and times
did messi win the world cup 2022
di maria world cup 2022
dybala world cup 2022
denmark world cup 2022
di maria goal world cup 2022
di maria world cup 2022 stats
did dybala play world cup 2022
download fifa world cup 2022
dreamers fifa world cup 2022
does india qualify for fifa world cup 2022
world cup 2022 england
world cup 2022 ecuador
world cup 2022 easter egg
world cup 2022 england vs france
world cup 2022 england team
world cup 2022 european qualifiers
world cup 2022 england results
world cup 2022 england france
world cup 2022 extended highlights
world cup 2022 espn
england world cup 2022
england vs france world cup 2022
ecuador world cup 2022
england squad world cup 2022
england vs usa world cup 2022
eng vs pak world cup 2022
england vs iran world cup 2022
england world cup 2022 results
england starting 11 world cup 2022
eng vs ind t20 world cup 2022
world cup 2022 final time
world cup 2022 final standin
world cup 2022
fifa world cup 2022
t20 world cup 2022
ind vs pak world cup 2022
world cup 2022 final
world cup 2022 bracket
messi world cup 2022
fifa world cup 2022 schedule
t20 world cup 2022 schedule
t20 world cup 2022 winner
world cup 2022 standings
world cup 2022 argentina
world cup 2022 argentina vs france
world cup 2022 argentina team
world cup 2022 awards
world cup 2022 all matches
world cup 2022 argentina jersey
world cup 2022 attendance
world cup 2022 argentina games
world cup 2022 argentina vs netherlands
argentina world cup 2022
australia world cup 2022
argentina squad world cup 2022
argentina vs france world cup 2022
argentina vs australia world cup 2022
argentina team world cup 2022
argentina starting 11 world cup 2022
argentina vs netherlands world cup 2022
argentina vs croatia world cup 2022
argentina penalties world cup 2022
world cup 2022 ball
world cup 2022 brazil
world cup 2022 ball size 5
world cup 2022 brazil team
world cup 2022 ball price
world cup 2022 book
world cup 2022 belgium
world cup 2022 brazil vs croatia
brazil world cup 2022
belgium world cup 2022
brazil starting 11 world cup 2022
brazil squad world cup 2022
brazil vs croatia world cup 2022
ball world cup 2022
brazil team world cup 2022
benzema world cup 2022
brazil players world cup 2022
brazil vs serbia world cup 2022
world cup 2022 cricket
world cup 2022 champion
world cup 2022 cleats
world cup 2022 colombia
world cup 2022 cards
world cup 2022 countries
world cup 2022 croatia
world cup 2022 costa rica
world cup 2022 controversy
world cup 2022 cricket schedule
club world cup 2022
cricket world cup 2022
croatia world cup 2022
cameroon world cup 2022
canada world cup 2022
costa rica world cup 2022
cristiano ronaldo world cup 2022
cricket world cup 2022 schedule
cup world cup 2022
chess world cup 2022
world cup 2022 dates
world cup 2022 documentary
world cup 2022 dvd
world cup 2022 denmark
world cup 2022 doodle game
world cup 2022 doodle
world cup 2022 dataset
world cup 2022 death
world cup 2022 documentary netflix
world cup 2022 dates and times
did messi win the world cup 2022
di maria world cup 2022
dybala world cup 2022
denmark world cup 2022
di maria goal world cup 2022
di maria world cup 2022 stats
did dybala play world cup 2022
download fifa world cup 2022
dreamers fifa world cup 2022
does india qualify for fifa world cup 2022
world cup 2022 england
world cup 2022 ecuador
world cup 2022 easter egg
world cup 2022 england vs france
world cup 2022 england team
world cup 2022 european qualifiers
world cup 2022 england results
world cup 2022 england france
world cup 2022 extended highlights
world cup 2022 espn
england world cup 2022
england vs france world cup 2022
ecuador world cup 2022
england squad world cup 2022
england vs usa world cup 2022
eng vs pak world cup 2022
england vs iran world cup 2022
england world cup 2022 results
england starting 11 world cup 2022
eng vs ind t20 world cup 2022
world cup 2022 final time
world cup 2022 final standin
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00:30We'll see you in a minute.
00:00:46Have you ever asked yourself the question, can you really count on your broadband, or
00:00:52does it slither along?
00:00:54Or at peak times, if things feel a little constricted.
00:00:58With Full Fiber Broadband from EE, you get the peak time speeds you pay for.
00:01:04Count on EE Full Fiber Broadband.
00:01:28If you ever hear that thunder, put your eye to the sky boy and wonder, maybe there's a
00:01:44kingdom above the weather, oh and whether you're gonna get on in, is up to you.
00:01:57Carry on world, like some sunburnt, beautiful stranger.
00:02:14Getting into your flow, it's all about how you start.
00:02:18Gillette Labs with Exfoliating Bar clears a path on your skin before the blades for
00:02:24effortless shaving and exfoliation in one stroke, because when you start in flow, you're
00:02:32quicker to your best.
00:02:35Put your best face forward with Gillette Labs, with a lifetime warranty, it's the last razor
00:02:40you'll need to buy.
00:02:41Holidays are coming.
00:02:42Holidays are coming.
00:02:43Holidays are coming.
00:02:44Holidays are coming.
00:02:45Holidays are coming.
00:02:47Holidays are coming.
00:02:48Holidays are coming.
00:02:49Holidays are coming.
00:02:50Holidays are coming.
00:02:51Holidays are coming.
00:02:52Holidays are coming.
00:02:53Holidays are coming.
00:02:54Holidays are coming.
00:02:55Holidays are coming.
00:02:56Holidays are coming.
00:02:57Holidays are coming.
00:02:58Holidays are coming.
00:02:59Holidays are coming.
00:03:00Tis the season.
00:03:01Watch out.
00:03:02Look around.
00:03:03Something's coming.
00:03:04Coming to town.
00:03:05Coming to your town.
00:03:06Something magic.
00:03:07In the night.
00:03:08Can you see it?
00:03:09Shining bright.
00:03:10Shining bright.
00:03:11Tis the season.
00:03:12It's always the real thing.
00:03:13Holidays are coming.
00:03:14Holidays are coming.
00:03:15Holidays are coming.
00:03:16Holidays are coming.
00:03:17Holidays are coming.
00:03:18Holidays are coming.
00:03:19Holidays are coming.
00:03:20Holidays are coming.
00:03:21Holidays are coming.
00:03:22Holidays are coming.
00:03:23Holidays are coming.
00:03:24Holidays are coming.
00:03:25Holidays are coming.
00:03:26Holidays are coming.
00:03:27Holidays are coming.
00:03:28Holidays are coming.
00:03:29Holidays are coming.
00:03:30Holidays are coming.
00:03:31Holidays are coming.
00:03:32Holidays are coming.
00:03:33Holidays are coming.
00:03:34Holidays are coming.
00:03:35Holidays are coming.
00:03:36Holidays are coming.
00:03:37Holidays are coming.
00:03:38Holidays are coming.
00:03:39Holidays are coming.
00:03:40Holidays are coming.
00:03:41Holidays are coming.
00:03:42Holidays are coming.
00:03:43Holidays are coming.
00:03:44Holidays are coming.
00:03:45Holidays are coming.
00:03:46Holidays are coming.
00:03:47Holidays are coming.
00:03:48Holidays are coming.
00:03:49Holidays are coming.
