WHAT A FINAL! Argentina Win FIFA World Cup, Beating France on Penalties
LUSAIL, Qatar (Reuters) – Argentina won their third World Cup in extraordinary style on Sunday, beating France 4-2 in a penalty shootout after Lionel Messi scored twice in a 3-3 draw that featured a hat-trick for Kylian Mbappe as the holders recovered from 2-0 down after 80 minutes. By Mitch Phillips It was an incredible […]
LUSAIL, Qatar (Reuters) – Argentina won their third World Cup in extraordinary style on Sunday, beating France 4-2 in a penalty shootout after Lionel Messi scored twice in a 3-3 draw that featured a hat-trick for Kylian Mbappe as the holders recovered from 2-0 down after 80 minutes. By Mitch Phillips
It was an incredible night of drama and fluctuating fortunes, delivering one of the all-time greatest World Cup finals to cap a wonderful tournament. If you missed it, and you’re in South Africa, watch the replay on: https://bit.ly/ShowPro22
Argentina had looked to be cruising to a one-sided victory after Messi’s penalty and a brilliant goal by Angel Di Maria in the first half put them in total control but Mbappe converted an 80th-minute penalty and volleyed in an equaliser a minute later to take the game to extra time.
Messi put Argentina ahead again but Mbappe levelled with another penalty, becoming the second man to score a World Cup final hat-trick after Geoff Hurst for England 1966.
That took the game to a shootout where Argentina keeper Emiliano Martinez saved Kingsley Coman’s penalty and Aurelien Tchouameni fired wide to give Gonzalo Montiel to chance to win it, which he gleefully took.
It meant that after his record 26th World Cup match, at the fifth and final time of asking, the 35-year-old Messi finally claimed the trophy that he and his nation demanded, lifting him up alongside Diego Maradona after the country’s first football God carried them to their emotional second triumph in 1986 following their first in 1978.
NEAT TURN
It had all looked to be going so smoothly earlier.
Di Maria, with just a few minutes under his belt since the group stage, looked dangerous from the start and when he left Ousmane Dembele flailing with a neat turn, the flummoxed Frenchman clumsily tripped him from behind after 23 minutes.
Messi took the penalty, calmly steering the ball low beyond Hugo Lloris and then Di Maria took centre stage again after 36 minutes when he finished off one of the best goals to grace a final.
WATCH one of the world’s BEST World Cup Finals ever – if you missed it, and you’re in South Africa, watch the replay on: https://bit.ly/ShowPro22
Nahuel Molina cushioned a first-time clearance to Alexis Mac Allister, who instantly played the ball to Messi. The captain changed the direction of attack with a great turn and layoff on halfway, Julian Alvarez clipped it back to Mac Allister, who advanced and slid the ball perfectly across the field for Di Maria to take in his stride and slot home.
France had barely had a kick and coach Didier Deschamps took decisive action, hauling off Oliver Giroud and Dembele and throwing on Marcus Thuram and Randal Kolo Muani after 41 minutes.
It made little impact until they were given a lifeline in the 80th minute when Nicolas Otamendi tripped Kolo Muani and Mbappe, previously anonymous, expertly converted the penalty.
A minute later he swept in a brilliant equalising volley after combining cleverly with Thuram, stunning the massed Argentine fans watching their team concede two quick-fire goals for the third time in the tournament.
South African expat and new Twitter owner, Elon Musk, was in the stadium in Qatar, tweeting photos, videos and updates from the match. He reported there were “24,400 tweets per second for France’s goal, highest ever for World Cup!”
Argentina regained the lead after a counter-attack when the tireless Lautaro Martinez smashed a shot at Hugo Lloris and Messi pounced on the rebound, technology confirming the ball had crossed the line.
The drama was not over, however, as Mbappe hammered a shot against the arm of Montiel to produce another penalty in the 117th minute, which he calmly dispatched.
WATCH one of the world’s BEST World Cup Finals ever – if you missed it, and you’re in South Africa, watch the replay on: https://bit.ly/ShowPro22
(Reporting by Mitch Phillips, editing by Ed Osmond)
The GREATEST OF ALL TIME. He’s won it all. What a final. What a moment pic.twitter.com/u7IpW5z0RH
— Big Cat (@BarstoolBigCat) December 18, 2022
Nah what a final man 🤣 had me like this for the last 30 mins pic.twitter.com/9p05LDTsuL
— P (@PageShhh1) December 18, 2022
What a final, what a player!!! Messi wins the World Cup with Argentina and makes history 🇦🇷🐐 pic.twitter.com/amLQtkVqme
— Ovvy (@OvidiuPatrascu) December 18, 2022
Duel in the Desert.
Couldn’t ask for a better game. Incredible play by 🇦🇷 & 🇫🇷 !!!! pic.twitter.com/XUZxjymAx0— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 18, 2022
There you have it folks! The GOAT convo ends, but Mbappé, for me, a force of nature and the next🐐!
What a final! What a World Cup! #FIFAWorldCupWell done #Argentina🇦🇷 #Messi𓃵 pic.twitter.com/IrADzSU4Zj
— Thabile Ngwato (@ThabileNgwato) December 18, 2022
⌛️ What a final! Bravo Leo Messi, thank you @KMbappe for a great final. You have both been heroic. ❤️💙
🏆 #𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗧𝗼𝗤𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗿 pic.twitter.com/87yL1ob1xT
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) December 18, 2022
What a tournament, and what a Final 💪🇫🇷
Thank you, France 👏👏 pic.twitter.com/7l3h3beFGO
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) December 18, 2022
The world can breath now, the thriller is over. What a final it was 🔥 pic.twitter.com/eDJq7gJeRX
— Moments & memories (@momentmemori) December 18, 2022
What a Final…my favourite team ever ..won .. Messi and Di Maria ..LoVE you .. pic.twitter.com/I67nbeNrVP
— Neeraj Chaddha (@ChaddhaNeeraj) December 18, 2022
WHAT A FINAL 🔥 #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/6HWOOj8pTY
— GQ Sports (@GQSports) December 18, 2022
Hat-trick!!! GET IN!!!!! What a Final 🔥🔥🔥🔥. Never in My Life! #FIFAWorldCup for the ages! pic.twitter.com/xOm97g16uu
— Ngcweti Thabiso Sithole (@ThabisoSithole) December 18, 2022