Peter Drury turned Messi reaching the World Cup final into a masterpiece, no one does it like him

Peter Drury gave the perfect monologue at the end of Argentina's World Cup semi-final win over Croatia, with Lionel Messi heading to his second final and Luka Modric's epic story in the competition coming to an end.

Messi and Modric shared the stage in international football for what could well be the final time on Tuesday night, as they both battled to make a second World Cup final.

The Argentina star had scored his first goal for his country against Croatia, in a friendly in 2006, which was the same game Modric made his debut.

16 years later and the loser knew it would be their last World Cup game of importance, with the third place play-off the last game either serial winner would want to be in.

It was Messi who would make it through to Sunday's final, where he and his teammates will face either France or Morocco.

The seven time Ballon d'Or winner wasn't necessarily at his best throughout the entire game, even showing signs of a potential injury from early in the first half, but still had a huge impact on the game.

He opened the scoring from the penalty spot, after Julian Alvarez had been brought down, and then made a mockery of Josko Gvardiol's standing as one of the best defenders of the tournament, with incredible skill that no defender could have stopped, setting up the third.

The final whistle confirmed that the PSG star will get the chance for redemption from the 2014 World Cup final and the opportunity to finally win the one competition that has so far eluded him during his incredible career.

The moment was given a real exclamation mark by Drury, who used his usual poetic commentary to sum everything up, including the end of Modric's challenge.

"Argentina will play the World Cup final," the iconic commentator began.

"At his own brilliant behest, Messi will play in the ultimate game. Lionel Messi has a shot at his crowning moment, as Luka Modric says farewell.

"Argentina, into the World Cup final for the sixth time.

"In a bittersweet moment of personalities, one great will get to glitter on the most shimmering stage of all, whilst the other must sidle away, head bowed.

"But it is about more than just two men, great though they are.

"Messi of course played his part, and more, with a penalty and some mercurial magic, but it is an Argentina team and an Argentina nation which celebrates a semi-final victory. A scoreline that reads Argentina 3-0 Croatia."

The two warriors, Messi and Modric, whose career paths have often crossed, show respect after the game. Image: Alamy

Drury's commentary has made him one of the most popular men in football, and he has an incredible knack of mixing poetic prose with the ability to know when to pause and allow the noise of the crowd to take over.

The 55-year-old always comes up with the perfect line, especially to sum up the action at full time and lead the narrative, but it rarely sounds contrived.

Not every commentator has received the love that Drury has during the tournament in Qatar, with fans questioning the use of Sam Matterface.

England's defeat by France in the quarter-finals was accompanied with criticism of the ITV lead commentator, especially following Harry Kane's missed penalty.