00:03:50Holidays are coming.
00:03:51Holidays are coming.
00:03:52Holidays are coming.
00:03:53Holidays are coming.
00:03:54Holidays are coming.
00:03:55Holidays are coming.
00:03:56Holidays are coming.
00:03:57Holidays are coming.
00:03:58Holidays are coming.
00:03:59Holidays are coming.
00:04:00Holidays are coming.
00:04:01Holidays are coming.
00:04:02Holidays are coming.
00:04:03Holidays are coming.
00:04:04Holidays are coming.
00:04:05Holidays are coming.
00:04:06Holidays are coming.
00:04:07Holidays are coming.
00:04:08Holidays are coming.
00:04:09Holidays are coming.
00:04:10Holidays are coming.
00:04:11Holidays are coming.
00:04:12Holidays are coming.
00:04:14He basically just makes a movement to his right.
00:04:16He stops himself before the actual shots are about to be taken.
00:04:19You see he stops himself there and Alvarez just runs into him and takes his leg away.
00:04:23That is not a penalty.
00:04:24This one is.
00:04:25He just stopped.
00:04:26What else can he do?
00:04:27He has to make that motion to try and save the ball.
00:04:29He plants his feet.
00:04:30If he'd have carried on running out at Alvarez and took him out, fair enough.
00:04:33But he stopped before it and I don't know if that's a penalty.
00:04:35Honestly, when you look at it, Poogs, I think the forwards, he's actually miskicked it to be honest.
00:04:40Because if he hits that, that goes into the goal.
00:04:43Goalkeeper can't do anything.
00:04:44Like you say, he stopped.
00:04:46He miskicks it.
00:04:47He doesn't get good contact.
00:04:48It's not getting into the goal.
00:04:49Goalkeeper can't do anything else but stand his ground.
00:04:52He's run into him.
00:04:53And this is what I can't.
00:04:54The referee didn't even have a look.
00:04:56I can't understand it.
00:04:57Poor defending overall to let him get a run in on goal.
00:05:00But, again, I agree with the lads.
00:05:02I don't think it's a penalty.
00:05:03Where else are you supposed to go?
00:05:04Let's bring in Peter Walton.
00:05:06Peter, it's a fairly simple question from the boys in the studio.
00:05:08What else is the goalkeeper supposed to do?
00:05:11He's come out.
00:05:12He's set himself.
00:05:13He hasn't made a forward motion into Alvarez.
00:05:16What else is he supposed to do?
00:05:18Well, win the ball for the first thing.
00:05:20If he's challenging for the ball and he misses the ball completely and catches the player,
00:05:24in fact, what he's done there, he's been in the path of that forward
00:05:28and, therefore, he's impeded his progress.
00:05:30So, it has to be a foul.
00:05:32I can understand what they're saying in terms of, well, where else can he go?
00:05:36But the point is, in parallel to that, you think of an outfield player
00:05:39who slides in to make a challenge, misses the ball, catches the man.
00:05:43It's always a foul.
00:05:44So, fast forward to the goalkeeper.
00:05:47He's done exactly the same.
00:05:49No.
00:05:50Peter, are you suggesting a goalkeeper who's coming out in the line of the ball
00:05:52has to move out of the way to allow a player to have a free shot?
00:05:55No, he doesn't.
00:05:56But he needs to make sure he gets some contact on the ball.
00:05:59Otherwise, he'll be classed as impeding the progress of the player coming towards him.
00:06:04Peter, what you're saying is that the shot has to hit him.
00:06:06He's trying to save it.
00:06:07What you're saying is the ball has to hit him.
00:06:09Otherwise, it's construed as a foul.
00:06:11No, but his forward motion there, going towards the opponent,
00:06:15going towards the forward, has meant that there's a collision happening.
00:06:19And if that's the case, he's been careless in his approach of actually making it.
00:06:23So, it's a foul.
00:06:25It may seem harsh, but it's a foul because you can clearly see that.
00:06:29Now, if you turn it on its head and say, no, it wasn't a foul,
00:06:32could you imagine the commotion now?
00:06:34It was a foul.
00:06:35It wasn't a foul.
00:06:37I think those who don't think it was a foul would say it was a collision.
00:06:41If I'm a defender and the striker's about to have a shot there
00:06:45and he's running forward and I go to block my leg
00:06:48and he then basically shoots, goes past me and runs into me,
00:06:51that can't be a foul.
00:06:52You've got to try and block the shot.
00:06:54Anyway, it was given.
00:06:56He scored the goal.
00:06:58Peter, we may speak to you later.
00:06:59Hopefully, we won't in a good way
00:07:00because it means there'll be no more controversy.
00:07:02Messi scores the penalty and then the second goal.
00:07:04Two things you've loved about this World Cup,
00:07:06Bellingham and Alvarez, people running in a dead straight line.
00:07:09Yeah, you've got to run in this game, especially when it's direct.
00:07:11Almost players don't have to deal with it.
00:07:13But what I love about here is the set-piece.
00:07:14You've got a striker going back and doing the job properly.
00:07:17Croatia, obviously, we're talking about cool heads.
00:07:19They weren't cool for this four or five minutes.
00:07:21And what I love about this, just look at it.
00:07:23Power, running.
00:07:24Okay, he's not got many options.
00:07:25People are trying to get to help him.
00:07:27Really poor defending.
00:07:29But what he shows right at the last minute, a little bit of luck,
00:07:31is the composure.
00:07:32A lot of luck.
00:07:33This is poor defending.
00:07:35It's just this last bit, bang, composure right at the end.
00:07:39Brilliant.
00:07:40The difference between them two up front, Alvarez and Messi,
00:07:42they're absolutely outstanding.
00:07:44And for all the fact that Croatia have lots of lovely, neat possession,
00:07:47it was all in front of Argentina's defence.
00:07:49They haven't got someone who's willing to run into that space
00:07:52and stretch Argentina.
00:07:54They're playing some great stuff.
00:07:55We've watched some beautiful stuff from Modric and that.
00:07:57But they just don't have the players with the pace
00:08:00to get past their defence.
00:08:02They ain't got no-one to pass it to once they get into that final third,
00:08:05unfortunately, for them.
00:08:06And then, you know, it was very tight for a while.
00:08:09I was thinking, what are Argentina doing?
00:08:11They're not even in the game hardly.
00:08:12Messi hardly had touches.
00:08:13And then, bang, what they're able to do is, with pace and precision,
00:08:17they finish them.
00:08:18And a bit of luck.
00:08:19Argentina leading by two goals to nil at the break.
00:08:22Lionel Messi has scored more goals in World Cup finals
00:08:24than any Argentinian.
00:08:26Having converted this penalty,
00:08:27he's up to 11 past the great Gabriel Batistuta.
00:08:30And Argentina, it seems, halfway to another World Cup final.
00:08:45He's going to miss the second half.
00:08:48Oh, so is he.
00:08:50And that's why KFC Delivery sponsors ITV's coverage of the FIFA World Cup.
00:08:56FIFA WORLD CUP FINALS
00:09:27FIFA WORLD CUP FINALS
00:09:36Breakfast is always included at Holiday Inn Express.
00:09:57Brilliant bath.
00:09:59With breakfast always included,
00:10:00you can start the day off any way you like
00:10:02at Holiday Inn Express by IHG Hotels and Resorts.
