After a series of surprises in the World Cup in Qatar, Argentina won the World Cup after breaking a long 36-year drought by winning against France.
World Cup Final Match Venue and Formation
The match was held at the historic Lusail Stadium. Polish referee Szymon Marciniak was in charge of the match. For the final match, Argentine mastermind Lionel Scaloni arranged his players in a 4-3-3 formation and took Di Maria on the left wing to surprise France. On the other hand, France’s World Cup-winning coach Deschamps started the game with his familiar formation of 4-2-3-1.
Match Overview
A flurry of wrong passes by France and the introduction of Di Maria on the left wing saw Argentina go through one after another with ease. After 21 minutes, Ousmane Dembele fouled Di Maria inside the D-box and Argentina got a penalty from which Messi easily put Argentina ahead.
After 35 minutes, Messi got the ball after the French defender Upamecano missed. The most underrated Di Maria, the only Argentinian to score in all finals in the national team jersey, then scored with Mac Allister’s assist. Argentina ended the halftime with a 2 goal lead. Argentina was in dominating position in the first half.
In the 79th minute, Otamendi fouled Kolo Muani inside the D-box and France got a penalty from there. Mbappe scored from the spot kick to break the deadlock. After 81 minutes, Mbappe shocked the world with a superb volley, behind which was Marcus Thuram. After the goal, the scoreline was Argentina 2 – France 2. Pindrop silence on the Argentine side, and sheer joy in France side.
Extra Time
The game went to extra time as neither team could score in the rest of the period after Argentina and France equaled their score 2-2. In the 108th minute, Lautaro Martinez’s shot was turned away by the French goalkeeper, and Messi scored again in the return shot to give Argentina the lead.
In the 116th minute, Argentine defender Gonzalo Montiel handballed inside the D-box, and France was awarded a penalty from which Mbappe scored to put France ahead again. Mbappe is only the second player in the history of this tournament to score a hat-trick in a World Cup final. At the end of extra time, the result was Argentina 3 – France 3. Emiliano Martinez saved an amazing shot at 123 minutes and denied Randal Kolo Muani’s shot which could practically end Argentina’s 36-year World Cup dream.
Penalty shoot-out
Finally, the game was then decided by a penalty shootout. Argentine goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez acted as a football wall in front of french players similar to his role in Copa America, where he was the main hero to win a major trophy. Martínez blocked Kingsley Comen’s shot and Tchouaméni’s shot was just wide of the goal bar deprived France of the World Cup.
Legacy & Records of 2022 FIFA World Cup Final
- To begin with, Argentina won a World Cup trophy after 36 years.
- Last time Argentina won a World Cup with the help of their iconic player Diego Maradona and this time with sensational Lionel Messi. Two of the greatest players in football history to bear Argentina’s pride and legacy.
- The match was by far one of the most intense and breathtaking World Cup finals ever.
- Kylian Mbappe scored a hat-trick in a World Cup final match and he is only the second player in history who has done it.
- Lionel Messi, one of the greatest players in football won the trophy.
- Lionel Messi scored 2 goals in a World Cup final match and became the first player to score at every stage of a World Cup, group stage, and knockout stage.
- Lionel Messi is now the all-time top scorer in World Cup as an Argentine, breaking Gabriel Batistuta’s record.
- Lionel Messi has now the highest number of appearances in the World Cup, 26 appearances.
- Angel Di Maria scored in three consecutive finals for Argentina National team.
- Angel Di Maria scored in four finals for Argentina.
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