Argentina won FIFA World Cup
2022.12.18 14:29
Argentina won FIFA World Cup
Budrigannews.com – After Lionel Messi scored twice in a 3-3 draw that featured a hat trick from Kylian Mbappe as the holders recovered from a 2-0 deficit, Argentina won their third World Cup on penalties, defeating France 4-2.
One of the greatest finals of all time was one of the most extraordinary nights of drama, intense emotion, and shifting fortunes. The tournament’s two star players gave commanding performances on the biggest stage of all.
After Messi’s penalty and Angel Di Maria’s brilliant goal in the first half gave Argentina complete control, they appeared to be on their way to a one-sided victory. However, Mbappe converted a penalty in the 80th minute and scored an equalizer a minute later to send the game into extra time.
Argentina took the lead once more through Messi, but Mbappe equalized with a second penalty, becoming the second player since England’s Geoff Hurst in 1966 to score a hat trick in the World Cup final.
That sent the match into a penalty kick shootout, where Aurelien Tchouameni shot wide and Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez saved Kingsley Coman’s attempt. This gave Gonzalo Montiel the chance to win the game, which he gleefully took.
While France has lost three of five World Cup shootouts, with two of those losses coming in finals, Argentina has now won six of their seven shootouts, including the quarterfinal against the Netherlands a week ago, when they also lost a 2-0 lead.
It meant that the 35-year-old Messi won the trophy he wanted after his record 26th World Cup match, at the fifth and final time of asking. He was joined by Diego Maradona, the country’s first football god who led them to their emotional second victory in 1986 after their first victory in 1978.
Coming a month after his team suffered the statistically largest upset in World Cup history when they were defeated by Saudi Arabia, it seems even more incredible.
“I can’t believe we went through so much in a game that was perfect. Amazingly, this team responds to everything,” Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni stated.
“The work that they did makes me proud. This makes you feel emotional because of the blows we got today. I want to encourage people to take pleasure in this historic occasion for our nation.
There appeared to be little sprinkle of the show to come as Argentina ruled the main hour, surpassing and whipping a level French group looking to be quick to hold the title since Brazil a long time back.
After 23 minutes, the recalled Di Maria scored a goal after beating Ousmane Dembele and being fouled, which Messi converted.
After 36 minutes, Nahuel Molina, Messi, Julian Alvarez, and Alexis Mac Allister’s instinctive passing led to Di Maris scoring the second, one of the best goals ever scored in a final.
Before Nicolas Otamendi tripped Randal Kolo Muani in the 80th minute, France barely fired a shot, and Mbappe, who had been anonymous before, skillfully converted the penalty.
After cleverly combining with Marcus Thuram, he swept in a brilliant volley a minute later to bring the game level. This stunned the tens of thousands of Argentine fans who were watching their team lose two quick goals for the third time during the tournament.
Messi pounced on the rebound with a rare right-footed finish, technology confirming the ball had crossed the line, and Argentina regained the lead after a counterattack when the tireless Lautaro Martinez hit Hugo Lloris in the head.
However, the drama did not end there. In the 117th minute, Mbappe won a penalty with a shot against Montiel’s arm. He calmly converted it for an incredible hat trick and an eighth goal that topped the tournament.
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Both he and Messi converted the initial spot kicks of the shootout, but after that, they were forced to stand back and let their teammates decide their fate.