00:10:07What happens to whisky when it's left in the barrel for 12 years?
00:10:12It gets richer and smoother
00:10:16until it tastes
00:10:22damn good.
00:10:26Introducing your Sainsbury's Taste the Difference Christmas centrepieces.
00:10:30Mulled cider glazed British gammon,
00:10:33no turkey crown topped with vegan smoky rashers
00:10:36and a British beef roasting joint,
00:10:3830-day matured for a fuller flavour.
00:10:41Keep it going.
00:10:42Go on, drown that beef.
00:10:44Love it.
00:10:57MONTBLANC
00:11:03Montblanc. Legend. The fragrance.
00:11:26That's why I dream.
00:11:36Add cognac and flambé.
00:11:40Be a bad time for the broadband to go down.
00:11:43Don't worry, Vodafone Full Fibre Broadband is up to five times more reliable than standard.
00:11:48You did switch to Vodafone, right?
00:11:52Switch and save £200 on average versus BT.
00:11:56Before the second half, did you know if you owned or leased a diesel vehicle between 2009 and 2020,
00:12:02you could be entitled to significant compensation?
00:12:05And that My Diesel Claim were experts in handling these claims.
00:12:10Millions of drivers have been misled by numerous manufacturers about emissions
00:12:14and over a million people have already trusted us to file their claims.
00:12:17It only takes a few seconds to check if you're eligible.
00:12:21Visit mydieselclaim.com and join thousands of other fans starting their claims today.
00:12:27GOOGLE PIXEL 7
00:12:44Well, I've highlighted the second semi-final between France and Morocco.
00:12:4710.45 ITV1 tomorrow, 11.05 on STV.
00:12:51And on Sunday, Roy, Gary and Ian will be back here at the sale for the World Cup final.
00:12:55Make sure to join us.
00:12:561.30 in the afternoon for that one.
00:12:58Do make a note of the earlier time.
00:13:02We did see a red card being brandished.
00:13:04Mario Mandzukic, Scourge of England, in the semi-final four years ago
00:13:08and one of the assistants got a red card.
00:13:11What can Croatia do, Roy, at the start of this second half?
00:13:15They need to get some shots on target.
00:13:16If they had none today, they'd have won against Brazil.
00:13:18Not good enough.
00:13:19As brilliant as they are, it's too long.
00:13:22They actually need a miracle.
00:13:23A gamble?
00:13:24No, I mean, look, they can't change this Croatia team.
00:13:26They're set in stone.
00:13:27All they've got to try and do is get a goal, obviously.
00:13:29It makes obvious sense.
00:13:30And then just, I think Argentina will feel that pressure a little bit.
00:13:33They obviously saw what the Dutch did the other night.
00:13:34So maybe just stay in the game for another 20 minutes
00:13:37and try and get a goal with 10 minutes to go.
00:13:39I think that's their best option.
00:13:40If they can get a set piece, keep it tight until then.
00:13:43Maybe they can frighten Argentina like the Netherlands did,
00:13:45but I can't see it.
00:13:46Well, a couple of changes at half-time.
00:13:48Let's see how that manifests itself
00:13:50with Ali McCoy, Slea Dixon and Sam Mattelface.
00:13:54I think of more concern to Argentina fans
00:13:57is the current health of Lionel Messi,
00:13:59who gets us off and underway.
00:14:00Once again, just tugging at the inside of his thigh
00:14:04as we kick off for the second half.
00:14:06Vlasic and Orsic are on,
00:14:08both who've made key contributions
00:14:10over the course of the World Cup so far,
00:14:12for Pasilic and Sosa.
00:14:14So it will be a re-jig at the back for Croatia,
00:14:18which we'll bring you up to date with in just a second.
00:14:20But, Ali and Lee, you both listened to the boys
00:14:22in the studio at half-time.
00:14:24You were both pretty certain that the penalty
00:14:26was correctly given at the time in the first half.
00:14:29Have either of you changed your mind?
00:14:31Well, my initial reaction was when I saw it was a penalty,
00:14:34and having seen the replays,
00:14:36I'm double convinced it's a penalty.
00:14:38I can't understand why they don't think it's a penalty,
00:14:41to be honest with you,
00:14:42because anywhere else in the pitch,
00:14:44first of all, it's a free kick, without doubt.
00:14:47And secondly, what the goalkeeper does,
00:14:50Lovacovic, he prevents Alvarez
00:14:53from continuing his movement to run forward,
00:14:55to perhaps knock it into an empty goal.
00:14:57So I think the referee's got it spot on, I really do.
00:15:02Ditto.
00:15:04I mean, I can't understand it at all.
00:15:07Obviously, that's why football's a great sport.
00:15:09Everyone has a different opinion,
00:15:11but I think the fact that...
00:15:13The key to it for me is that
00:15:15the goalkeeper challenges for the ball.
00:15:17He tries to stop the ball going in the net
00:15:20and challenges the player.
00:15:22If a defender is just standing there
00:15:24and you run into him and he can't get out of your way,
00:15:26well, that's not the case.
00:15:27He's challenging for the ball.
00:15:28If that's a winger running at me and that happens,
00:15:31then it's a foul all day long.
00:15:36It's going to be an interesting cup of tea
00:15:37with the boys tonight, isn't it?
00:15:38That's what I was going to say, yeah.
00:15:39We were looking for the pundits
00:15:42that made Roy go home halfway through the tournament.
00:15:44I think we may have just found them.
00:15:50Modric to take this free kick.
00:16:00It's arced in beautifully.
00:16:02It was well taken by Emi Martinez
00:16:05who came very quickly off his line to claim that.
00:16:10Yeah, just a wee bit too near Martinez, wasn't it?
00:16:14Yeah.
00:16:20Paredes to Messi.
00:16:27This is Rodrigo de Paul.
00:16:28Paredes.
00:16:37Doesn't look as though there's any change in shape
00:16:39from the creation initially,
00:16:41the two substitutions.
00:16:44Just a bit of quick work.
00:16:51That's how she rolls, isn't it?
00:16:53Karasic has gone to left-back as a result.
00:16:58Kolasic on the flanks.
00:17:03Here is McAllister.
00:17:09Messi.
00:17:14McAllister still fighting for it.
00:17:15Brozovic has lost it.
00:17:17McAllister.
00:17:18Referee's allowing a lot to go here.
00:17:20Rodrigo de Paul.
00:17:22McAllister still down.
00:17:23Paredes with the effort.
00:17:26And the referee still says play on
00:17:29despite the fact that McAllister's asking for treatment.
00:17:33Now Drozd with the shot.
00:17:34You've just got to keep your eye on it.
00:17:36Concentrate the goalkeeper.
00:17:37Bouncing before you.
00:17:38Moving a little bit.
00:17:41Just catches.
00:17:45Catches him on the back of the head
00:17:46but he's fought as he goes through.
00:17:51These two do have a little bit of history.
00:17:53Croatia actually beat Argentina in the last World Cup 3-0.
00:18:02Fabio Capella sitting above Ronaldo.
00:18:06The original Ronaldo watching on.
00:18:15First semifinals have matched up a tournament favourite
00:18:18and an unheralded outsider who many thought had no chance
00:18:21before a ball was kicked.
00:18:22But Doha has been different.
00:18:24And gentlemen, Croatia not to be written off just yet, are they?
00:18:29Well, no.
