Qatar 2022: The Final – Argentina 3 (4) vs France 3 (2)
By Gerald Lutchman
LIONEL MESSI sealed the World Cup 2022 with a kiss to the great trophy when he collected the Golden Ball for the Best Player of the Tournament.
Messi caressed and kissed the trophy to the delight of Argentine fans in and out of the stadium. It has cemented his place as one of, if not the greatest football player of all times. The GOAT debate will always rage on because it is impossible to compare across eras. It was a 36-year wait (since 1986) for Argentina to lift the cup but it almost did not happen.
For the first 80 minutes France was a no show. Argentina dominated France as no other team in the competition did in the build up games. France did not have a shot in the entire first half, such was the dominance of the South Americans. At the half, Argentina led 2-0 and it seemed the game was finished. France looked a pale comparison but that would soon change because of a tactical error of Lionel Scaloni.
In the 26th minute the brilliant Angel Di Maria secured a penalty. He was my man of the match for this final (Kylian Mbappe was awarded the official man of the match). When he was on the field, France did not have a chance and it was only when Scaloni made the mistake of withdrawing him that France took a bit of momentum.
Messi converted the spot kick and in so doing became the first player in world cup history to score in every round of a championship. He scored in the first round, the Round of 16, the Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and Finals. He also became the most capped World Cup player with 26 games surpassing Lothar Matthaus. Messi is the only player in history to win two golden balls. He also has the most goals contributions in the history of the world cup.
The goal of the final came for Di Maria in the 36th, this was a pure team goal made of one-touch passes that split France wide open and beautifully scored by the player of the match. He terrorized the French defense continually and had excellent control. Di Maria was the epitome of perfect football – every thing clicked: the comfort of receiving the ball, the dribbling, passing and goal scoring.
At the half, it seemed that Argentina were going to win comfortably. Then after the 80th minute madness reigned and the game of the century began. In the first half Didier Deschamps, the French coach, took the bold steps of removing Oliver Giroud and Osman Dembele to bring on Randal Muani and Marcus Thuram. In the 81st Kylian Mbappe score a penalty and it was 2-1 but only 97 seconds later it was 2-2 as Mbappe scored again. This took the game to extra time.
Argentina were shocked, it was Holland all over again. They gave up a 2-0 lead just as they were comfortable. The game had turned and France had the momentum. I had stated in an earlier article that whoever won between Argentina and Holland would have won the cup. Argentina in 1986 had a similar experience, they were two goals up against Germany and it was evened to 2-2 until Argentina finally scored to make it 3-2
Overtime required the big names to deliver and they did so in fanatic style. The introduction of Laturo Martinez was an impetus to Argentina. His stinker of a World Cup continued as he had four clear chances to win the game. He took a shot in the 108th minute but the French keeper Hugo Lloris made the save only to see the rebound at the feet of Messi. He buried a scrambled goal and it was 3-2. Game over- but it was not.
In the 118th minute the biggest controversy of the game erupted. From a corner the ball was whipped in and in the clearance, it hit the outstretched had of a French player but the referee did not blow the whistle. Mbappe then had a shot which hit the elbow of Nicolas Otamendi who had a difficult night. A penalty was given and Mbappe scored his third goal and had even the game at 3-3.
Mbappe became the second player to score a hat-trick in a final. That goal gave him eight in the tournament and the golden boot above Messi. The 23-year-old has an incredible 12 goals from only two tournaments. Geoff Hurst for England in 1966 was the first to score a hat-trick in a final.
Martinez had several opportunities to seal the game for Argentina but just could not. In the 120th minute Argentina nearly lost the game. Here the other hero stepped in: Emiliano Martinez stopping a point-blank shot form Kolo Mani. That stop saved Argentina and condemned France.
In the immediate counter attack L Martinez had a golden opportunity to seal the game after Messi picked him out with a wonderful cross. It was just him and the keeper and his header was ridiculously wide.
Then came the dreaded penalty shootout:
France took the first shot
Mbappe scores 1 -0
Messi scores 1-1
Kingsley Coman saved 1- 1
Paulo Dybala scores 1 -2
Aurelin Tchoumeni misses 1 -2
Leandro Paredes scores 1 -3
Muani scores 2 -3
Gonzalo Montiel scores 2 -4
Argentina win
Emiliano Martinez was the hero again. Since this man has joined the Argentine team he has been a lucky charm. He has won three international trophies with Argentina – Copa America, Finalisma and the World Cup, along with Scaloni who changed the team and built a squad around Messi. A squad that idolizes him and wants to win for him – finally Argentina have a team. Congratulations.
This was a game for the ages and the big guns delivered, Messi with two goals and Mbappe with three. We will remember this game for a very long time because the king was crowned as the upstart almost robbed him of his glory. This may well have been the best World Cup ever.
Speaking to TYC sports after the game Messi said “Look at this cup: It’s beautiful. We suffered a lot but we made it. We can’t wait to be in Argentina to see how crazy that is going to be. It is crazy it happened this way.”
Yes, it will be and you will enjoy it because sometimes the football gods get it right and a fairy tale does have a happy ending.
