The goals for the Albiceleste were from Lionel Messi, who finally lifted the Cup, thanks to a double and another goal from Ángel Di María
The dream came true. Argentina beat France on penalties, after drawing at three goals in 120 minutes at the Luisail Stadium, to consecrate three-time world champion after the successes achieved in 1978 and 1986. The goals for the Albiceleste were from Lionel Messi, who finally lifted the Cup, thanks to a double and another goal from Ángel Di María.
Gonzalo Montiel defined the penalty shootout, which was 4-2, by scoring the last penalty and unleashing madness in the stadium. Emiliano “Dibu” Martínez saved a penalty from Kingsley Coman, while Aurélien Tchouaméni shot off the goal from the right vertical.
I KISS HER. ?? pic.twitter.com/d2k93YkRec
— FIFA World Cup ? (@fifaworldcup_es) December 18, 2022
The three goals scored by Kylian Mbappé were not enough to defend the French title, which was close to achieving it.
It was a game of emotions, especially at the end. Argentina seemed to dominate calmly until fraction 80, when Mbappé appeared and equalized in two minutes. The game went to extra time, in which Messi and Mbappé scored again.
The South Americans gave Conmebol the first title in 20 years, breaking with the European hegemony that had won four World Cups in a row: Italy (2006), Spain (2010), Germany (2014) and France (2018).
let’s scream #All together…
???? WE ARE WORLD CHAMPIONS!!!???? pic.twitter.com/KoYnhTmeQC
— Argentina National Team ?? (@Argentina) December 18, 2022
Thus, the technical director Lionel Scaloni joined the legends César Luis Menotti and Carlos Bilardo at the age of 44, as the world champion strategists with the national team.
The result also allowed Italy to remain the only European team to win two consecutive titles (1934-1938) and Vittorio Pozzo as the only one to win two World Cups from the bench.
In this match, Lionel Messi added two more records. The Argentine surpassed the German Lothar Matthaus and became the player with the most appearances in the World Cups with 26. He also displaced the legendary defender Paolo Maldini in minutes played in a World Cup with 2,314, surpassing the 2,217 of the Italian .
#Qatar2022 This is how the gallery of finals remains.#ARG wins his third title and first since 1986. pic.twitter.com/acIXFwuPjJ
—Tony Cittadino (@TonyCittadinoTV) December 18, 2022
In addition, along with French goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, he became the fifth captain to play in two World Cup finals, along with German Karl Rummenigge (1982-1986), Argentine Diego Armando Maradona (1986-1990) and Brazilian Dunga (1994- 1998).
Argentine domain
The game started very nervous and the game was very stuck in the midfield, due to the pressure of the two teams trying to dominate the match.
The first shot on goal came after 5 minutes and it was from Argentina with a shot from outside the area by Alexis Mac Allister, but the goalkeeper Hugo Lloris saved without problems.
#Qatar2022 #ARG He is the new three-time world champion!
This is the gallery of champions! pic.twitter.com/yjt13pyarQ
—Tony Cittadino (@TonyCittadinoTV) December 18, 2022
La Albiceleste was much better in the first quarter of an hour, with the initiative of the ball against a France closed behind and trying to find spaces to go out.
Argentina took the lead, again, thanks to a penalty. Ángel Di María fell in the area in the 21st minute and on the 23rd, Messi was in charge of transforming with a low shot to the left of the goalkeeper.
It was the Argentine’s 12th goal in the history of the World Cups and the sixth in this edition, after scoring in the group stage, round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinal and final.
#Qatar2022 ARGENTINA COMPLETED THE PATH TO GLORY. CONGRATULATIONS!!! #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/daRalmV0A9
—Tony Cittadino (@TonyCittadinoTV) December 18, 2022
Furthermore, according to Mister Chip, the man from Rosario is the player with the most penalties taken in the World Cup with six.
The goal did not change the dynamics of the game and after half an hour, the South Americans kept the initiative with the support of midfielders Mac Allister and Di María, supporting Messi in the last quarter of the field.
France was still slow at the start, losing a lot of balls and unable to get past midfield, with a lonely Kylian Mbappé in attack.