00:18:30Clearly not when you look at what happened
00:18:32in one of the great games against the Netherlands.
00:18:34However, you've got to say the Netherlands changed it
00:18:38and went with two big lads up front.
00:18:42Sam Lee, I'm not sure.
00:18:44Another good Petkovic on the bench
00:18:46but I'm not sure they would do that.
00:18:48It's just coming on right now.
00:18:49Yeah, it's just come on.
00:18:51That is a significant change, isn't it?
00:18:53Because as you were talking, Bruno Petkovic of Dinamo Zagreb
00:18:56was entering the field to replace Brozovic
00:18:58and that does take a man out of that.
00:19:02Our boys' network in the middle of the pitch
00:19:04has been a bit of a mess.
00:19:05It's a bit of a mess.
00:19:06It's a bit of a mess.
00:19:07It's a bit of a mess.
00:19:09Our boys' network in the middle of the park.
00:19:12They didn't create enough in the first half.
00:19:14The amount of possession they had didn't create enough
00:19:16every time the ball went wide.
00:19:18The crosses came in, there wasn't enough people in the box
00:19:20so maybe that will change now as a focal point.
00:19:23They also need a couple of runners as well
00:19:25to go beyond the midfield and get into the box.
00:19:28Too safe at the moment for the Croatians.
00:19:32Maybe they'll take a leap out of the Netherlands
00:19:34and go a little bit more direct
00:19:35as you were suggesting in the first half
00:19:37and copy the Van Beekhove strategy.
00:19:44Might not have been easy in the eye
00:19:45but it's certainly effective.
00:19:50Kovacic.
00:19:51Pekovic comes short.
00:19:52Tries to lay it off towards Modric
00:19:54but it wasn't the crispest of passes.
00:19:57They're on the escape again with Enzo Fernandez.
00:20:00Alvarez making a darting diagonal run
00:20:02but it was good tracking back from Nikola Vlasic.
00:20:06That's brilliant from Vlasic, it really was.
00:20:09Orsic.
00:20:11Who made a telling contribution against Brazil.
00:20:14He's got no width.
00:20:16Going to go out the other side.
00:20:17This right-hand side is completely empty of players.
00:20:25I think he's got to start getting forward now.
00:20:27I don't know but he must try and attempt to get forward.
00:20:32He's good at that as well.
00:20:33Yeah.
00:20:36Vlasic here for Orsic again.
00:20:39To squeeze that through.
00:20:40Very tight gap to Pekovic.
00:20:41Didn't quite work.
00:20:44Vlasic.
00:20:45Looking at Jovanovic's position right now.
00:20:46That's him in the ball right through.
00:20:48Now I think when you're in the position of Ole Grisha
00:20:50he's got to be 10, 15, 20 yards higher up the pitch
00:20:54and slightly wider.
00:20:55Pekovic picking it up.
00:20:57Kovacic.
00:20:58And they send it through towards
00:21:01Modric on the edge of the box.
00:21:04Vlasic.
00:21:05His cross takes a big deflection.
00:21:07Martinez has got it.
00:21:09Kovacic is shooting there.
00:21:11He's on the edge of the box.
00:21:1218 yards out.
00:21:13Ball comes to him.
00:21:14Free shot.
00:21:15He tries to just play a little.
00:21:16Find a side and pass it to the penalty area.
00:21:20Hasn't scored an international goal for two years.
00:21:23That'll be it then.
00:21:24Well, maybe a number two if you're looking to take chances.
00:21:26But he's not even short of a goal.
00:21:27He's spot on.
00:21:29It's perfect for him to hurt.
00:21:30He tries to play an intricate pass.
00:21:33He's not a regular scorer with his club side either.
00:21:46Usually when he does score a goal,
00:21:47it's a spectacular one from distance.
00:21:52He did say it was an area of his game
00:21:53that he wants to improve on.
00:22:00Similar pattern to the first half.
00:22:01Ways of possession and operations.
00:22:04The difference is it's 2-0 down now.
00:22:06Argentina don't need to voice the issue at all.
00:22:09Just sit in their positions,
00:22:11kick off the back pass here and there
00:22:13and then give it to Kovacic.
00:22:18What was that Kovacic?
00:22:19It's clear that his team has never done what they have.
00:22:23He said yesterday,
00:22:24demonstrated time and time again
00:22:26what it means not to surrender.
00:22:29They won't give up this.
00:22:33Even with the odds firmly stacked against them.
00:22:58That would be nice if you're an Argentine supporter.
00:23:09The good news for those Argentina supporters,
00:23:13not those Croatians,
00:23:14is that Lionel Messi hasn't had any further tugs at his hamstring
00:23:18since the kickoff at the start of the second half.
00:23:21That's 10 minutes now without any real worry.
00:23:28He hasn't broke out of a warp yet, I hope.
00:23:59Kovacic.
00:24:20Montrich.
00:24:29Trying to reverse the ball into the path of Petkovic.
00:24:31This is now with McAllister who's setting away Alvarez.
00:24:36And Enzo Fernandez is breaking into the middle.
00:24:38It's Enzo Fernandez!
00:24:40And Valdeol did exactly what he was required to do.
00:24:43Messi.
00:24:47Argentina keeping the pressure on.
00:24:50That there in that split second is a problem Croatia have.
00:24:54But it's a gamble they've got to take.
00:24:59As they push for that way back into the match,
00:25:02they leave themselves a little bit exposed.
00:25:28Paredes.
00:25:38McAllister.
00:25:48McAllister getting it back towards Romero
00:25:50who was under a bit of pressure from Kovacic.
00:25:52But he's taken four out of the game with that little hook.
00:25:55Messi.
00:25:56Tries to take on Valdeol.
00:25:59Messi flicks it through.
00:26:01Gets it back again for Fernandez.
00:26:02It's Messi!
00:26:03He's stopped by Ljubavic.
00:26:09I tell you, I don't care how much the ticket is to get in here.
00:26:12Just to watch this.
00:26:13Look how strong he is.
00:26:15He's got a big centre half against him.
00:26:17And he's just, at the last moment,
00:26:19you'd think he's going to fall over.
00:26:20He gets that toe out again and makes a brilliant pass
00:26:23and then goes for the one-two.
00:26:24Absolute genius.
00:26:27Oh dear.
00:26:29You and I just looked at each other there.
00:26:30I thought we both thought he'd lost it.
00:26:39Uranovic.
00:26:41Into Modric.
00:26:43Now Blasic looking to try and squeeze across it.
00:26:46It's towards Dekovic who's got it down.
00:26:48Immediately surrounded.
00:26:51Djamric has got it back to Kovacic.
00:26:53It's left for Orsic.
00:26:56Cross out Diener.
00:26:57He's over the head of Dekovic.
00:27:02See there, there's a big problem there.
00:27:04Dekovic gets the ball to his feet,
00:27:06standing on the penalty spot.
00:27:08And he's the only one in the box.
00:27:10No-one's willing to just hold him up.
00:27:13Go running off him.
00:27:14Messi's chance here.
00:27:16Absolutely brilliant.
00:27:18Brilliant.
00:27:19Made a pure genius from the little man.
00:27:23Just the final one, he was kind of off balance, wasn't he?
00:27:26The ball just wouldn't sit for him perfectly.
00:27:29Beerspoor on pivot.
00:27:30Picking up the ball in the middle of the goal there.
00:27:32He needs somebody running from deeper.
