LIONEL Messi twisted and turned to leave Croatian defender Josko Gvardoil chasing his shadows and when Julian Alvarez turned in his low cross from the byline, the 35-year-old opened his arms in accepting the adulation of the Argentina supporters gathered behind that goal at the Lusail Stadium on Tuesday night.

Game, set, match.

Argentina had a three-goal lead with 20 minutes to go. They were heading to the final for Messi’s date with destiny; the deliverance of the title he and his nation have craved for so long here in Qatar.

Eight years on from their disappointment in the World Cup final against Germany in Brazil, there is a feeling that now is the time for their talisman to script the perfect ending. When the full time whistle blew on Argentina’s 3-0 win, Messi stood on the centre circle before his team-mates gathered around him. When he smiled for the world, perhaps the departed Diego Maradona, the man who led Argentina to their last title in 1986, smiled from the skies. On the touchline, Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni had tears in his eyes.

France or Morocco await in five days time at this very same venue after Argentina’s most convincing win so far at the tournament which also saw them gain a measure of revenge for their loss to the Croats by the same score in the group stage four years ago in Russia.

Once Messi and Argentina turned it on, there was no way back for Croatia. Perhaps they will rue the moment of madness from Dominik Livakovic that gave Argentina a penalty, coolly dispatched by Messi, and a foothold in this game after the half hour mark. It meant there was going to be no fairytale ending for a legend of their own; Luka Modric, their 37-year-old midfield warrior who was substituted with 10 minutes to go.

Even an hour before kickoff, Lusail felt like a cauldron burning in anticipation of what was to come. Another show of fireworks announced the commencement of the last-four stage but it was a cagey start; both teams looking to stay calculated, cohesive. There was no room on offer. Croatia had the possession; loads of it. But then, Livakovic — Croatia’s hero in their penalty shootout wins over Japan and Brazil on their way to the semi-final — erred with a cynical block on Alvarez who had been sent through by Enzo Fernandez.

On the opposite end, Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez couldn’t even bear to look. He kneeled on one leg, facing a sea of Argentina supporters, who had been in full voice well before the start. But when Messi’s penalty hit the roof of the net, those fans let out a roar of release. It was loud, it was deafening.

The goal, the lead, gave Argentina the impetus they needed; patience paying off, the final in sight. Croatia showed grit and resilience in coming back against both Japan and Brazil to force extra time. But this wasn’t their day and five minutes later, they were 2-0 down.

Alvarez received the ball in his own half from Fernandez and ran; the 22-year-old dribbled into the box through the centre before getting lucky with two ricochets, first off Josip Juranovic and then off Borna Sosa before slotting the ball past Livakovic. It was all in one motion; perhaps not as iconic a goal as the one scored by Maradona against England in 1986 but just as important.

The game was now Argentina’s to lose. Argentina had let a two-goal lead slip in their quarter-final against the Netherlands before prevailing in a penalty shootout here at Lusail. This time, they showed they had learnt their lesson; tightening the noose around Croatia and before Messi showed his class all over again to finish the game as a contest.

Published in Dawn, December 14th, 2022