#Qatar2022 #ARG IS WORLD CHAMPION pic.twitter.com/bMTDsIYGnR
—Tony Cittadino (@TonyCittadinoTV) December 18, 2022
Thus came Argentina’s second goal, taking advantage of the spaces left by France and increasing the score in a counterattack. Mac Allister served an exquisite assist to Di María, who sent the ball into the net with a one-on-one cross shot at minute 36. A fair advantage for those led by Scaloni, who were superior in all facets of the game.
The first part ended without major changes in the collective functioning, but bringing Argentina much closer to the title.
French reaction
The second half began with France dominating more and with a greater offensive presence. Pressing and rotating the ball, but Argentina narrowly increased the score, but Rodrigo De Paul’s shot was caught by Lloris.
The Argentines again sent another notice to 59, but Lloris stopped a low and dry shot in two stages down and to the right. Two minutes later, Messi had another, but the ball was left for him to finish off with his right leg and he didn’t see the goal.
Deschamps made two changes that changed the face of France at minute 71. Eduardo Camavinga came on for Theo Hernández and Kingsley Coman replaced Antoine Griezmann. The new income gave gasoline to the Gauls, who began to squeeze.
The first shot on goal of the game for Mbappé was in the 70th minute, but the ball went over the crossbar. The PSG striker appreciated little and was very imprecise. However, he discounted a penalty at 80 and at 82 he managed to equalize with a great goal, with a cross shot without letting it fall.
Spectacular reaction from France, who reacted and took advantage of Argentina’s attention errors, as had happened against the Netherlands.
The tie changed the dynamics of the game. Now it was the Albiceleste that was blurred on the field and Les Bleus that dominated and looked better physically and mentally.
France kept pressing and at 90+4 they barely scored, but goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez stopped a dangerous shot from Adrien Rabiot in two stages.
Messi responded to the seventh minute of discount, but the left-footed shot from outside the area was sent to the corner with a spectacular stretch from Hugo Lloris.
Most goals in extra time
Extra time started at a frantic pace and Scaloni decided to make two more changes to refresh the attack and midfield. Leandro Paredes replaced Rodrigo De Paul at 102 and a minute later, Lautaro Martínez replaced Julián Álvarez and narrowly scored at the end of the first extra time, but the ball went over the end line.
Messi tried it facing the goal in minute 107, but Lloris responded more than when he was demanded by a dry shot and below the Argentine, who did manage to score on the next play.
Lautaro shot Lloris point blank, but the rebound was left to Messi, who finished off on goal and Jules Koundé served under the goal, but the ball had already passed. Goal for Messi, who reached seven and unleashed madness at the Lusail Stadium.
When it was thought that Argentina once again had the Cup in one hand, the defense failed again. Mbappé finished off on goal and Gonzalo Montiel touched the ball with his arm at 116 to award a penalty, which Mbappé changed with a goal.
Hat-trick for the Frenchman, who retook the lead in goals with eight and equaled Englishman Geoff Hurst with a hat-trick in the final and his first with four goals.
Mbappé’s goal was the 172 of this edition of the World Cup, to establish a record and surpass the 171 goals from goals in France 1998 and Brazil 2014.
France was close to sentencing the duel, but “Dibu” Martínez rejected a point-blank shot by Randal Kolo Muani at 120+3.
to penalties
The final was decided by penalties for the third time in history, after the United States 1994 (Brazil-Italy) and Germany 2006 (Italy-France). In addition, the Frenchmen equaled Italy with two finals decided by penalties.
Mbappé opened the batch and scored with a light shot to the center. Messi followed him and also scored coldly. It was Coman’s turn, who missed with a shot to the right that covered Dibu. Then Paulo Dybala scored, to give Argentina the lead 2-1.
The shootout continued with Tchouaméni’s miss and Leandro Paredes scored to leave things 3-1. Randal Kolo Muani hit his shot and the chance of the night was for Montiel, who scored to seal the Argentine victory.
This was the final number 11 of the 22 of the World Cup that has a South American and a European team. The advantage is for Conmebol with eight victories (Brazil 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994 and 2002 and Argentina 1978, 1986 and 2022) and three defeats (Germany 1990 and 2014 and France 1998).
Argentina and Messi celebrate.
They are the world champions!
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