ARGENTINA v CROATIA
INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLY
BOLEYN GROUND
WEDNESDAY 12 NOVEMBER 2014
KICK-OFF: 7.45PM
REFEREE: ANDRE MARRINER
Full-time score: Argentina 2-1 Croatia
FT: That's it and Argentina turn it around in the second period to claim victory over Croatia. The crowd came to see Messi and Tevez and they were not disappointed, with the No10 scoring the winner and Tevez coming on for the final 25 minutes. An entertaining evening all around.
90: Three minutes of added time await at the end of the second period.
89: Croatia keep the changes coming as they swap goalkeepers. Ivan Vargic on for Lovre Kalinic. He may only have a couple of minutes, but's a first senior cap for him so he'll no doubt relish the experience.
86: Four minutes remain for Croatia to find an equaliser. In truth they haven't threatened Sergio Romero's goal on a regular basis in this second period as Argentina have turned the game around.
84: Croatia subs - Marko Leskovic is replaced by Matej Mitrovic and Marko Rog is on for Duje Cop.
80: Sublime skill from Messi inside the area to shift the ball from one foot to the other and leave his marker in his wake. It opens up the shot and he gos for the bottom right corner but strikes the base of the post. So close.
76: Argentina make another couple of substitutions, with Erik Lamela replacing Angel Di Maria. Jonathan Silva replaces Christian Ansaldi. Lamela's welcome wasn't as warm as that for Tevez!
74: They're all getting in on the act now! Messi holds the ball up on the edge of the box with that wand of a left foot of his, before laying back to Mascherano, who brings a flying save from Kalinic with his rasping drive.
71: Croatia also make a change with Ivan Tomecak coming on for Hrvoje Milic.
70: Almost the moment the Boleyn Ground crowd craved as Tevez gets in down the right channel, but pulls his shot across goal and wide of the far post. Argentina also make a substitution with Roberto Pereyra on for Ever Banega.
67: Carlos Tevez gets up to win a header inside the penalty area, but the goalkeeper makes the save comfortably enough.
65: Croatia make their second change of the evening, as Mato Jajalo comes on to replace their goalscorer Anas Sharbini.
62: Another of tonight's star attractions enters the fray, as Carlos Tevez takes to the field in place of Sergio Aguero. It's fair to say his reception was a decent one!
57: Goal! Penalty to Argentina and Messi converts! The No10 played a central role in winning the spot kick, threading a wonderful ball through to Aguero, who was upended by goalkeeper Kalinic as he ran into the box. Andre Marriner points straight to the spot and Messi sends the ball into the bottom right-hand corner, the opposite way to the goalkeeper's dive.
55: Croatia's half-time sub Halilovic is already giving a livewire presence to their attack, with his bustling style carrying him across the pitch quickly.
52: Messi slips the ball through to Zabaleta with a delightful pass in the right channel, but the Manchester City man's touch is too heavy and Croatia run clear.
51: Ansaldi has another go and this time the ball loops up and away for a corner, which comes to nothing.
49: Goal! Argentina draw level. Christian Ansaldi lets fly from range and a huge deflection from Aguero takes it beyond Kalinic and into the net. I guess that will have to go down as Aguero's goal, even if he did not know too much about it!
47: Carlos Tevez heads along the touchline to warm-up for the first time and gets the warmest of receptions from the Hammers fans in attendance. Hopefully he'll be making his bow shortly.
8.46pm And we're back underway for the second period.
8.46pm The two teams are back on the pitch and Croatia have brought on Barcelona's Alen Halilovic for Mateo Kovacic.
HT: That's it for the first half. An entertaining 45 minutes of football and it's Croatia who lead at the interval thanks to Anas Sharbini's neatly-controlled shot into the bottom right corner. Messi has shown glimpses, but the underdogs are the ones who return to the dressing rooms the happier.
45: One minute of added time will be played at the end of the first half.
43: Half time is rapidly closing in and Mascherano tries to force the issue with a clipped ball over the top. However it is too strong for his forward and Kalinic gathers easily. Croatia defending well at the moment.
39: Free-kick to Argentina 22 yards out and it's that man Messi who's standing over it. He gets it up and over the wall, but without the power needed to beat Kalinic, who gets across his goal to save.
35: Almost the goal the crowd came for! Messi rolls a fantastic pass into Di Maria, who has to check inside the area. However, he spots Messi running off his left shoulder and plays the return ball. However, the angle is closing all the time and the shot crashes into the side netting.
