[카타르 월드컵] Argentina, the beginning and the end

Argentine citizens cheering with Argentina national soccer team players during World Cup victory parade. [사진=연합뉴스]

The 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar has concluded. Argentina lifted the World Cup for the third time in 36 years. The people of Argentina welcomed players from Qatar to Argentina.

Messi’s uniforms and flags flew across the country. The mouths of the people applauded. From Buenos Aires, the capital, to Ushuaia, the southernmost point.

The World Cup ended with a happy ending for Messi, who danced the last dance with Argentina.

In this World Cup, Argentina decorated the start and finish.

It didn’t start well. On November 22, at 19:00 (Korean time), the Group C match was played at Lusail Stadium in Qatar. Argentina’s opponent is Saudi Arabia.

Lionel Messi scored from a penalty kick in the 10th minute. Until then, people from all over the world who had watched the game nodded as if it were natural. The first half finished 1-0. In the second half, the nodded head froze and turned into surprise. In the 3rd minute of the second half, Saleh Al Sehri scored the equalizer and in the 8th minute of the second half, Salem Al Dausari scored a reverse goal. The score quickly became 1-2.

Argentina did their best to turn the score around. The referee repeatedly called for offside. As a result, Saudi Arabia defeated Argentina. The people called it “the miracle of Lusail”.

This defeat was a wonder drug for Argentina. Subsequently, they won the two games (against Mexico and Poland). They advanced to the tournament as 1st place in group stage Group C. Saudi Arabia was eliminated in 4th place.

Lionel Messi (left) and the late Diego Maradona conversing. [사진=연합뉴스]

On 25 November, during the group stage, the football legends gathered in Doha, Qatar.

It is to commemorate Diego Maradona, who died of a heart attack at the age of 60 on November 25, 2020.

A statue of Maradona wearing an Argentine uniform was erected and a mural was painted. Maradona had the World Cup in his hand. Achieved in 1986, it is the second World Cup in the history of Argentina.

People who attended the Maradona memorial event naturally thought of Messi. Messi has never played in a World Cup in his career. As if he was aware of such Messi, he posted a photo of Maradona on his social networking service (SNS). It is in the sense of remembrance and resolution.

Argentina beat Australia 2-1 in the round of 16 to qualify for the quarter-finals. While Messi danced, Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo and Croatian Luka Modric also joined.

The match against Holland was close to a bloody battle. Even Messi, who was called the god of football, was angry. Ronaldo stopped dancing in the quarterfinals. He shed tears of pain from the floor in the locker room.

In the semifinals, Messi himself prevented Modric from dancing. The long-awaited finale.

The opponent is France, where Kylian Mbappe resists. Football fans around the world cheered on Messi’s victory at the World Cup. A small number of French internationals who lifted the World Cup four years ago secretly supported Messi.

Mbappé did not give up easily. In a situation where they were down 2-0, they pulled it to 2-2 after extra time. Extra time 3-3 France’s last shot was blocked by Argentine goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.

It led to a penalty shootout. Martinez broke France. The penalty shootout resulted in Argentina winning the match 4-2. When the championship was confirmed, Messi spread his arms and knelt on the spot. Colleagues hugged him.