Thank you all for joining me with AZP News for Qatar 2022. Until next time.
Sealed with a Kiss: The Best World Cup Final Ever
Qatar 2022: The Final – Argentina 3 (4) vs France 3 (2)
By Gerald Lutchman
LIONEL MESSI sealed the World Cup 2022 with a kiss to the great trophy when he collected the Golden Ball for the Best Player of the Tournament.
Messi caressed and kissed the trophy to the delight of Argentine fans in and out of the stadium. It has cemented his place as one of, if not the greatest football player of all times. The GOAT debate will always rage on because it is impossible to compare across eras. It was a 36-year wait (since 1986) for Argentina to lift the cup but it almost did not happen.
For the first 80 minutes France was a no show. Argentina dominated France as no other team in the competition did in the build up games. France did not have a shot in the entire first half, such was the dominance of the South Americans. At the half, Argentina led 2-0 and it seemed the game was finished. France looked a pale comparison but that would soon change because of a tactical error of Lionel Scaloni.
In the 26th minute the brilliant Angel Di Maria secured a penalty. He was my man of the match for this final (Kylian Mbappe was awarded the official man of the match). When he was on the field, France did not have a chance and it was only when Scaloni made the mistake of withdrawing him that France took a bit of momentum.
Messi converted the spot kick and in so doing became the first player in world cup history to score in every round of a championship. He scored in the first round, the Round of 16, the Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and Finals. He also became the most capped World Cup player with 26 games surpassing Lothar Matthaus. Messi is the only player in history to win two golden balls. He also has the most goals contributions in the history of the world cup.
The goal of the final came for Di Maria in the 36th, this was a pure team goal made of one-touch passes that split France wide open and beautifully scored by the player of the match. He terrorized the French defense continually and had excellent control. Di Maria was the epitome of perfect football – every thing clicked: the comfort of receiving the ball, the dribbling, passing and goal scoring.
At the half, it seemed that Argentina were going to win comfortably. Then after the 80th minute madness reigned and the game of the century began. In the first half Didier Deschamps, the French coach, took the bold steps of removing Oliver Giroud and Osman Dembele to bring on Randal Muani and Marcus Thuram. In the 81st Kylian Mbappe score a penalty and it was 2-1 but only 97 seconds later it was 2-2 as Mbappe scored again. This took the game to extra time.
Argentina were shocked, it was Holland all over again. They gave up a 2-0 lead just as they were comfortable. The game had turned and France had the momentum. I had stated in an earlier article that whoever won between Argentina and Holland would have won the cup. Argentina in 1986 had a similar experience, they were two goals up against Germany and it was evened to 2-2 until Argentina finally scored to make it 3-2
Overtime required the big names to deliver and they did so in fanatic style. The introduction of Laturo Martinez was an impetus to Argentina. His stinker of a World Cup continued as he had four clear chances to win the game. He took a shot in the 108th minute but the French keeper Hugo Lloris made the save only to see the rebound at the feet of Messi. He buried a scrambled goal and it was 3-2. Game over- but it was not.
In the 118th minute the biggest controversy of the game erupted. From a corner the ball was whipped in and in the clearance, it hit the outstretched had of a French player but the referee did not blow the whistle. Mbappe then had a shot which hit the elbow of Nicolas Otamendi who had a difficult night. A penalty was given and Mbappe scored his third goal and had even the game at 3-3.
Mbappe became the second player to score a hat-trick in a final. That goal gave him eight in the tournament and the golden boot above Messi. The 23-year-old has an incredible 12 goals from only two tournaments. Geoff Hurst for England in 1966 was the first to score a hat-trick in a final.
Martinez had several opportunities to seal the game for Argentina but just could not. In the 120th minute Argentina nearly lost the game. Here the other hero stepped in: Emiliano Martinez stopping a point-blank shot form Kolo Mani. That stop saved Argentina and condemned France.
In the immediate counter attack L Martinez had a golden opportunity to seal the game after Messi picked him out with a wonderful cross. It was just him and the keeper and his header was ridiculously wide.
Then came the dreaded penalty shootout:
France took the first shot
Argentina win
Emiliano Martinez was the hero again. Since this man has joined the Argentine team he has been a lucky charm. He has won three international trophies with Argentina – Copa America, Finalisma and the World Cup, along with Scaloni who changed the team and built a squad around Messi. A squad that idolizes him and wants to win for him – finally Argentina have a team. Congratulations.
This was a game for the ages and the big guns delivered, Messi with two goals and Mbappe with three. We will remember this game for a very long time because the king was crowned as the upstart almost robbed him of his glory. This may well have been the best World Cup ever.
Speaking to TYC sports after the game Messi said “Look at this cup: It’s beautiful. We suffered a lot but we made it. We can’t wait to be in Argentina to see how crazy that is going to be. It is crazy it happened this way.”
Yes, it will be and you will enjoy it because sometimes the football gods get it right and a fairy tale does have a happy ending.
Thank you all for joining me with AZP News for Qatar 2022. Until next time.