- The game was forced to penalties after a 3-3 draw in 120 minutes
- France twice came from behind to force extra time
- They missed two penalties in the shoot out
Lionel Messi finally won the only trophy missing in his cabinet as Argentina beat France 4-2 on post-match penalties to clinch the FIFA World Cup Trophy.
Goalkeeper Emilaino Martinez saved one kick from Kingsley Coman while Aurelin Tchouameni saw his effort come off the outside of the bar with Argentina scoring all their penalties.
It was a dramatic tie, one that has been widely regarded as the greatest World Cup final of all time. Argentina looked well on course to win the game easy in regulation time with goals from Messi and Angel di Maria.
However, France, who took time to get into the game, roared back with Kylian Mbappe scoring a brace inside 94 seconds after the 80th minute.
As if the drama wasn’t enough, the game was forced to extra time with Messi scoring Argentina’s third in the 108th minute, but Mbappe scored the equalizer with two minutes left from the penalty spot, his eighth goal of the World Cup, to clinch the golden boot.
Argentina perfect on penalties
Argentina celebrate their victory. PHOTO/FIFA
On penalties, Mbappe and Messi started for their respective countries with both scoring. However, Coman saw his penalty saved by Martinez with P:aulo Dybala scoring for Argentina.
Tchouameni then saw his effort grease the outside of the bar and out to give Argentina a massive relief, Leandro Paredes scoring to give them a two goal cushion. Randal Kolo Muani then scored France’s next, but defender Randal Montiel made no mistake with Argentina’s fourth as they earned the trophy.
It was a massive achievement for Messi in what will most likely be his final World Cup, as he clinched a trophy missing from his cabinet, a year after he led Argentina to the Copa America trophy.
Argentina were off to a fiery start in the game and in the opening 45 minutes had a 2-0 lead with France struggling to have a shot on target.
They broke the deadlock after 23 minutes, Messi scoring from the penalty spot after di Maria was fouled inside the box by Ousmane Dembele. Di maria had been started in the game after missing the last two, and he surely showed why he was saved for the final with an imperious performance.
He capped that with a goal in the 36th minute off a swift counter, Argentina turning defense into offense in a fraction of seconds. Messi sent Julian Alvarez through on the right, the Man City forward playing Alexis MacAllister through.
The later then sent a low through ball to di Maria on goal, the latter finishing off with a delightful shot past Hugo Lloris.
France make changes after Argentina dominance
Argentina players celebrate the win. PHOTO/FIFA
With the game slipping out of their hands, coach Didier Deschamps did not wait until halftime to make tactical switches. He brought off Dembele and Olivier Giroud for Kolo Mouani and Marcus Thuram, going for the punch upfield.
In the second half, these changes started paying dividends as France slowly grew into the game. Rodrigo de Paul and Messi had shots on target which were saved by Lloris, but France were on the ascendancy.
They later brought on Eduardo Camavinga and Coman for Antoine Griezmann and Theo Hernandez, changes that further added them the steel they needed.,
They had their way back into the game in the 81st minute when Kolo Muani was hacked inside the box and Mbappe scored from the spot. A minute later, Mbappe scored the second with a brilliant volleyed effort from Mbappe after he was sent through by Thuram.
With no winner in 90 minutes, the game moved into the extra 30. Argentina had control with several chances untul they scored their third in the 108th minute. Messi pounced on the rebound after keeper Lloris had saved Lautaro martinze’s shot.
Though there were questions of offside, the goal stood. But, it lasted only three minutes as Mbappe levelled from the spot after his initial curling effort was blocked by an arm inside the box.
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