Lionel Messi’s first-half penalty began Argentina’s march to the World Cup last, turning what was anticipated to be a tense last-four encounter right into a quite one-sided affair, with Croatia shedding 3-0.
Messi and Julian Alvarez mixed to stave off any additional Croatian waves at this match and ended the 2018 World Cup finalists run.
But it surely was the contentious nature of the penalty that highlighted the refereeing controversies which have plagued this World Cup.
The incident came about within the thirty second minute. Enzo Fernandes, ine of Argentina’s regulars for the reason that defeat to Saudi Arabia, lobbed a gorgeous ball to Alvarez, who was neatly nestled between each the Croatian centre-backs. The ball was ok for Alvarez to have a transparent run at aim with solely keeper Livakovic to beat.Subscriber Solely StoriesPremiumPremiumPremiumPremium
Livakovic has been Croatia’s hero all through this match and together with Emiliano Martinez and Morocco’s Yassine Bounou, has been jostling for the goalkeeper of the match award.
This time although, he got here off his line to cease Alvarez. At this level the Manchester Metropolis striker tried to lob the ball over Livakovic and missed. Nevertheless, he did get a contact of the ball which took it away from the goalkeeper. Livakovic to his credit score stood his floor and didn’t appear to make any motion to impede Alvarez. However the Argentine striker clattered into the goalkeeper and whereas on the ground stretched his arms out. The referee obliged and a penalty was awarded to him. VAR checks sided with the referee.
ITV soccer pundit Gary Neville was clear that it wasn’t a penalty. “This isn’t a penalty. What else can he do?” Neville requested. “He has to make that movement to attempt to save the ball, he crops his ft. If he’d carried on working out and brought out Álvarez then truthful sufficient, however he stops earlier than it and I don’t know if that’s a penalty.”
With Neville within the studio was former referee Peter Walton who completely believed that it was Livakovic’s fault. “He’s difficult for the ball and misses the ball utterly, then catches the participant, the truth is what he’s accomplished there’s get within the path of that ahead and he’s impeded his progress, so it needs to be a foul,” mentioned Walton.
There’s additionally the character of when the aim occurred. The Croatian method over the previous two World Cup’s has been to take the sport to penalties the place a battle of will is usually received by them. A aim early within the recreation makes them utterly change their technique and chase the sport as an alternative.
“We conceded a aim, which was very suspicious. The state of affairs resulting in the penalty… it was somewhat too low cost, a bit too straightforward to be sincere,” mentioned Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic. “Our goalkeeper did what he did and these are the brand new guidelines. This aim took the match in a distinct course.”
That chase of the sport left them way more open than they’d ever be. It resulted in them crashing out of the match, taking place to the Argentines 3-0.