DOHA: An inspired Lionel Messi scored from the penalty spot and Julian Alvarez struck twice as Argentina beat Croatia 3-0 on Tuesday to reach their second World Cup final in eight years.
The two-times world champions, backed by a huge majority of the crowd at the Lusail Stadium, produced their best display of the tournament to ensure they will meet the winner’s of Wednesday’s semifinal clash between holders France and Morocco in Sunday’s final.
Messi, 35, who suffered defeat to Germany in the 2014 final, is desperate to crown his extraordinary career by winning his first World Cup and bringing Argentina a third title to add to those won in 1978 and 1986.
And after getting his team on the way to victory with a perfectly struck first-half penalty he made sure of the win by brilliantly creating the third goal.
Croatia, runners-up in Russia four years ago, paid the price for some untypically poor defending as they went out in the last four for the second time after their 1998 loss to France in their maiden tournament.
It was not until the 25th minute when the game showed signs of life with a low pot shot from outside the box by Enzo Fernandez but Croatia keeper Dominik Livakovic did well to get across and keep it out.
It was a tight affair but then a simple lofted ball over the top from Fernandez caught out the Croatian defense, Alvarez latched on to it, knocking the ball past the advancing Livakovic who collided with the striker and Italian referee Daniele Orsato pointed to the spot.
Livakovic guessed correctly that Messi would go to his left but his dive was in vain as the Argentine’s sweetly struck drive flew high into the net to put his side 1-0 up in the 34th minute.
It was Messi’s fifth goal of the tournament, making him joint top-scorer with France’s Kylian Mbappe. His 11th career goal — in a record-equalling 25th World Cup appearance — also took him past Gabriel Batistuta as Argentina’s all-time World Cup top scorer.
Five minutes later, Argentina doubled their lead when, after a break from a corner, Alvarez picked the ball up inside his own half and began a long dribble goalwards.
With the Croatian defense backing off, Alvarez rode weak challenges from Josip Juranovic and Borna Sosa and then slipped the ball past Livakovic to send the heavily Argentine crowd into delirium.
Alexis Mac Allister then went close with an angled header from a corner, forcing a fine save out of Livakovic to avoid a third.
All Croatia could muster in response, before the break, was a low Juranovic cross-shot that Emiliano Martinez reacted well to.
Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic responded with a double substitution at the break, introducing Nikola Vlasic and Mislav Orsic, and five minutes later and threw on striker Bruno Petkovic.
They were positive moves but still Argentina looked the more dangerous with Messi, after a swift exchange with Fernandez, forcing a save at the near post.
Messi saved his best for last though, tormenting Josko Gvardial down the right before leaving the 20-year-old defender behind and pulling the ball back to Alvarez who coolly slotted home.
Croatia were finished but it was clear that Argentina and Messi are peaking just in time for the biggest game of their lives.
Messi and Alvarez fire Argentina past Croatia into World Cup final
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Messi and Alvarez fire Argentina past Croatia into World Cup final
- Livakovic guessed correctly that Messi would go to his left but his dive was in vain as the Argentine’s sweetly struck penalty flew high into the net to put his side 1-0 up
- Julian Alvarez rode weak challenges from Josip Juranovic and Borna Sosa and then slipped the ball past Livakovic for Argentina’s second
Donovan Mitchell scores 43 and Cavaliers beat the Pacers 126-104 to cut series deficit to 2-1
INDIANAPOLIS: Donovan Mitchell had 43 points and nine rebounds, and the finally full-strength Cleveland Cavaliers beat Indiana 126-104 on Friday night to cut the Pacers’ lead to 2-1 in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
The road team has won all three games in the series, and the Pacers will have another chance to break that trend Sunday in Game 4.
Cleveland was desperate to avoid falling into a 3-0 hole and used everything in its arsenal to hold on this time — making 14 3-pointers, holding a 56-37 rebounding edge, even relying on zone defense to slow down the high-scoring Pacers.
And with NBA Defensive Player of the Year Evan Mobley, All-Star guard Darius Garland and key backup De’Andre Hunter all suited up after missing Game 2, Mitchell got the support he needed.
Max Strus made four 3-pointers and finished with 20 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. Three other Cleveland players also scored in double figures on a night the Cavs led by as much 26, never trailed and managed to protect their late lead when the Pacers cut the deficit to 11 early in the fourth.
Bennedict Mathurin led the Pacers with 23 points. Pascal Siakam had 18 and Tyrese Haliburton finished with four points and five assists in his first career home loss in a postseason game he’s appeared.
The most physical of the three games resulted in players routinely sprawled on the floor. Hunter turned into a hard shoulder after making a basket early in the second quarter, a collision that nearly knocked him down, and Mitchell took a nasty spill into the front-row seats while being called for an offensive foul.
Tempers also flared at times with the Pacers drawing five technical fouls, one for a delay of game.
On the court, though, Cleveland controlled most of the game after breaking a 36-36 tie with a 25-4 run that helped push the Cavs to a 66-45 halftime cushion.
Indiana cut it to 80-65 midway through the third quarter and looked ready to pull off another fourth-quarter rally when Siakam’s 3 with 8:24 to play made it 104-93. But Mitchell and Strus answered with back-to-back 3s to lead a game-sealing charge.
