
The clash between the Albiceleste and Croatia remained goalless for over 30 minutes before the Argentina captain Lionel Messi opened the scoring from the penalty spot (34'). Julian Álvarez doubled the lead before half-time on 39 minutes and the South American striker went on to make it 3-0 on 69 minutes.
Werkself player Exequiel Palacios replaced Rodrigo de Paul on 74 minutes and he helped to secure the result that puts the Albiceleste in a World Cup final for the sixth time.
In the 2022 World Cup final on Saturday 17 December (kick-off: 16.00 CET), Palacios and Co. will play the winners of the second semi-final between France and Morocco. That game kicks off at 20.00 CET tonight Wednesday 14 December.
Sardar Azmoun with Iran and Piero Hincapie with Ecuador went out of the competition at the group stage of the 2022 World Cup. Jeremie Frimpong and the Netherlands lost 3-2 in the quarter-finals against finalists Argentina.

Bayer 04 have ended Artem Stepanov’s loan deal at Nürnberg and agreed a new loan to Utrecht in the Netherlands. The Ukrainian striker did not play as much as hoped for at the Bundesliga 2 club and will now continue his development in the Eredivisie for the rest of 2025/26.
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Following on from the emotional last-minute win at Union Berlin, the Bayer 04 Women now face a promoted team: On Saturday, 31 January (12:00 CET), coach Roberto Pätzold's team welcome FC Nürnberg to the Ulrich Haberland Stadium for their first home game of the new year. In their second season in the Bundesliga, the Franconians have impressed with 16 points from the first 15 games.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen have extended the contract with Germany U19 international Montrell Culbreath. The attacking midfielder and right winger has penned a deal with the Bundesliga club that runs to 30 June 2030. Culbreath has played for the Werkself as a youth player since 2023. Last December, he scored his first Bundesliga goal for the Leverkusen first team in the Bayer 04 3-1 away win at RB Leipzig.
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The Werkself's 3-0 victory over Villarreal in the UEFA Champions League certainly left many happy faces: Malik Tillman was delighted with his brace, Robert Andrich with the clean sheet and coach Kasper Hjulmand with the "manner" of this significant home win. With an overwhelming superiority and over 75 per cent possession at times, Bayer 04 deserved their place in the UCL play-off round. They will face a familiar foe in February. The Werkself review.
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