00:27:35Blasic, Kovacic, just come in front of him,
00:27:37run across the face of him, anything.
00:27:41Just give him a bit of movement.
00:27:42We had an uncontested drop ball,
00:27:44because the ball went flat, the initial ball went flat.
00:27:48So that's been changed.
00:27:51Argentina have won it back.
00:27:52Paredes has brought it out of defence for Argentina.
00:28:02I don't think Messi's going to chase that.
00:28:03No, he doesn't run in channels.
00:28:05No.
00:28:06Maggiorelli didn't either.
00:28:08There's a comparison between you and Messi.
00:28:11He's slightly quicker feet than me.
00:28:14Even I'll accept that.
00:28:15Really?
00:28:20Didn't win ten Scottish Premier Titles there, did he?
00:28:25Oh, Scott, what a player.
00:28:27I don't think I've ever seen a player
00:28:30that lets a defender think they're just going to nick it,
00:28:34and he just gets another touch from somewhere
00:28:36to either win a free kick or knock it and go again.
00:28:40It's amazing.
00:28:41We've seen it three or four times this evening.
00:28:43You think, oh, he's lost it.
00:28:44No, he hasn't.
00:28:45He's got it.
00:28:46He's got it.
00:28:47He's got it.
00:28:48He's got it.
00:28:49He's got it.
00:28:50He's got it.
00:28:51He's got it.
00:28:52He's got it.
00:28:53He's got it.
00:28:54He's got it.
00:28:55He's got it.
00:28:56You think, oh, he's lost it.
00:28:57The defender's buying it.
00:28:58He's actually had it.
00:28:59He's got it.
00:29:00I told you, he's got the best big toe in football.
00:29:06He takes some risks, though,
00:29:08and it could end up getting him hurt, couldn't it, at times,
00:29:11because of that little delay before someone comes to meet him.
00:29:17Yeah, take a toy, you know, not maliciously,
00:29:19just somebody thinking they're going to win it.
00:29:21Yeah.
00:29:23The thing is, he doesn't get injured very often, though, does he?
00:29:27He doesn't miss many games.
00:29:29He hasn't barbelled.
00:29:34We're looking at the minutes played so far in the tournament.
00:29:37He's played 550 minutes before tonight for Argentina,
00:29:41and we've only got three players that have played every single available minute,
00:29:45and that's Emi Martinez, Nicolas Otamendi,
00:29:49and Lionel Messi, three of whom have now played 611.
00:30:06Change coming.
00:30:09Alessandro Martinez is replacing Juventus's Leandro Paredes,
00:30:16who's 50th cap tonight.
00:30:21That's been to give Argentina a relatively good platform going forward.
00:30:28I don't think Paredes will ever escape the enduring image of the World Cup
00:30:32of smashing the ball into the Dutch bench late in the last 16th match,
00:30:35but he'll be happy with his contribution tonight.
00:30:42Alessandro Martinez on.
00:30:44Free kick in towards Lovren.
00:30:46He's fighting with Martinez.
00:30:47Blasic almost got there.
00:30:49And somehow Argentina get it away.
00:30:52That's a chance. Cross ball.
00:30:55What we're expecting.
00:30:59That's the sort of unsettled situation that Croatia will try to thrive on
00:31:06in the final half an hour of this game.
00:31:10Someone must have got a block on that.
00:31:12I couldn't quite see from this position,
00:31:14but it looked like Lovren had a free header.
00:31:21I think the introduction of Martinez,
00:31:23the starter that there's not a fire defensively.
00:31:31Tagliafica.
00:31:35Alvarez.
00:31:39Molina.
00:31:42Is he going on a dart?
00:31:43Perisic giving him a little bump.
00:31:48This is the chance.
00:31:50It's just...
00:31:51It's Otamendi just in front of him.
00:31:54Just puts him off.
00:31:55He actually does well there, doesn't he?
00:31:57They crowd him, don't they?
00:32:00Uranovic.
00:32:01Scampering forward at rapid speed.
00:32:03But Watson.
00:32:06Tackled by Tagliafica,
00:32:07who's pinched it back for Argentina.
00:32:33Definitely kick your minibus on the way back to the hotel, isn't it?
00:32:37Don't get him with M3.
00:32:42We're outnumbered, pal, but we need to stick to our guns.
00:32:44We've got to stay united in this one.
00:32:48I can see Roy coming for us.
00:32:50Right on the whistle.
00:33:08Messi.
00:33:10Guardiola.
00:33:12Right up behind him, it's Fernandez.
00:33:16Rivero.
00:33:18Messi.
00:33:19Well, it's goodbye to one challenge.
00:33:23It's to get a return.
00:33:25Lasic manages to hold him off.
00:33:27Once a free kick, he's going to get it.
00:33:37Kramaric.
00:33:58Kramaric.
00:34:01Kramaric just arriving on the edge of the box now,
00:34:03wanting to get involved in the action.
00:34:05He's moaning about Kramaric not releasing the ball earlier.
00:34:08That was a mistake by Lovren.
00:34:11Cut out by Tagliafico, sending Alvarez away.
00:34:14Tagliafico has gone on into the centre.
00:34:16Alvarez has got Messi to aim at at the far post.
00:34:19He's picked out...
00:34:21...Mamida instead.
00:34:27Messi joining into the box.
00:34:30Modric bringing it clear.
00:34:36Referee has blown for a foul against Alvarez.
00:34:41Modric, the recipient of the free kick.
00:34:44Yeah, and it's one of these free kicks that they don't mind giving away.
00:34:46I know Alvarez is shaking his head, but...
00:34:50...you could argue it's a silly free kick to give away,
00:34:52but what it does, it kills the game again.
00:35:06Come on, come on, come on, come on!
00:35:09Come on, come on, come on!
00:35:11Come on, come on, come on, come on!
00:35:14Komotic.
00:35:17Now Perisic.
00:35:22Zorzic.
00:35:25And a chance from Petkovic didn't quite come off to his...
00:35:29...Denis Lozangreb colleague.
00:35:32Just tightening the ranks now.
00:35:34Argentina on the edge of the box.
00:35:35That five-strung cross, hardly any gaps at all between them.
00:35:42That, in the other hand, is a silly free kick to give away.
00:35:46Well, Argentina's run to the semifinals shouldn't be too much of a surprise.
00:35:50They did go 36 matches without defeat before the humbling by Saudi Arabia.
00:35:55They had several goals disallowed for offside in that game
00:35:58and lost focus basically for six minutes during that match.
00:36:02They conceded two goals in a short spell to deliver
00:36:05the first big shock of the convention-confusing World Cup.
00:36:11They have been heavily backed around the tournament.
00:36:13The noise and the emotion has pulsated through the Argentine support.
00:36:18There's been a constant backdrop to this tournament.
00:36:21There is a yellow card for Cristian Romero.
00:36:27And there is a yellow card for Zorzic.
00:36:31And there is a yellow card for Zorzic.
00:36:35And there is a yellow card for Zorzic.
00:36:37And there is a yellow card for Zorzic.
00:36:46Pretty straightforward, aren't they?
00:36:59Modric.
00:37:04Kravic.
00:37:06What did he get?
00:37:07Rigo de Paul trying to pump it down the line
00:37:09and Perisic is standing in his way.
00:37:15I'm actually getting quite frustrated looking at Croatia.
