World Cup LIVE: Messi's Argentina beat Croatia for final place, plus France vs Morocco build-up

Summary

Build-up to France v Morocco in second semi-final at 19:00 GMT
'This will be my last World Cup' - Messi
Argentina beat Croatia 3-0 to reach World Cup final
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Live Reporting

Neil Johnston and Emma Smith

'How can you turn down Messi?'published at 11:10 Greenwich Mean Time 14 December 2022
James Maddison might be back in England after a frustrating World Cup, but the Leicester player is enjoying watching Lionel Messi.
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'Messi would snap your hand off to win the World Cup'published at 11:08 Greenwich Mean Time 14 December 2022
Argentina 3-0 Croatia
Rob Green
Former England goalkeeper on BBC Radio 5 Live
If you asked Lionel Messi if he wanted to be the best in the world or if he wants that medal, he would want that medal on Sunday. One takes care of the other.
I think that's the answer. He would snap your hand off for a World Cup winners medal now. For someone who has done so much for football.
Alvarez is living his 12-year-old self's dreampublished at 11:04 Greenwich Mean Time 14 December 2022
Argentina 3-0 Croatia
As Lionel Messi prepares for what he has said will be his last World Cup game, the future of Argentine football looks bright in Julian Alvarez.
The 22-year-old Manchester City striker shone alongside his idol at the Lusail Stadium on Tuesday, scoring a brace and even getting an assist from the man he idolised as a child.
In getting his fourth goal of the tournament, Alvarez is now tied with Gonzalo Higuain (at South Africa 2010) for most goals scored by an Argentina men's player in a single World Cup, aged 22 or younger.
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Postpublished at 10:59 Greenwich Mean Time 14 December 2022
It's approaching 2pm in Qatar. Just eight hours until the second semi-final between France and Morocco kicks-off.
Who will meet Argentina in Sunday's showpiece?
Thumbs up for Morocco. Down for France.
Buenos Aires scenespublished at 10:57 Greenwich Mean Time 14 December 2022
From above, the sight of Argentina fans celebrating their progress to the World Cup final in the capital city of Buenos Aires is impressive, but at street level those scenes of pure joy are something else.
Just imagine the scenes back home if Messi & Co win a first World Cup since 1986.
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty Images
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Get Involvedpublished at 10:53 Greenwich Mean Time 14 December 2022
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GoGunners: Di Maria went straight to the Croatia bench to congratulate Modric after the whistle. Fabulous gesture Angel.
Image source, Getty Images
Six finals for Argentinapublished at 10:48 Greenwich Mean Time 14 December 2022
FT: Argentina 3-0 Croatia
Argentina
2014 runners-up
Image source, Reuters
Argentina have now reached the World Cup final for the sixth time, doing so in two of the last three editions of the competition (also in 2014) – only Germany (8) have reached more finals in the competition than Argentina (6 – level with Italy and Brazil).
They are just the second team in World Cup history to win two different semi-finals by a 3+ goal margin (also Germany), with Argentina also winning 6-1 versus USA in 1930. This was the biggest World Cup semi-final victory while keeping a clean sheet.
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Indisputable GOAT?published at 10:42 Greenwich Mean Time 14 December 2022
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Marc: Indisputable GOAT, the debate is over. An absolute joy to watch & we should all make the most of the next year or two before he retires! Most neutral fans will want Argentina to win it because of Messi! (As a Villa fan I am also supporting Emi Martinez.)
'Argentina going for eternal glory'published at 10:38 Greenwich Mean Time 14 December 2022
Argentina 3-0 Croatia
BBC Monitoring
The world through its media
Image source, Reuters
Argentina's newspapers are unsurprisingly full of praise for Lionel Scaloni's side after they reached the World Cup final yesterday.
“Argentina is going for eternal glory”, newspaper Clarin, external’s online headline read. They celebrate the "perfect alchemy" made in "Scaloni’s laboratory" with the "magic of Messi".
Scaloni gets plenty of credit alongside Messi, with the paper praising the manager for “changing the system and, once again, he got it right”.
However, there is acknowledgement "it was all maximised by the genius of the captain, who played another historic game.
“Everything is easier if you have Messi in Messi mode".
Messi was in a "state of grace with the Argentine national team", TyC Sports, external added, earning a "goal, an assist and a ticket to the grand finale of the World Cup" after another "night of glory".
Watch: Joyous scenes in Buenos Airespublished at 10:34 Greenwich Mean Time 14 December 2022
Media caption,
Fans in Buenos Aires celebrate Argentina reaching World Cup final
