adminDOHA. – It was always going to take something special to steal the limelight from Lionel Messi on the night he matched Lothar Matthaeus’s 25-match World Cup appearance record, but Julian Alvarez managed it, albeit with a bit of help from the great man.
Two goals on Tuesday thrust him into the spotlight.
He arrived in Qatar with three goals to his name and behind Lautaro Martinez in the pecking order to play alongside Messi.
Argentina’s stunning defeat by Saudi Arabia in the opener shook things up though and when he got his first start of the tournament in the third group game against Poland, he grabbed the opportunity by scoring in the 2-0 win.
He added another in the 2-1 win over Australia and on Tuesday became the youngest player to score two in a World Cup semifinal or final match since 17-year-old Pele in 1958, taking his international tally to seven and virtually securing him a starting berth in Sunday’s final.
“I’m happy personally and for the group,” he said.
“We have to rest, we hope to have a great game on Sunday. Calchin (his home town), like the whole country, must be going crazy. We are happy for what we are achieving and we are going for more.” – Reuters
Online Reporter