South American champions Argentina advanced to the final of the 2022 FIFA World Cup after defeating Croatia 3-0 on Tuesday night.
La Albiceleste were without regular full-backs Gonzalo Montiel and Marcos Acuna due to suspension after accumulation of yellow cards, while Lionel Messi and Julian Alvarez continued to lead the line.
The Chequered Ones, meanwhile, were unchanged, as the front trio of Ivan Perisic, Andrej Kramaric and Mario Pasalic prevailed in the attack
Zlatko Dalic's charges had prolonged spells of possession in the early stages but they could not progress past Argentina, who kept their shape well in their own half.
However, Lionel Scaloni's men grew in the game and their pressure going forward eventually yielded a penalty shortly after the half-hour mark after goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic clattered into Alvarez in the box.
Messi stepped up and fired Argentina into the lead with unstoppable strike beyond the out-stretched arm of Livakovic and into the top corner.
Desperate to respond, Croatia were caught on a counter-attack just before the halftime break and conceded the second goal after Messi released Alvarez from the half-way line and the Manchester City forward weaved past a couple of challenges, before poking a strike home from a kind deflection.
Dalic tried to take the game to Argentina after the interval with a tactical change that saw defender Borna Sosa make way for forward Mislav Orsic.
However, it was the South American champions who carved the clearer chances with the space behind the Croatia defence, as just before the hour-mark, Messi drew fine save from Livakovic at the near post after exchanging passes with Alvarez.
Argentina had more confidence going forward as the half went, with Alvarez eventually putting the game to bed in the last 21 minutes with a tap-in after Messi worked his magic to escape challenges before delivering a decisive cut-back on the byline.
With the Chequered Ones barely threatening goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez in goal, Argentina were emboldened to rest some key players, as Alvarez made way in the closing stages for Paulo Dybala.
La Albiceleste looked more threatening to run riot in the dying minutes, as they booked their spot in the final for the first time since 2014 and will await the winner between France and Morocco in the other semi-final on Wednesday evening.
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