Iraq hire former Australia boss Graham Arnold as head coach
- Arnold left Australia in September
- Iraq are third in Group B of Asian qualifying for the 2026 World Cup
BAGHDAD: Iraq hired former Australia boss Graham Arnold as head coach of their national team on Friday.
Arnold left Australia in September after six years in charge during which he took the Socceroos to the last 16 of the 2022 World Cup, where they lost to eventual winners Argentina.
Iraq are third in Group B of Asian qualifying for the 2026 World Cup and Arnold will start with two crucial games against leader South Korea in Basra on June 5 and second-placed Jordan in Amman five days later.
Six points from these two matches would seal Iraq’s place at the tournament for the first time since their 1986 debut.
Lebanon welcomes Saudi basketball delegation
- The arrival of Al-Ittihad marks significant step following Beirut’s efforts to rebuild international trust
- Lebanese PM Salam welcomes Saudi team ‘to your second home’ after travel ban lifted
BEIRUT: Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ittihad Jeddah Basketball Club landed in Beirut on Friday afternoon, arriving from the Red Sea city on a Middle East Airlines flight.
This marks the first time Saudi nationals have visited Lebanon since the Kingdom’s authorities imposed a travel ban on citizens heading to the country in 2019.
Lebanon’s Prime Minister Nawaf Salam welcomed the Saudi team.
“This is a visit filled with hope for increased cooperation in various fields, and an opportunity to strengthen the fraternal relations between Lebanon and Saudi Arabia,” he said.
“Welcome to your second home, and among your people.”
Lebanon’s Youth and Sports Minister Nora Bayrakdarian was at Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport to receive the Saudi sports delegation.
Al-Ittihad is participating in the FIBA West Asia Super League final eight, alongside teams from Kuwait, the UAE, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, and two teams from Lebanon —Al-Riyadi and Sagesse SC — in matches from May 10-18.
The UAE lifted its travel ban on its citizens visiting Lebanon, and Emirati travelers began arriving in the Mediterranean country at the beginning of this week.
Lebanon is eagerly anticipating the return of other Gulf nationals, particularly in light of President Joseph Aoun’s recent visits to Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi, aimed at restoring international trust in the country.
On May 7, an Emirates plane landed at Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport, and the passengers from the UAE were welcomed with flowers.
At the time, the Lebanese ambassador to the UAE, Fouad Chehab Dandan, posted pictures of the warm reception on his Facebook account.
The ambassador commented: “A step that brings hope for the return of our Arab brothers to their second home, Lebanon, which will welcome and receive them with flowers, warmth, and love.”
FIFA Women’s World Cup to be expanded to 48 teams from 2031
- The 48-team tournament will adopt a 12-group format, increasing the total number of matches from 64 to 104
- The 2027 tournament in Brazil will remain at 32 teams
PARIS: The Women’s World Cup will be expanded from 32 to 48 teams, like the men’s competition, starting with the 2031 edition, FIFA announced on Friday.
The FIFA Council unanimously agreed to enlarge the competition “given the remarkable recent strides made by women’s football across the world,” the sport’s governing body said in a statement.
The 48-team tournament will adopt a 12-group format, increasing the total number of matches from 64 to 104 and extending the tournament by one week, FIFA said.
FIFA have still to ratify the 2031 and 2035 hosts.
The 2027 tournament in Brazil will remain at 32 teams.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino said the move followed the success of the 2023 World Cup in Australia won by Spain.
The 2023 tournament was “the first in which teams from all confederations won at least one game and teams from five confederations reached the knockout stage, among many other records, set a new standard for global competitiveness,” said Infantino.
“This decision ensures we are maintaining the momentum in terms of growing women’s football globally.
“This is not just about having 16 more teams playing ... but taking the next steps in relation to the women’s game in general by ensuring that more FIFA Member Associations have the chance to benefit from the tournament to develop their women’s football structures.”
The decision, FIFA said, will broaden representation, offering more nations and players access to elite competition and accelerating investment in women’s football worldwide.
The men’s tournament will be expanded to 48 teams for the World Cup in 2026, to be hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Liverpool’s Salah voted Football Writers’ Player of the Year
- Salah earned the prize after scoring 28 goals and producing 18 assists for Liverpool
- The Egypt forward broke the record for the most goal involvements
LONDON: Mohamed Salah won the Football Writers’ Association Player of the Year award for the third time on Friday after inspiring Liverpool’s march to a record-equalling 20th English title.
Salah earned the prize after scoring 28 goals and producing 18 assists for Liverpool in the Premier League this season.
The Egypt forward broke the record for the most goal involvements in a 38-game Premier League campaign as Arne Slot’s side romped to their first title since 2020.
Salah secured almost 90 percent of the football writers’ votes, marking the biggest winning margin this century.
Liverpool center-back Virgil van Dijk came second in the contest, with Newcastle striker Alexander Isak third and Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice fourth.
Salah, who was previously given the award in 2017-18 and 2021-22, is now level with former Arsenal forward Thierry Henry as the only players to win it three times.
The 32-year-old recently ended speculation over his future by signing a new two-year contract to stay at Anfield until 2027.
Salah’s decision to commit to Liverpool will make them favorites to win a record 21st title next season as they look to move ahead of Manchester United as England’s most successful top-flight club.
Alessia Russo became the second Arsenal player to land the women’s award as the striker finished ahead of last year’s winner Khadija Shaw.
