First replacing at the start of the World Cup in Qatar, Julian Alvarez supplanted Lautaro Martinez to settle in attack alongside Lionel Messi. Author of a complete match against Croatia (3-0), with a double on his counter, the striker embodies both the present and the future of Argentina, finalist of the 2022 World Cup.
In team sports, it is impossible to win alone. That’s what all coaches hammer home. However brilliant he may be, Lionel Messi can only count on himself to win this World Cup in Qatar, which has always been refused to him. He needs talented and efficient teammates. That’s good, these are traits that we find in Julian Alvarez.
The young player, aged 22, has a lot to do with Argentina’s qualification for the 2022 World Cup final. He who started the competition as a substitute is now a starter and second top scorer with four goals , behind Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé (five goals). Croatia could not cope with the phenomenon in the semi-finals.
Croatia did not resist him
Julian Alvarez bent the vice-world champions in five minutes. Launched in depth, the attacker took advantage of a misguided defense to present himself against Dominik Livakovic, erase him from a large bridge and cause a fault. Leo Messi was responsible for converting the penalty (34th).
Then, the former River Plate player made his speed speak by going up the ball alone for 50 meters and blasting a Croatian rearguard on the back. Julian Alvarez benefited from a first favorable counter in front of Josip Juranovic, then a second in front of Borna Sosa, before beating Livakovic closely (39th).
In the second half, the striker completed Croatia’s last hopes by scoring again, after a fine number from Messi in the area (69th). The Man of the Match title went to the “Pulga”, but he certainly wouldn’t have sworn in the hands of Julian Alvarez. The Argentinian hurt a lot of Croats unable to react.
Lautaro Martinez supplanted by the Citizen
Impressive in his debut with El Millonario (nickname of River Plate), Julian Alvarez convinced coach Lionel Scaloni to call him up for this 2022 World Cup. The technician probably did not ignore the player’s good performance in Manchester either. City, his new club where, despite big competition and a substitute status, he has been doing well since August (7 goals in 20 appearances).
At the start of the World Cup, Lionel Scaloni hesitated between Lautaro Martinez and Julian Alvarez to accompany Lionel Messi in attack, with a small preference for the Inter Milan striker. Martinez started in the lost match against Saudi Arabia (2-1), then against Mexico. It was just after leaving the field and the entry into play of Alvarez that Argentina took over against the Mexicans (2-0). Since then, the Argentine organization has changed… with formidable efficiency.
Now holder, Julian Alvarez scored a goal against Poland (2-0), then against Australia in the round of 16 (2-1). Facing the Netherlands (2-2, 4 shots on goal to 3), he did not score, but he retained the confidence of his coach. With the success that we know against the Croats. Difficult to imagine it elsewhere than on the ground, Sunday, December 18, during the final of this World Cup against France or Morocco.
The hunter, focused on the quest for a third world title for his country, said to himself ” happy on a personal level and for the group ” at the end of the semi-final. But ” now you have to rest », « we hope to have a great match “, he added. The mission is not over yet. Captain Messi and his sidekick Alvarez still have a step to take.