Soccer-Thousands flood Buenos Aires streets as Argentina reach World Cup final

Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 - Fans in Buenos Aires watch Argentina v Croatia - Buenos Aires, Argentina - December 13, 2022 Argentina fans celebrate after the match as Argentina progress to the final REUTERS/Agustin Marcarian

BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - Thousands of Argentines filled the streets of central Buenos Aires with blue-and-white banners on Tuesday as they watched Lionel Messi lead their team to a 3-0 win over Croatia and a place in the World Cup final.

The huge crowds around the Obelisco in the heart of the capital buzzed as Messi gave the South Americans the lead with an early penalty in Qatar before Julian Alvarez scored two more, the last following another dazzling Messi run.