Drums, flags, singing, dancing...there were joyous scenes on the streets of Buenos Aires to mark Argentina reaching the World Cup final. Will there be further celebrations on Sunday?
'Ridiculous from Messi'published at 10:30 Greenwich Mean Time 14 December 2022
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Get Involvedpublished at 10:26 Greenwich Mean Time 14 December 2022
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Butchy: Sit back and savour that 3rd goal. A genius at work and schooling one of the best young defender's at the World Cup. Pure class.
'Last dance until music stops'published at 10:23 Greenwich Mean Time 14 December 2022
Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer at Lusail Stadium
Image source, Reuters
Lionel Messi's last dance will continue until the music stops in Qatar on Sunday as he now stands just 90 minutes away from the ultimate accolade of having a World Cup forever attached to his name.
Just like Diego Maradona stamped himself indelibly on Argentina's 1986 win in Mexico and Brazil striker Ronaldo wrote a redemption story in Yokohama in their 2002 triumph, this will be known as Messi's World Cup if he inspires victory against either France or Morocco in the final.
Suarez gives Messi his flowerspublished at 10:18 Greenwich Mean Time 14 December 2022
Argentina 3-0 Croatia
Luis Suarez has shared some high praise for his former team-mate, Lionel Messi.
The 35-year-old Uruguayan striker spent five seasons alongside Messi at Barcelona, where he won four La Liga titles and one Champions League.
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Argentina all-nighterpublished at 10:14 Greenwich Mean Time 14 December 2022
The crowds swarmed around the Obelisk landmark in central Buenos Aires to celebrate Argentina reaching the World Cup final...
Image source, Getty Images
...and they just didn't leave.
Image source, Getty Images
'I hope the people in Argentina enjoy themselves'published at 10:10 Greenwich Mean Time 14 December 2022
Argentina
2014 runners-up
More from Lionel Messi, who says this is his final World Cup:
"We are going to do our best, as we have done up until now, so that this time it really happens - we really win it," he added.
"I have been enjoying it the past few years, being with the national side. I am really enjoying everything that is happening to us.
"To get the Copa America, to reach the World Cup with 36 games unbeaten, and to finish all that trajectory in a final is just incredible.
"I hope the people in Argentina enjoy themselves and what we are doing. They shouldn't doubt we are giving absolutely everything."
'Keep your heads up, guys!'published at 10:06 Greenwich Mean Time 14 December 2022
Argentina 3-0 Croatia
BBC Monitoring
The world through its media
There is a sense of acceptance in the Croatian press today, following their semi-final defeat to Argentina.
"Argentina was too strong, but keep your heads up, guys! Let's win bronze on Saturday," Croatian website Vecernji list said, external.
"The match was lost in a brief period of the first half, when Argentina scored two goals," public broadcaster HRT reported, external. "The Croatian dream is over."
Others, while acknowledging the quality of Argentina's stars, question the officiating after the South Americans took the lead through a first half penalty.
"Croatia is left without a big final! It was impossible to stand against Messi in this form or against referee Orsato," the Jutarnji list website noted, external.
Image source, Getty Images
Modric's World Cup dream overpublished at 10:01 Greenwich Mean Time 14 December 2022
Argentina 3-0 Croatia
While Lionel Messi's World Cup dream remains very much alive, that of Luka Modric is now over.
The 37-year-old has played in four World Cups for his country, reaching the last four in the previous two.
In 2018 he was pivotal in steering Croatia to a first world final, while being named player of the tournament in Russia on his way to the Ballon d'Or.
Last night may not be goodbye to Modric on the World Cup stage - there is Saturday's third place play-off. But that is hardly the farewell he would have wanted.
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty Images
End of Croatia's golden generation?published at 09:57 Greenwich Mean Time 14 December 2022
FT: Argentina 3-0 Croatia
Croatia
Image source, Reuters
Croatia manager Zlatko Dalic about whether it is the end of their golden generation: "Perhaps this is the end of the generation of the World Cups, a couple have reached an age and we have to see what happens in 2026.
"We have had a great team and this generation will finish off their career at Euro 2024. We have the Nations League and an excellent generation who reached two semi-finals."
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Get Involvedpublished at 09:51 Greenwich Mean Time 14 December 2022
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Marble: I am not a fan of Argentina but watching them slip through the gears as this World Cup has progressed has all the hallmarks of a great football team.