Summary

  • Use audio icon at top of page to listen to BBC Radio 5 Live commentary from the Lusail Iconic Stadium in Lusail, Qatar

  • RESULT: Argentina 3-0 Croatia - Lionel Messi scores first-half penalty to give Argentina lead, Julian Alvarez scores either side of half time

  • Argentina last reached the World Cup final in 2014 where they lost to Germany

  • Get Involved: #bbcfootball, text 81111 (UK only – texts will be charged at your standard message rate), or text your comments via WhatsApp on 03301231826

  1. Postpublished at 30 mins

    Argentina 0-0 Croatia

    We've had 30 minutes and it is so finely balanced.

    These are two very, very good teams.

  2. get involved

    Get Involved - Messi to break through soon?published at 19:29 Greenwich Mean Time 13 December 2022

    Text 81111 (UK only - standard message rates apply)

    Messi looks dangerous whenever he has the ball. You get the feeling he's going to break through soon.

    Hanine, Oxford

  3. Postpublished at 19:29 Greenwich Mean Time 13 December 2022

    Argentina 0-0 Croatia

    Rob Green
    Former England goalkeeper on BBC Radio 5 Live

    Modric needed to get back because it was a poor free kick that led to the counter-attack. He realised his error and tracked back.

  4. Postpublished at 29 mins

    Argentina 0-0 Croatia

    Luka Modric chips in the free-kick for Croatia, but an Argentina head is first to it.

    It immediately sets Argetina off on a counter that ends with an angled pass to the left for Nicolas Tagliafico. It doesn't reach him because of a header from... Modric.

    Great work to track the length of the field after the free-kick.

  5. get involved

    Get Involved - stubborn Croatiapublished at 19:27 Greenwich Mean Time 13 December 2022

    Text 81111 (UK only - standard message rates apply)

    Croatia looking quite strong at the back in this opening period. Argentina may really struggle to break them down.

    Gabriella C, Yeovil

  6. Postpublished at 19:27 Greenwich Mean Time 13 December 2022

    Argentina 0-0 Croatia

    Rob Green
    Former England goalkeeper on BBC Radio 5 Live

    Livaković saw that late. He scrambled across and it wasn't a comfortable save, it just skipped across the surface.

    What saved him was that the bounce was far enough away from him so he could read it. Another yard closer to him on that bounce and he could have been struggling.

  7. Postpublished at 27 mins

    Argentina 0-0 Croatia

    Free-kick to Croatia in the Argentina half. It all came from Mateo Kovacic pressing and robbing Messi and then driving brilliantly forward. An absolute tank in motion.

  8. Postpublished at 19:25 Greenwich Mean Time 13 December 2022

    Argentina 0-0 Croatia

    Rob Green
    Former England goalkeeper on BBC Radio 5 Live

    It's almost like Messi has watched the game for the first 20 minutes and now he's had enough of it and started to get involved.

    Lionel Messi of Argentina controls the ball against Josko Gvardiol of Croatia during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 semi final match between Argentina and Croatia at Lusail StadiumImage source, Getty Images
  9. Postpublished at 25 mins

    Argentina 0-0 Croatia

    Argentina having a moment now.

    Nicolas Tagliafico gets in down the left to slide and dig out a cross but there is no team-mate in the middle to capitalise.

    Soon after, Julian Alvarez fires a shot from range that Dominik Livakovic needs a couple of touches to gather.

  10. Postpublished at 19:24 Greenwich Mean Time 13 December 2022

    Argentina 0-0 Croatia

    Shamoon Hafez
    BBC Sport at Lusail Stadium

    Journalists keep stretching over to see where Lionel Messi is and what he is doing.

    Thankfully, he looks OK at the moment.

    Keep an eye on him though.

  11. Postpublished at 19:23 Greenwich Mean Time 13 December 2022

    Argentina 0-0 Croatia

    Alan Shearer
    Former England striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

    For the last two or three minutes, we have seen Messi run quickly with those little feet of his and try to find that one two off off Alvarez and he did that. Nothing came of it this time but just the signs that it may be opening up a little bit.

    Lionel MessiImage source, Getty Images
  12. Postpublished at 23 mins

    Argentina 0-0 Croatia

    It's amazing just how much a lightning rod Messi is for the crowd. They feed entirely off the mere possibility of what he might do.

    His first touch is like the Stones or Beatles playing the first recognisable note of one of their big hits.

  13. Postpublished at 19:22 Greenwich Mean Time 13 December 2022

    Argentina 0-0 Croatia

    Alan Shearer
    Former England striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

    I'm just looking at Messi there and sometimes you can look at a player and think he's not moving too well but he does walk around and try and ghost into the game and then all of a sudden he's got that little spring in his step.

  14. Postpublished at 22 mins

    Argentina 0-0 Croatia

    He's moving better now.

    He gathers to ball and tries to find Nicolas Tagliafico in the box but his pass is cut out.

    Messi came to life then and with it the crowd.

    Lionel Messi runs away from Matteo KovacicImage source, Getty Images
  15. Postpublished at 22 mins

    Argentina 0-0 Croatia

    One thing you do know for sure, Messi will be left on there until he absolutely cannot possibly continue.

  16. Postpublished at 21 mins

    Argentina 0-0 Croatia

    Messi has definitely been more of an observer than an active participant in this so far.

    That potential little limp is something to keep a very close eye on.

    Croatia continue to dominate possession.

    Lionel Messi is feeling his left hamstringImage source, Getty Images
  17. Postpublished at 19:19 Greenwich Mean Time 13 December 2022

    Argentina 0-0 Croatia

    Jermaine Jenas
    Former England midfielder on BBC TV

    Lionel Messi is just stretching his hamstring.

  18. Messi's 'struggling' - the no 10 is stretching his hamstringpublished at 19:19 Greenwich Mean Time 13 December 2022

    Argentina 0-0 Croatia

    Rob Green
    Former England goalkeeper on BBC Radio 5 Live

    Messi is stretching his hamstring, he's struggling.

  19. Postpublished at 20 mins

    Argentina 0-0 Croatia

    Is... is Lionel Messi limping?

    This would be a plot twist.

    Lionel Messi feels his left hamstringImage source, Getty Images
  20. Postpublished at 19:19 Greenwich Mean Time 13 December 2022

    Argentina 0-0 Croatia

    Rob Green
    Former England goalkeeper on BBC Radio 5 Live

    Looking at Croatia, we are not surprised at how good they are on the ball but it is surprising how comfortable they have been in the game and how much possession they have been allowed in the Argentinean half without being overly threatening but they have still kept the ball and kept passing it and kept probing.