World Cup news: Alvarez 12-1 to be top Argentina scorer after Croatia double

Two goals in Argentina’s 3-0 World Cup semi-final win over Croatia on Tuesday have left Julian Alvarez as a 12-1 shot with bet365 to finish as his nation's leading goalscorer at the tournament.

The Manchester City striker, who had notched just three times in 12 appearances for Pep Guardiola’s side before heading to Qatar, stands on four goals, one behind Lionel Messi, who also netted a penalty in their comfortable success at Lusail Iconic Stadium.

Alvarez stormed through the Croatian defence to score his first shortly before half-time and was then on hand to apply the finishing touch after a mazy dribble from Messi provided him with the simplest of opportunities.

His other goals came in the 2-0 win over Poland and the 2-1 success against Australia in the round of 16.

The win over Croatia took Argentina to their sixth World Cup final and they will be looking for their third success when they return to the venue for Sunday’s final.

There had been concerns that Messi was nursing a hamstring injury - he was seen holding the back of his left leg at the start of the second half on Tuesday - but he is expected to be fit.

The Paris Saint-Germain star is 3-10 with Paddy Power to win the Golden Ball, which is awarded to the player of the tournament, and voted on by journalists once Fifa’s Technical Study Group has drawn up a shortlist.

Messi took the prize in 2014 before Argentina lost the final to Germany, and six of the last seven winners, including Luka Modric in 2018, have been on the losing side in the big game.

There has been no update on whether Gareth Southgate intends to step down from his position as England manager, but Newcastle boss Eddie Howe is 9-1 to be the next in charge after a number of prominent journalists and former players insisted that whoever takes the reins should be home-grown.

Two former Paris Saint-Germain managers, Argentinian Mauricio Pochettino and German Thomas Tuchel are ahead of Howe in the betting at 5-1 and 6-1.

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