Argentina is world champion 2022! (NEWS: Everything you need to know about the World Cup)
The team led by the exceptional Lionel Messi beat France 7-5 on penalties in the crazy final in Doha to win the World Cup for the third time in history. (NEWS: Messi breaks records by the dozen!)
Argentina had been 2-0 up until the 80th minute thanks to goals from Messi and Ángel Di Maria (23/36), before French superstar Kylian Mbappé quickly equalized (80/81).
Messi of all people scored in extra time (109th) – but France struck back again, again with Mbappé, who converted his second penalty to make it 3:3 (118th). (NEWS: Historic Mbappé Madness)
Messi also converted on penalties. Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez also saved against Bayern star Kingsley Coman, Aurelien Tchouameni missed. For Argentina, Gonzalo Montiel scored decisively from the penalty spot. (DATA: 2022 World Cup calendar)
“We suffered, we had everything under control, only in the end we let ourselves get out of hand. Thank goodness we still made it. It was an incredible final,” said goalkeeper Martinez ARD-Microphone.
And national coach Lionel Scaloni said: “We don’t quite know what’s happening to us yet, but it’s a moment to enjoy. I’m very, very happy. I dedicate the title to my family, my father, my mother. you always supported”.
Mbappé’s penalty – his third of the night – failed to prevent France from defeat. After all, the 23-year-old was top scorer ahead of Messi. (NEWS: World Cup top scorer decided)
Messi puts an end to the World Cup curse
Meanwhile, Messi has put an end to his eternal World Cup curse, crowning himself for the first time world champion since his final failure in 2014 against Germany.
The PSG star made World Cup history in Qatar in more ways than one: he was the first player to score in the group stage, round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals and final. He also leaves the scene as the world record holder, with 26 appearances he is ahead of Lothar Matthäus.
He has finally achieved the necessary title for legend status in Argentina and will forever be the master builder of that success.
“Everything that has happened is unbelievable. It was difficult, at first I was on the edge, I’m grateful to the medical staff who came to treat me, the coaching staff was waiting for me and today it happened” Argentine Paulo Dybala explained.
What happened today “will go down in history: what the people gave, we want to raise the cup and go and celebrate with the Argentine people”, continued the Roma champion.
Argentina last won the World Cup under legend Diego Maradona in 1986, then in the final against Germany.
The finals were lost in 1990 and 2014, again against the German national team.
The final of the much criticized World Cup in Qatar had previously been stylized as a duel between Messi and Mbappé, between young and old.
At Paris St. Germain they are teammates, in the aisle of the Lusail Stadium they both greeted each other with a smile – then entered the lawn with a completely different attitude.
Messi frowned at the golden trophy as he sang the national anthem, the entire starting XI chanting passionately, almost screaming as if to drown out the 40,000 Argentine fans in the stadium. When the Marseillaise played, Mbappé smiled, he seemed completely relaxed: the scenes were a foreshadowing of what was to come.
Because the first few minutes were played by Argentina in front of 88,966 spectators. The South Americans were quicker, quicker to think, they won numerous duels in midfield, combined dangerously close to Hugo Lloris’ goal. The 35-year-old set a record for goalkeeping in the World Cup on Sunday in his 20th cap.
Messi converts safely
Despite Argentina’s superiority, he had little to do at the start, but then had no chance on his first shot. Former Dortmund player Ousmane Dembele had easily but decisively hit Di Maria on the foot in the penalty area. Messi looked deeply relaxed in what was perhaps the most important penalty of his career and converted with safety.
His family freaked out in the stands with his wife Antonela and their three children, and Messi disappeared among his teammates on the pitch. Argentina was now growing more and more confident, the counter-attack from Messi, Julian Alvarez, Alexis Mac Allister and Di Maria had an almost disarming force. It was 2-0, Di Maria was already crying with happiness.
26 days after the sensational opening defeat against Saudi Arabia (1:2), Argentina played like a world champion, tough and skillful at the same time, France made two changes in the first half.
Bundesliga pros Marcus Thuram (Mönchengladbach) and Randal Kolo Muani (Frankfurt) arrived, but the world champion was helpless for a long time, until a foul on Kolo Muani gave Mbappe a chance from the spot. France then equalized, of all things, when Messi lost the ball, but then there was a happy ending.
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With SID (Sports Information Service)
