Lionel Messi has revealed he studied Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic's penalty saves ahead of Argentina's victory on Tuesday.
Captain Messi, 35, scored from the spot in the 3-0 win to help Argentina reach their sixth World Cup final. Lionel Scaloni's side will take on champions France at the Lusail Stadium on Sunday, with Messi aiming to win his first world title at his fifth and final attempt.
Paris Saint-Germain star Messi has been arguably the best player at the World Cup after scoring five goals and providing three assists. The seven-time Ballon d'Or winner has worked tirelessly - both on and off the pitch - to ensure Argentina are successful in Qatar.
Speaking after his country's win against Croatia, Messi admitted that he studied Livakovic's technique with Argentina's first-choice goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez - who is nicknamed "Dibu" in his homeland - and reserve stopper Geronimo Rulli of Villarreal.
Messi's penalty against Livakovic was as emphatic as they come, as he hammered the ball into the top corner. It was completely different to spot kick he scored in the shootout win against the Netherlands, when he calmly rolled the ball into the net.
"I studied Croatia's goalkeeper technique with Dibu and Rulli," said Messi. "We talked how he waits for you to the end, the best option was to shoot as soon as possible instead of taking time. Went they wait too much, it's f***** up. I decided to shoot that way."
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Messi was right to do his research on Livakovic after the goalkeeper saved three penalties in Croatia's shootout victory against Japan in the last 16. The Dinamo Zagreb stopper also denied Rodrygo in the shootout win against Brazil in the quarter-finals.
The decision to award Argentina a penalty against Croatia was controversial. Livakovic was judged to have fouled Julian Alvarez, yet some fans and pundits believe the goalkeeper did not intentionally collide with the Manchester City striker.
"This is not a penalty," Gary Neville told ITV. "What else can he do? He has to make that motion to try and save the ball, he plants his feet. If he’d carried on running out and taken out Alvarez then fair enough, but he stops before it and I don’t know if that’s a penalty."
Ian Wright added: "When you look at it, the centre forward, he’s actually mis-kicked it to be honest. If he hits it and it goes into the goal, the goalkeeper can’t do anything like you say, he’s stopped... The referee didn't have a look, I can't understand it."
Regardless of whether it was a penalty, Argentina will play in Sunday's World Cup final. It completes a remarkable turnaround for the South American champions, who suffered a shock 2-1 defeat to Saudi Arabia in their opening match of the tournament.
Messi has urged his team-mates to beat France and finish the job. "We have played five finals and have won five finals," he told reporters. "I hope this will be the way in the final game. We were confident we would make it as we knew what we are capable of."