00:37:17I mean, you mentioned first half,
00:37:19I thought they were non-existent in really poor and forward areas.
00:37:22I think Petkovic actually has made a little bit of a difference when he's come on.
00:37:25Not massively, but he's certainly made a bit of a difference.
00:37:28He's not got any help at all.
00:37:31The boys need to get round about.
00:37:33Zorzic.
00:37:34Zorzic.
00:38:03He has just destroyed one of the World Cup's emerging stars.
00:38:11And set up Julian Alvarez for what could be a significant goal.
00:38:17Well, just watch him here.
00:38:19It's not the pace, it's the slowing down and the speeding up.
00:38:23Vardy all thinks he's got him.
00:38:24Then he goes again, then he stops him.
00:38:26Then he turns him, then he goes again.
00:38:28Off the mark speed.
00:38:29He's absolutely sensational.
00:38:31And then puts it on a plate.
00:38:34This will show it.
00:38:35Just watch this.
00:38:36He slows him down.
00:38:38Stop.
00:38:39Thinks he's got him.
00:38:40Defender.
00:38:41No, he hasn't.
00:38:42And he's off.
00:38:43And then the presence of mind.
00:38:44So just to know where his teammate is, Ali.
00:38:48I mean, that was just genius.
00:38:51Simple as that.
00:38:52Absolute genius.
00:38:55His movement is fantastic from start to finish.
00:38:58But Lee's 100% correct.
00:39:00It's the final dip of the shoulder.
00:39:03With his right shoulder to come back.
00:39:05That completely off-balances Gavardia.
00:39:09And gives him the half-yard.
00:39:11And once he's away from him, he knows he's got a one-on-runner.
00:39:14And Alvarez has more or less got something.
00:39:17That, guys, epitomises why he is potentially the best ever.
00:39:22Certainly one of the best ever.
00:39:25We said after the Saudi Arabia game,
00:39:28Argentina can't win it playing like this.
00:39:31And Messi has to get a lot better when both of those have happened.
00:39:37And they've altered the way they play.
00:39:39They've changed their attacking structure.
00:39:41Alvarez's introduction, I mentioned it in the first half,
00:39:43key to the improvement of Argentina throughout the tournament.
00:39:50And they are in a cracking position now.
00:39:53And even Croatia.
00:39:55The team that has come back.
00:39:57When Japan had them.
00:39:58When Brazil had them.
00:40:01Not going to come back from this, are they?
00:40:03No, they're staggered.
00:40:05Absolutely staggered.
00:40:06The big fella just looking at them, boys.
00:40:10He just beats you, the movement of his body.
00:40:12It's phenomenal.
00:40:14It's a drop of shoulder.
00:40:16The defender naturally goes the way the body goes.
00:40:19And it's the speed after that to go the other way.
00:40:22Allows them to get the half yards.
00:40:26Yellow card for Osamendi for that challenge that you just saw on your screen.
00:40:31And a change about to take place for Croatia, first of all.
00:40:38And it's Kramaric who is coming off now.
00:40:44He is being replaced by Levaya.
00:40:52A bit of a hero in Split.
00:40:55If he could turn the tide here, he'd be a hero for the whole of Croatia.
00:41:00He did get 28 goals for Hajduk Split last season.
00:41:11And a shot which goes towards Emil Martinez.
00:41:14His goal is easily saved from Perisic.
00:41:21That's comfortable, isn't it?
00:41:24Just going back to Messi again, because we can't stop talking about him.
00:41:28What defenders hate, they don't mind sprinting flat out.
00:41:31When you get slowed down, that's what you don't like to do.
00:41:34You know he's going to go again, but you can't go early.
00:41:37Because otherwise he'll go on the inside of you.
00:41:39So you have to wait until he moves again.
00:41:41And he's so quick on the spot.
00:41:43Or off the spot.
00:41:44It's just ridiculous.
00:41:47The upper body movement is incredible.
00:41:52And obviously he's got the feet that are going quicker.
00:41:54But his upper body movement, dropping shoulders,
00:41:58just wrong footing and putting defenders on the wrong foot,
00:42:01off balance, putting them off balance.
00:42:06The whole stadium absolutely just lit up there with that piece of work.
00:42:12It was beautiful.
00:42:14Beautiful, apart from those people behind that goal there in red and white.
00:42:17They didn't.
00:42:18I'll bet it was one or two in a club penalty.
00:42:21You don't know who you are.
00:42:23Two substitutions for Argentina.
00:42:26And Julian Alvarez is being withdrawn.
00:42:35And Rodrigo de Paul is also off.
00:42:45Ezequiel Palacios comes into the game.
00:42:49And so does Lautaro.
00:42:55Pablo Dybala.
00:42:57And that is a bit of a surprise really that Dybala has come into the game.
00:43:01Because he hasn't featured here at all.
00:43:03Did have a brilliant start to the season in Rome.
00:43:06But hasn't managed a single appearance since he picked up an injury,
00:43:11scoring a penalty eight weeks ago.
00:43:14And he is on the field.
00:43:17And it's a welcome sight for Argentina to see him back in available
00:43:20just in time for the last few moments of the semi-final and the final.
00:43:29Julian Huxley is well behind, isn't he?
00:43:31He was.
00:43:34He's walked off.
00:43:35They've got a big smile on his face.
00:43:43Well, the noise is throbbing once again.
00:43:47Perisic is trying the outlandish.
00:43:52That's what we've been left to try and score long-range goals
00:43:57because they've not got enough people in the box.
00:44:00The supply has been lacking.
00:44:02But the numbers that they've got forward has just been incredible.
00:44:07Probably going to guess that about 84,000 of them
00:44:10are wanting Argentina to win.
00:44:12It certainly has felt like that.
00:44:14It's been a bit of a home fixture, a home place for Lionel Messi
00:44:19and his team over the course of this tournament.
00:44:22Whenever we've come here to watch them,
00:44:24they've had terrific support, old and young.
00:44:26It's been a bit of a home fixture, a home place for Lionel Messi
00:44:30and his team over the course of this tournament.
00:44:32Whenever we've come here to watch them, they've had terrific support,
00:44:35old and young.
00:44:40Those Messi shirts, those No. 10 shirts are everywhere.
00:44:51Might have sold a few more tonight.
00:44:53Here he is again.
00:44:55Ignacios lays it off to McAllister.
00:45:05Come on, come on, come on.
00:45:35Foot race with Muranovic.
00:45:45Messi has racked up another record tonight.
00:45:47He's equalled the World Cup record for most appearances
00:45:50at a finals moving level with Lothar Matthäus,
00:45:54who had 25, interestingly made his 25th appearance
00:45:58against Croatia in the 1998 World Cup.
00:46:06They're not going to get through this semi-final now, Croatia,
00:46:09but it is jaw-dropping, really, that Croatia,
00:46:11a nation with a population smaller than Kuwait, New Zealand
00:46:14and El Salvador, half the population of Israel,
00:46:17can be playing in a third World Cup semi-final.
00:46:21As I said before the game, remarkable, absolutely remarkable,
00:46:24but it really just looks as though it's been one game too many.
00:46:27I mean, they'll keep going, that's the one thing they will do.
00:46:33Perisic.
00:46:35Orsic.
00:46:37Trying to squeeze it towards the far corner.
00:46:39It wasn't as close as maybe it looked.
00:46:44He's got two or three in the box,
00:46:46and he just can't quite get his foot around it.