31: Corner for Croatia, but Argentina head it clear at the near post and Kovacic is then penalised for handball on the edge of the area.
26: Now it's a Croatia player's turn to go over in the box and look longingly at Mr Marriner for a spot kick. This one is a wildly optimistic shout from Cop and certainly not a spot kick - not a fair cop.
23: Messi wants a penalty after Leovac and Sharbini dive in to try and thwart him in the box. Referee Andre Marriner sees nothing wrong and the ball squirts out for Aguero, who slams wide. The Albiceleste starting to press now.
22: Argentina keep up the pressure and Di Maria shoots from range, forcing Kalinic to tip the ball up and gather.
21: Close. Aguero takes the ball out of the sky with a stunning first touch and moves the ball onto his right foot before shooting powerfully towards goal. The effort is on target, but goalkeeper Kalinic dives to his left to turn it aside.
19: Messi makes an incisive pass into Aguero's feet. His first touch takes him back in towards the penalty box but he is stopped by a strong tackle on the edge of the area.
17: Chance for Argentina as Di Maria swings over a cross from the left which Aguero meets on the full. It's a decent contact but straight at Croatia keeper Kalinic, who saves.
15; Messi has the crowd over in the East Stand excited again with a turn which gets him away from his marker briefly. Croatia recover and the excitement passes quickly.
11: Goal! Croatia lead! Well, there's a turn up for the books. Kovacic makes a fine run though the Argentina midfield and passes square for Sharbini, whose first time finish is unerring and leaves Romero no chance in the Argentina goal as it nestles in the bottom right corner.
9: The flag kick isn't great and Croatia have the opportunity to break. They have the numbers, but Mascherano does well to hold the attack up and allow his teammates back into position.
8: Corner to Argentina after Di Maria's cross is blocked from the left wing. The Man Utd man delivers himself and it's another corner from the opposite side.
6: At the other end and Messi gets his first chance to run at the Croatian backline. He carries the ball across the face of the area and lays off for Perez, whose shot is dragged wide of the mark.
5: It's been a strong start from the visitors and they try to build an attack down the right again, but Vrsaljko's pass is just too strong for Cop and the ball runs away for a goal kick.
3: The first shooting opportunity of the evening falls to Croatia's Badelj, whose effort from 25 yards is deflected over the top after Vrsaljko's cross is half cleared by Zabaleta.
7.45pm Lionel Messi's name gets a rapturous reaction from the crowd as it's read out and we're underway.
7.43pm The teams are both out on the park, and after the national anthems of both nations we're ready for action.
7.35pm KIck-off is only ten minutes away and the crowd is building nicely at the Boleyn Ground, with fans young and old eager to glimpse Messi and co!
7.10pm Team news is in!
Argentina: Sergio Romero, Santiago Vergini, Christian Ansaldi, Pablo Zabaleta, Angel Di Maria, Enzo Perez, Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero, Javier Mascherano, Federico Fazio, Ever Banega
Subs: Willy Caballero, Nahuel Guzman, Lucas Biglia, Nicolas Otamendi, Gonzalo Higuain, Facundo Roncaglia, Martin Demichelis, Roberto Pereyra, Erik Lamela, Nicolas Gaitan, Javier Pastore, Carlos Tevez, Jonathan Silva
Croatia: Lovre Kalinic, Sime Vrsaljko, Marko Leskovic, TIn Jedvaj, Milan Badelj, Anas Sharbini, Duje Cop, Hrvoje Milic, Mateo Kovacic, Domagoj Antolic, Marin Loevac
Subs: Ivan Vargic, Matej Mitrovic, Alen Halilovic, Nikola Kalinic, Ivan Tomecak, Mato Jajalo, Ivan Strinic, Marko Rog
Good evening and welcome to our live coverage of this evening's international friendly between Argentina and Croatia.
This is only the third ever full international to be played at the Boleyn Ground, following England's 3-1 defeat to Australia in 2003 and Ivory Coast's 1-0 victory over Italy four years ago.
Carlos Tevez returns to the Boleyn Ground after being selected by Argentina for the first time since 2011, whilst this also represents an opportuntiy for east London's public to see Lionel Messi in action.
Croatia actually won the last meeting between the teams - a 3-2 success in 2006 - but with their focus on a Euro 2016 qualifier in Milan on Sunday, a repeat would defy the odds tonight.
Stay here for all the build-up to kick-off.