Fifa World Cup 2022: Argentina wins World Cup after 36 years, defeats France in penalty shootout
World Cup 2022 Final Live Scorecard:
Table of Contents
- Fifa World Cup 2022: Argentina wins World Cup after 36 years, defeats France in penalty shootout
- World Cup 2022 Final Live Scorecard:
- Summary
Argentina vs. France: Argentina defeated France 4-2 on penalties following a 3-3 stalemate after 120 minutes to win their third FifaWorld Cup in 36 years. Earlier, after Argentina took a 2-0 lead through Lionel Messi and Angel Di Maria, it was France’s Kylian Mbappe who came back with a brace inside 97 seconds in the second half. Messi would score again in extra time, but France would respond with another penalty-kick goal from Mbappe.
After centre backs Dayot Upamecano and Adrien Rabiot recovered from the sickness that had kept them out of the semi-final against Morocco, France coach Didier Deschamps reverted to his favourite team. After recovering from a virus, Upamecano begins alongside Raphael Varane, while Olivier Giroud starts up front flanked by Kylian Mbappe on his left and Ousmane Dembele on his right.
Argentina beat France 4–2 in a penalty shootout in the Fifa World Cup final in Qatar. They have been able to win the Fifa World Cup after 36 years. They have now won the title for the third time after 1978 and 1986. The match went into extra time after the match was tied 2-2 for the stipulated 90 minutes. There Lionel Messi scored a goal to put Argentina ahead 3-2, but Kylian Mbappé had something else in mind. He scored a goal in the 117th minute to level the match at 3-3. After this, Argentina won the match in the penalty shootout.
Lionel Messi scored the first goal in the match on a penalty in the 23rd minute. He became the first footballer in the world to score in all knockout matches of a Fifa World Cup. After that, Angel Di Maria scored a goal in the 36th minute to put Argentina ahead 2–0. By halftime, Argentina’s team was ahead 2-0. After halftime, both the teams continued to attack but could not score. For 80 minutes it seemed that Argentina would easily win the match, but Kylian Mbappe turned the match around by scoring two goals in two minutes. He scored in the 80th and 81st minutes.
The match went into extra time after the score was tied at 2-2 after the stipulated 90 minutes. There both the teams got two halves of 15-15 minutes each. Lionel Messi scored a goal in the 108th minute to put Argentina ahead 3–2 in the match. Once again Argentina looked to be on the verge of victory, but Kylian Mbappé stood in their way again. He scored a goal in the 117th minute to level the match at 3-3. After this the match reached the penalty shootout. There Argentina won the match 4-2.
Summary
Argentina dominated the first half, a thrilling spell in which Messi appeared to be playing his own game. He fizzed or curled his passes, pottered into space, dazzled with his changes of direction, or maybe a trick – a hip shake to freeze his marker. He even set himself difficulties.
Di Mara had raised high following superb work by Rodrigo de Paul and Messi on 17 minutes, and Deschamps’ double replacement in the 41st minute told everything about France’s troubles. Mbappé was moved from the left to the centre, and Olivier Giroud was the enraged fall-guy. Dembélé was also dropped. Randal Kolo Muani and Marcus Thuram came on, and it was already 2-0. Messi unleashed a fluid move with a first-time flick on the outside of his boot to Julián lvarez, who quickly let Alexis MacAllister free. On the other side, Di Maria took off as well, and Mac Allister’s low crossfield ball was made to measure. After his dramatic finish, Di Mara was overcome.
The ultimate test of France’s world champion bravery. They had been a dismal second best in all areas in the first half, with Mbappé and their other star, Antonine Griezmann, largely irrelevant. It would remain roughly that way until the end of normal time. Deschamps’ team established footholds, but as they failed to produce chances, Argentina – with Di Mara brilliant until his withdrawal – seemed the more threatening.
Nonetheless, France would stir. What a commotion they’d make. Deschamps’ substitutions were alchemical acts. He substituted Coman for Griezmann and switched to a 4-4-2 formation, with Kolo Muani moving up beside Mbappé.
Kolo Muani started the comeback by outplaying Nicolas Otamendi in a one-on-one and drawing the foul. Emiliano Martnez was unable to stop Mbappé’s penalty. In the stands, French President Emmanuel Macron cheered enthusiastically.
Argentina had faltered in the final 16 and quarterfinals against Australia and the Netherlands, respectively. They felt the pendulum swing sharply the other way once more, their joy overpowered by nerves. France sensed it. They also punished them.
Messi, of all players, was the one who was robbed by Coman. France played the ball from left to right, and when Mbappé finished off a give-and-go with Thuram, the finish was stunning – a side-on volley that Martnez couldn’t handle.
Overwhelmed by enthusiasm, France’s substitutes flooded across the pitch towards Mbappé, and they went close to a winner in regulation time, Mbappé becoming rampant. However, they needed Lloris to tip over a Messi rocket to force extra time.
Argentina needed to clear their heads. They might be pleased that it wasn’t all taken away from them in that chaotic 90-minute conclusion.
It was finally their chance to rally. Lautaro Martnez, who came on as a substitute, made an impact. He was prevented twice by last-ditch Dayot Upamecano interventions, the first of which was celebrated as a goal.
However, when he fired for goal following a brilliant Argentina incision, Lloris could only parry, and there, guided by fate, was Messi, his shot clearly over the line before being scrambled away.
Is the game over? There’s no way this is the Fifa World Cup. Back came France, and back came the unstoppable Mbappé.
Another substitute, Montiel, was injured in the arm by a blast from him. Penalty. Mbappé was never going to miss a penalty. Even before the shootout, the final would be back-and-forth, full of new thrills.
Kolo Muani, who was having the time of his life, couldn’t extend to convert Mbappé’s cross, and was subsequently denied one-on-one by Emiliano Martnez.
At the opposite end, Lautaro Martnez missed a free header and Mbappé almost stole it with an incredible dribble.