Argentina 3-3 France AET (Argentina win 4-2 on penalties): Argentina and Messi win the 2022 World Cup following breathtaking final against France
Argentina won their first World Cup since 1986 4-2 on penalties following an enthralling 3-3 draw against France at the Lusail Stadium on Sunday.
Argentina were moments from winning the trophy in normal time following a Lionel Messi penalty and Ángel Di María’s fine finish in the first-half. With ten minutes to go they were pegged back by a quick-fire brace from the mercurial Kylian Mbappé, first from the spot and seconds later courtesy of a stunning volley.
Extra-time and the drama was not letting up. Messi put Argentina back in front in the 108th minute but a lapse of concentration from Argentina gifted France another penalty, which Mbappé converted two minutes from time.
The game went to penalties where Argentina finally got the win after a 4-2 triumph on penalties, with Kinglsey Coman and Aurélien Tchouaméni missing their spot-kicks. Finally for Argentina and finally for Lionel Messi, who his World Cup after all.
Angel Di Maria was the only change for Argentina today, with the Juventus midfielder making his first start since the group game against Poland. His experience at the age of 34 has been preferred to that of Leandro Paredes.
There was two changes for Didier Deschamps following their 2-0 victory over Morocco. Dayot Upamecano replaced the in-form Ibrahima Konaté at centre-half and Adrien Rabiot who was out through illness returned in place of Youssouf Fofana.
Argentina started on the front foot and forced France into some early, very uncharacteristic, errors. Theo Hernández passed straight to Lionel Messi five minutes in, and the Argentines looked to punish the error. La Pulga’s pass found Julián Álvarez with the latter setting up Alexis Mac Allister for a fierce shot that Hugo Lloris routinely collected.
France looked shaky and finally tilted when another costly error put them in all sorts of problems. Di Maria emphasised his inclusion with a mazy run on the left that the covering Ousmane Dembélé brought to a halt with a slight trip inside the box.
It was slightly contentious on early viewing, but Dembélé did just brush the back of the Argentines leg, leaving referee Szymon Marciniak no option but to point to the spot. Messi stepped up and with the calmness of a veteran stroked the ball past Lloris to put his side ahead.
Half an hour in and France were still waiting for their first chance of the game. Kylian Mbappé was nowhere to be seen and Argentina had full control of the tie.
Argentina’s grip over France and this game then became vice-like. Messi started the counter with a flick around the corner for Álvarez. The Manchester City youngster put Mac Allister through down the right channel and the Brighton man somehow spotted the run of of Di María at the back post with the Juventus man slamming home and giving his side a two-goal cushion. A team goal to admire and one of the great World Cup Final goals.
Deschamps had seen enough and hooked Dembélé and Giroud after that goal and brought on Marcus Thuram and Randal Kolo Muani in an attempt to save from France from utter capitulation. Argentina had the defending World Champions rattled and half-time was needed respite for the French.
France were out a few minutes before the restart and looked keen to amend for their dismal first half outing but still look consumed by the big occasion. Not something you associate with this French side.
Di María was involved again and played a slide rule ball into the path of Álvarez whose first time shot was comfortably saved by Lloris at his near post. Di María was on fire and moments later he weaved past Jules Koundé and squared for Messi at the back post but before the magic man could get his shot off he was snuffed out by Raphaël Varane. First class stuff from Argentina and last-ditch panic for France.
France were in complete disarray at the back and Mac Allister was again the beneficiary as he won the ball high up the pitch and played a one-two with Álvarez. Mac Allister was clean through on goal but a combination of Lloris and Upamecano halted the Argentine.
Substitute Kolo Muani finally had France’s first reasonable chance after 67 minutes. Antoine Griezmann’s corner found the head of the young striker at the near post but the header was tame and trickled wide of Emiliano Martínez’s post.
Ten minutes from time and Kolo Muani gave France a lifeline when he got goal side of Nicolás Otamendi and was brought down inside the box; penalty to France. Mbappé stepped up and smashed into the corner past Martínez.
That goal rejuvenated France and after seconds after the penalty Argentina collapsed in stunning fashion. Mbappé received the ball over the top from Thuram’s lofted ball and the PSG starlet struck an exquisite first-time volley that cannoned into the corner. A quickfire double from a player who was virtually unrecognisable for the whole game.
Both sides had chances to snatch victory at the death with Messi and Mbappé both going close, but extra-time beckoned in this enthralling game. .
Argentina looked dejected but began edging their way back into the game with a few half chances at the start of extra-time. France were happy to try and play on the counter but both sides looked very capable of sneaking a winner.
Substitute Lautaro Martínez thought he might have sneaked that winner when he linked up with Messi on the edge of the box and saw his shot superbly blocked by Upamecano. Moments later and Martínez was sent through on goal with his first-time flick trickling juts wide. Two huge chances for Argentina to resurrect their lead.
The game looked destined for penalties, but Argentina had one last sliver of magic in them. Messi, Martínez and Enzo Fernández linked up beautifully on the edge of the box, which finished with Martínez forcing Lloris into a fine stop at his near post. The rebound fell to Messi who flicked an effort towards goal and it just edged over the line to spark Argentina jubilation.
However, that elation was short-lived. Mbappé hit a tame shot that Montiel foolishly threw an arm at which forced another France penalty. Mbappé stepped up again and emphatically sent the game to penalties. Absolute carnage in the second-half of extra-time in what was quickly becoming one of the best World Cup Finals ever.
Argentina went on to win penalties 4-2 when Montiel atoned for his earlier mistake and gave Argentina their first World Cup triumph since 1986. Messi had his moment and finally got the one trophy that compliments his illustrious career.
Commiserations to France and in particular Mbappé. The first player to score a hat-trick in a World Cup final since Geoff Hurst in 1966 and he didn’t even win the game. Argentina, after a pulsating final, are 2022 World Cup champions.
