A Lionel Messi inspired Argentina swept Croatia aside 3-0 at the Lusail Stadium to secure their place in the final of the 2022 Qatar World Cup.
But where does this rather one-sided victory rank among the biggest in the long history of World Cup semi-finals?
Only on four occasions during the tournament’s near-100 year history has a team won their last-four clash by more than three-goal margin. Argentina, meanwhile, are the first ever to do so while keeping a clean sheet; Lionel Scaloni’s well-drilled side restricting a toothless Croatia to just two shots on target throughout the 90 minutes.
Lionel Messi and Julian Alvarez shine as Argentina thrash Croatia 3-0
Brazil hammered France 5-2 in the semi-finals of the 1958 World Cup; a young whippersnapper by name of Pele becoming the first and still-only player ever to hit a hat-trick at such a stage.
Hungary, however, went one better; smashing Sweden 5-1 in 1938 before going on to lose the final to Italy. Uruguay and West Germany won their respective semis with a five-goal margin in 1954 and 1930 respectively. Austria and Yugoslavia found themselves on the receiving end of 6-1 scorelines.
The biggest semi-final victory in World Cup history, however, is one that still haunts the dreams of every Brazilian supporter from Salvador to Sao Paulo. At their iconic Maracana Stadium, the host nation were torn limb from limb by a rampant Germany on home soil. Andre Schurrle and Toni Kroos scored twice apiece. Thomas Muller, Sami Khedira and Miroslav Klose also hit the target as Joachim Low’s eventual champions crushed Brazil by seven goals to one.
They were 5-0 up after less than half an hour too.
Record holders Germany
“Who is responsible? Who is responsible for picking the team? I am. It’s me,” Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari sighed after perhaps the most humiliating evening in Brazil’s storied footballing history.
“The catastrophic result can be shared by the whole group. And my players will tell you we will share our responsibilities. But who decided the tactics? I did. So the person responsible is me. This was the worst day of my life. But life goes on. I’ll be remembered probably because I lost 7-1. The worst defeat Brazil have ever had.”
As excellent as Argentina were on Tuesday night, succeeding where rivals Brazil failed as Julian Alvarez and the masterful Messi ran riot, Germany’s stunning semi-final record never looked in danger.
Who knows? Maybe it’s a record destined never to be beaten.
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