00:46:54He's not threatened at all, have they? No.
00:46:57They've conceded three goals tonight, Ali,
00:46:59which is equalling the number they'd conceded
00:47:01in the whole tournament before tonight.
00:47:04Yeah.
00:47:06The first one, maybe in some people's eyes,
00:47:08slightly controversial.
00:47:10The second one, there's no doubt Alvarez gets the break of the ball
00:47:13after a fantastic run from Molina.
00:47:16But the third one, on the other hand...
00:47:20Just fantastic.
00:47:21Fantastic to watch.
00:47:24With your comment about the first one,
00:47:26you're not changing your mind, are you?
00:47:28No.
00:47:29I'm actually 100 per cent snicked by it.
00:47:34Can you have more than 100 per cent?
00:47:36A million per cent? Whatever.
00:47:41Notice how diplomatically it kept out of it.
00:47:51Massage.
00:47:53To Modric.
00:48:03Modric.
00:48:08Alvarez almost lost the ball, then won it again,
00:48:10past Palacios.
00:48:12Pankovic.
00:48:13Modric.
00:48:17And the cannon's off, one or two,
00:48:18and goes all the way through to Emi Martinez.
00:48:20And Luka Modric, an enduring image of him.
00:48:24Three-nil down in the semi-final.
00:48:27Trying to take matters into his own hands.
00:48:29Tell you what, no coincidences.
00:48:32He's had a brilliant game.
00:48:38Whatever happens here tonight,
00:48:39Croatia are expecting to be able to call on Modric's services
00:48:42in the summer of next year,
00:48:44when they contest the finals of the Nations League.
00:48:48Another terrific achievement to get to the final event
00:48:52of that competition.
00:49:01Go, go, go, go, go!
00:49:04Go, go, go, go, go!
00:49:07Go, go, go, go, go!
00:49:10Go, go, go, go, go!
00:49:13Go, go, go, go, go!
00:49:17There's going to be one hell of a party tonight.
00:49:22Behind the goal, away to our left, it is throbbing.
00:49:26I can inform you, Samoz, what a last name.
00:49:29Yeah, they saved my hotel.
00:49:31Well as if it was next door to my hotel room, actually.
00:49:34I'm on the 10th floor.
00:49:35What a racket they were making.
00:49:37That was on the 13th, it was the same up there.
00:49:41Modric off.
00:49:42And that could be the end of him and the World Cup finals.
00:49:50Luka Modric, so often the talisman for Croatia,
00:49:53couldn't help them tonight.
00:49:56Against a Messi-inspired Argentina.
00:50:07Oblom Maia has taken his place.
00:50:11Yeah, it's not his night tonight, Modric boys,
00:50:13but I tell you what, I think we're all in agreement.
00:50:15What a player, what a career.
00:50:17Wonderful.
00:50:20Fourth and possibly last World Cup.
00:50:23A symbol of Croatian football for many a year.
00:50:40Taglifico on the dart.
00:50:44Knights it back to his goalkeeper.
00:50:46Another one who's had a particularly good tournament
00:50:49in Novakovic.
00:50:51I don't know what things have gone against him tonight,
00:50:53but he has been their hero twice in penalty shoot-outs.
00:51:10Quickly taken.
00:51:12And immediately on the attack, McAllister misses his opportunity.
00:51:15Watch Messi, just as you switch off.
00:51:17Look, there you go.
00:51:19He just doesn't, he never switches off that fella.
00:51:23He's as bright as a button.
00:51:25However he's pacing the other way, not watching the ball.
00:51:28He just gets it down, takes it quickly.
00:51:31And probably McAllister should be hitting the target with that effort.
00:51:35Or leaving it for Messi, who's right behind him.
00:51:48Di Barna.
00:52:12Himself fancing a Messi run.
00:52:18Of course now we'll be turning for some Argentina fans
00:52:21as to who they're going to meet in the final.
00:52:29Messi's offside.
00:52:32We will find out tomorrow on our highlights programme
00:52:36whether it will be France or Morocco in the final of the World Cup.
00:52:41That's tomorrow night, 10.45, ITV1, ITV2.
00:52:45That's tomorrow night, 10.45, ITV1, ITVX.
00:52:4911.05 on STV.
00:52:51And then join us nice and early on Sunday.
00:52:54It's a 1.30 start, an early start.
00:52:57We'll bring you all the fun of the fair from the World Cup final.
00:53:00Live here from Luceo, ITV1, ITVX and STV on Sunday.
00:53:07Behind, run away by Tagliafico, it's a corner.
00:53:10He felt that he was being pushed in the back.
00:53:14Well, I'm going to be brutal honest with you, you know.
00:53:16I thought this would be the tight one.
00:53:18I thought the comfortable victory may be tomorrow night for France.
00:53:22So...
00:53:24Got that one right again, didn't I?
00:53:28To be honest with you, I'll let you know when you're on.
00:53:32The game changed, didn't it, after the penalty?
00:53:35Lovro Maia, a flick to the far post!
00:53:37And Lovro couldn't reach it.
00:53:40And that might have made an unsettling last five minutes for Argentina.
00:53:44I don't know whether he's unsighted, I just think he's got his goal.
00:53:47It's a lovely flick on.
00:53:48Furnishage.
00:53:51I think he just gets a bit manhandled at the back.
00:53:54He's trying to get away from Otamendi and he's fighting with him
00:53:57instead of concentrating on the ball.
00:54:01Great little flick near post.
00:54:03Spot on.
00:54:05Two more chances for Argentina, who have appeared to have a case of the wobbles
00:54:09as the finishing line approaches.
00:54:11That's one point, another one who's been injured for a while.
00:54:14He's getting his first minutes of this tournament now.
00:54:17You remember him from Tottenham now playing at Villarreal.
00:54:21He's had ten weeks out with a knee injury.
00:54:25And the other substitute is Angel Correa.
00:54:29Playing well at Athletic, snuck in after Joaquin Correa pulled out of the squad.
00:54:41Trying to give as many of those players who haven't featured so far
00:54:52an opportunity in the final minutes here.
00:54:56Well, if France were to win tomorrow, Molina might need an early night.
00:55:00That's probably why they've taken him off.
00:55:06Can't predict anything.
00:55:08Today they've been really, really impressive.
00:55:12After they took the lead.
00:55:14Not a lot in it before that, the first 30 minutes or so.
00:55:18Well, how much of that is down to experience, Ali?
00:55:21In recent history, where they've gone on such a long, unbeaten run
00:55:26prior to the start of this tournament.
00:55:30I think they've only, what is it, one defeat in 42 games?
00:55:33Which is remarkable.
00:55:34When you think of the quality of opposition they've been playing as well, so.
00:55:38You see, you know, winning's a good habit.
00:55:43But they really know how to defend a leader.
00:55:45Taking away the Netherlands game, which was a real surprise to probably everybody.
00:55:50Where they looked as though they didn't handle a long ball and high ball.
00:55:54Generally speaking.
00:55:57I know you mentioned Saudi, but they've just been so comfortable this evening
00:56:00once they've taken the lead.
00:56:01It feels like a distant memory now, doesn't it?
00:56:03Etched somewhere in the past.
00:56:04The blip may be, this may be on the road to glory.
00:56:09Argentina have seen off Mexico.
00:56:11They've seen off Poland, Australia, the Netherlands and now Croatia.
