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Argentina are leading Croatia 2-0 at half-time in the semi-finals of the 2022 FIFA World Cup and fans are wowed by Julian Alvarez's goal today (December 13).
Lionel Messi broke the deadlock for La Albiceleste from the penalty spot after Alvarez was fouled inside the area by Croatian goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic.
Alvarez then doubled Argentina's advantage with a superb individual goal, running half the length of the pitch before tapping home from close range.
With the Copa America champions leading 2-0 at the break, their place in the final is closer than ever. This is unless the Vatreni manage to score thrice in the second half while keeping their opponents quiet as well.
Argentinian fans are in dreamland right now and cannot stop raving about Alvarez's superb goal. They took to Twitter to heap praise on the Manchester City hitman.
Released by Messi on the halfway line, the striker darted forward, leaving a trail of defenders in his wake. He then benefitted from a deflection off Borna Sosa before firing into the net.
It was his third goal of the 2022 FIFA World Cup campaign, the most by an Argentine player aged 22 or under since Gonzalo Higuain in 2010. It was also his second in the knockout stages.
One fan called Alvarez the 'modern day Maradona', while another one was amazed by how he 'bulldozed his way through the Croatian defense'.
Here are some of the best Twitter reactions to the striker's goal:
Argentina are 45 minutes away from the 2022 FIFA World Cup final
It's hard to argue that Argentina were the better side in the first half of the 2022 FIFA World Cup semi-final against Croatia. As things stand, they are just 45 minutes away from reaching Sunday's showpiece clash.
Messi and Alvarez's goal have the Copa America champions comfortably up by 2-0, leaving Croatia with a mountain to climb after the break.
The Vatreni are known to fight right until the end. they have fought back from a deficit in their last two knockout games, but this just seems too much.
Barring another defensive collapse from Argentina, they are headed for a second World Cup final in three editions. This time, Messi will be hoping for better fortune than their 2014 loss against Germany.
