Finance
Argentina survived a few anxious moments to register a fighting 4-2 penalty shoot win over defending champions France on Sunday at Lusail Stadium, fulfilling Lionel Messi’s dream of winning the FIFA World Cup.
At the end of regulation time, the score was two all, and both teams added a goal each in extra time to tie the game at three all and force a penalty shoot-out.
Kylan Mbappe opened the scoring for France in the tie-breaker, but the French players failed to beat Martinez in the Argentine goal, with one saved by the keeper and one off the mark.
Although Kolo Mani scored for France, it was insufficient because their opponents were successful in all four kicks.
Argentina’s captain, Lionel Messi, scored first, followed by his three teammates, to give him the perfect farewell gift, as the 35-year-old has stated that the Qatar World Cup will be his last.
With the pre-match talk centered on Mbappe and Messi and their important role in the final, they did not disappoint — Mbappe scored a hattrick and Messi scored two goals.
Six goals, three from the penalty spot, and a lot of extra time drama kept the nearly 90,000 fans on their toes and forced a penalty shootout.
Argentina took the lead for the second time in the match when Messi scored in the 109th minute, but Mbappe tied the game at three-all with a penalty kick in the 118th minute.
The defending champion’s game was showcased in two ways in the final. They were literally passengers in the first half before roaring back to match their opponents late in the second half.
Both teams opened the scoring from the penalty spot, with both key players for their respective teams making no mistakes to slam home from 12-yards out.
Argentina took the lead in the 23rd minute thanks to Messi, who later added a second goal through Angel Di Maria to go into half-time leading 2 -0.
Les Blues fought back and scored their first goal, followed by a second, with Mbappe scoring both goals in the 80th and 88th minutes.
Argentina, returning to the same stadium where they began their tournament campaign and were humiliated 2-1 by Saudi Arabia, were not the same side as the Asian side.
After six matches, the Argentinians had found fluency and understanding among themselves and were all over France’s defense.
Argentina also had thousands of supporters chanting, singing, and beating drums to motivate their players.
Argentina got off to a good start, firing a couple of shots that were saved by Hugo Lloris. At the other end, France could manage just one shot at goal in the opening half.
Argentina made sure to cut the supply line to Mbappe in the first half, with Antoine Griezmann nowhere to be found in the French midfield.
Argentina, on the other hand, made good use of Angel Di Maria on the left flank. Messi was squaring or floating the ball repeatedly to send probing crosses deep inside France’s defense.
There were 89,966 people in attendance. Argentina took the lead after converting a penalty kick. The Polish referee pointed to the spot inside the box where Di Maria was brought down.
Messi, who took the penalty kick, sent Lloris the wrong way to make it 1-0.
Argentina added a second goal after a couple of passes came to Messi on the right, and the mercurial left-footed magician split open the defense with a deft touch for Di Maria to put Argentina up 2-0.
With his team trailing by two goals at halftime, French coach Didier Deschamps made two substitutions.
Argentina continued to dictate terms but were unable to complete the match with a third goal as Lloris saved a couple of goal-bound shots.
The first of Mhappe’s two goals ignited the game.
He first converted from the penalty spot, then added another to make it 2-2.
More drama ensued at both ends when France claimed a second penalty kick, but the French striker received a yellow card from the referee.
In the second half’s injury time, Lloris was called upon to make a brilliant save to tip over Messi’s elegant drive for a flag kick.
More goalmouth action ensued at both ends, with Argentina repelling a few dangerous moves to force extra time.
Argentina and France, who indulged in some clumsy tackles, did not show the same level of fluency in extra time, with the Polish referee having to keep things under control time and again.
Lloris saved Messi again in the second half of extra time after he created a chance out of nowhere.
But it wasn’t long before the French goalkeeper couldn’t prevent Argentina from scoring after saving a shot the first time, as Lloris’ defense crumbled in the 109th minute of the game.
Source:IANS