00:56:17Countries from almost all corners of the world.
00:56:20How do we think they'll get on if it is France on Sunday?
00:56:24How do you think they'll get on against them?
00:56:26Certainly if it is France.
00:56:27We can't take anything for granted.
00:56:28That back four will be tested to the hill.
00:56:31They won't be strolling around keeping a high line against the French.
00:56:36And if it's Morocco, are they going to have to break them down?
00:56:40I don't think so.
00:56:41I genuinely don't.
00:56:42I don't think it'll be Morocco.
00:56:43But I'm really interested to see what team Morocco can feel tomorrow.
00:56:48I've got to say, and I'll probably stick by it,
00:56:51their performance against Portugal,
00:56:53might be the most impressive performance I've seen from a team in the tournament.
00:56:57I thought they were magnificent lads,
00:56:59but they looked at the end of the game
00:57:03as if they had one or two injury problems.
00:57:05Certainly it was a red card.
00:57:08I think it'll really depend on what kind of team they can select tomorrow against France.
00:57:14Kovacic.
00:57:16Overemeyer and the deflection.
00:57:19Well, fair play to him.
00:57:20They're having a go.
00:57:21A few subs on, a few fresh legs.
00:57:24At least they've had a couple of shots.
00:57:27It's just been a disappointing night at the end of the pitch, to be honest with you.
00:57:40A disappointing night.
00:57:41It's just been a disappointing night.
00:57:43It's just been a disappointing night.
00:57:46A disappointing night for those Croatian supporters who camped outside their team hotel
00:57:52for most of the day, really, today,
00:57:54serenading their troops ahead of their battle with Argentina.
00:58:01They're all camped out on the beach in front of the team hotel,
00:58:05singing dances, cheering them on,
00:58:09giving them the support.
00:58:11Croatia unable to harness that and turn that into another victory.
00:58:16Maybe just going too far after going the distance against Japan and Brazil.
00:58:24A team that have punched above their weight for a very long time
00:58:27may be punched out.
00:58:40Messi.
00:58:46Here's Lovro Maia.
00:58:54Nice controls from Olsic.
00:58:56It's been that sort of night.
00:58:57There'll be five minutes of additional time.
00:59:10Well, we'll be seeing the winners of the World Cup here, lads.
00:59:17Well, it doesn't matter what you think of Argentina.
00:59:21They've got that genius who plays everywhere.
00:59:28When you've got someone like him in your team, he can win any game.
00:59:32I think if it is France, and I keep saying it,
00:59:35you know, Morocco have got a say in it,
00:59:37what happens tomorrow.
00:59:39The French with their wingers, the full-backs for Argentina
00:59:43I don't think are the best.
00:59:45I think defensively you can get that to them.
00:59:49Lovro Maia looking for Petkovic, but Martinez is going to come and play.
00:59:53He might have a big role to play in the game on Sunday,
00:59:56whoever they come up against.
00:59:58Did I answer without answering?
01:00:00Well, I just thought, he's sitting on the fence again.
01:00:04I'm definitely sitting on the fence.
01:00:06All right, I'm going for the French then.
01:00:09If they were to beat Morocco.
01:00:12We won't let you down there to speak to those guys.
01:00:14They seem to be enjoying themselves now, getting ready to celebrate.
01:00:17Another wonderful couple of moments from that man, Lionel Messi.
01:00:23And it looks to have steered them to a sixth World Cup final overall.
01:00:29Any chance you were answering?
01:00:31France?
01:00:32France is France.
01:00:35Not going to change now.
01:00:46The Argentinian support behind the goal will be there on Sunday in numbers as well.
01:00:51They'll certainly be the loudest.
01:00:53They'll win the battle of the volume, that's for sure,
01:00:56when it comes to the game on Sunday.
01:00:58If they play the French, maybe not.
01:01:00If they play the Moroccans...
01:01:04Danilo Fico nudging him behind, it's out for a corner.
01:01:11Into the third of five added minutes.
01:01:45He's kept running all night.
01:01:46Glacic.
01:01:47Mayer's gone on.
01:01:48Glacic tries to curl it.
01:01:51And it's a goal kick.
01:01:57The celebrations have already started on the Argentina bench.
01:02:02And they are hailing their hero.
01:02:09A night of ends for Luka Modric.
01:02:12And maybe ends his World Cup career.
01:02:43I'm just saying, they kept me up last night.
01:02:45I think I might join them tonight.
01:02:50You won't mention what you predicted for the final, then.
01:02:59Domitic.
01:03:08Thank you.
01:03:13Argentina trying to run the clock down.
01:03:16One fight.
01:03:17Skipping away and into an advanced position.
01:03:20Messi lurking on the edge of the box.
01:03:26Declined to get it into the area,
01:03:28knowing that time is of the essence now.
01:03:31Romero Mayer is launching a counter-attack.
01:03:3730 seconds of the additional time to play.
01:03:43Petkovic.
01:03:49It's Dejan Lovren.
01:03:50He's going to hit it.
01:03:53It's over the bar.
01:04:01Scripts like this are only written for the greatest.
01:04:12Luka Modric will depart the stage.
01:04:16But Lionel Messi will get the chance to star in a World Cup finale.
01:04:22And have the opportunity to bow out in the most perfect of setting.
01:04:30Emotional celebration.
01:04:32Deafening noise.
01:04:34The Argentine fans have invaded Qatar in their blue and white number 10 shirts.
01:04:40And they have been rewarded.
01:04:44Dejection for Modric and Croatia.
01:04:47But a team that lost their opening game to a team ranked outside the world's top 50
01:04:52have re-energized and recovered to drag themselves.
01:04:56Scrapping, starling, and with a dash of stardust
01:04:59into the biggest game of them all.
01:05:03Croatia have been brave, they've been stubborn, but
01:05:06they tired and they couldn't rally tonight to take another huge scout.
01:05:11It may be the last we see of Luka Modric at a World Cup.
01:05:14But he departs with his legacy secure.
01:05:17Tonight though, is about Argentina.
01:05:21It's about Alvarez.
01:05:22And of course, it's about the man they call Leo.
01:05:27Argentina 3, Croatia 0.
01:05:30And what a privilege Ian, for all football fans, for all sports fans
01:05:33to be able to see Leo Messi in one more World Cup final.
01:05:38Yeah, I mean the last, I think 2014, I think he was a player of the tournament in that one.
01:05:43Didn't quite work out for him in 2018, but like,
01:05:45the pressure he's come into this one with, you know, maybe his last one.
01:05:49You know, people talking about the team, are they good enough?
01:05:52Losing the first game, saw that happen with Spain and South Africa
01:05:56and then getting to the final, and Spain went over the line.
01:05:59But I think the manager got it totally right, today's tactics,
01:06:02you know, nullifying their midfield and keeping it narrow.
01:06:06But the fact is, they didn't have too much to trouble Argentina
01:06:09and in the end it was just like, he was magnificent.
01:06:12They were magnificent, they've done very, it was a fantastic game to watch.
01:06:16It was a moment of genius that third goal, it was absolutely unbelievable.
01:06:22They've got 10 fighters, it was scrapping like hell for him
01:06:27and they've got a genius up front who is delivering magical moments,
01:06:30as he has been for the last 10, 15 years.
01:06:33And they've got the best fans in the tournament as well,
01:06:35it's all coming together for Argentina, they've grown in the tournament.