By Samindra Kunti in Lusail
December 18 – In one of the greatest World Cup finals of all time, Argentina and Lionel Messi attained immortality defeating France and hat-trick star Kylian Mbappe from the penalty spot after a 3-3 draw.
Perhaps it was simply what the football gods wanted, it was after all what this entire tournament had built up – the coronation of Lionel Messi and his triumph in his last World Cup. It proved to be the global spectacular with the ultimate superstars of the game that FIFA and Qatari organisers had hoped for after all the criticism.
It was also what Argentina and their legions of travelling fans had longed for. Such was the stupendous nature of this final that not even Mbappe’s three goals were enough to prevent Argentina’s victory.
The momentum swung so often that it was hard to discern when the final turned. Perhaps it never did, but Emiliano Martinez in Argentina’s goal was always going to be the better shot stopper when it came to penalites than France’s Hugo Lloris.
For all of the nerve-shredding drama that came at the end of a final for the ages, it was an unrelenting epic with a brilliant French comeback that highlighted Les Bleus’ resilience.
Early on, the defending champions struggled with Argentina’s high press as well as the Albiceleste’s targeting of Ousmane Dembele and Jules Kounde, who played out of position on the right side, and in a match replete with silly faults, Dembele stumbled one time too many, leading to a soft penalty for Argentina in the 23rd minute.
Lionel Messi duly converted the spot kick and Argentina’s lead was thoroughly deserved. It was the first time that France were trailing in the World Cup since 2018 and that 4-3 second-round encounter with the Albiceleste in Kazan.
Even after the opening goal, the final briefly failed to ignite, a measure of Argentina’s total control, and the strange shapelessness of France, who seemed even more insipid than against Morocco in the semi-finals. Perhaps, France were too pragmatic and limited of a side?
In contrast Lionel Scaloni’s team selection once again proved to be a outstanding. On the right, Angel Di Maria played a brilliant first half and was on the end of a sweeping Argentina attack that included an instinctive flick from Messi and Alexis Mac Allister’s perfectly timed pass for the winger’s first-time finish, 2-0.
The final was slipping away quickly from Les Bleus. They looked hopeless. Were they tired or ravaged by injury and illness? Were they simply being exposed? Didier Deschamps did not wait to ring the changes, bringing on Marcus Thuram and Randal Kolo Muani, resulting in more possession but little of a pathway to goal. They never pressured the ball out of possession and they didn’t register a single attempt on target.
It was the perfect 45 minutes for Argentina and they remained in total control in the second half. There was a distinct lack of ideas, and even urgency. It took Kylian Mbappe 70 minutes to have his first real impact, but he flashed his shot over the bar. And then in the space of three minutes, with France down and out, everything changed.
Suddenly, Mbappe – he who would be king – was unleashed. He converted a penalty kick after Nicolas Otamendi brought down the bustling Muani. Then, with a move of colossal vitality and a superlative strike, France’s lodestar equalised, volleying home a dropping ball with great accuracy.
All things considered, you simply wondered – how did France do it? The momentum however had swung. Argentina were in peak panic mode, just as the youngsters Thuram and Muani played a key role in their team’s transformation and fortunes. Every France’s attack was now utterly menacing, Mbappe had decided to take over the game. Coman was unstoppable and Argentina were quivering and shaking. It was wondrous and chaotic final, one reflecting much of the play in the tournament. And so, on to extra-time.
In the seventh minute of injury time, Messi engineered an almost Hollywood ending with a rasping attempt, but Lloris’ fingertips decided otherwise. But that filmset finale did arrive in the extra-time when Argentina triangulated down the inside-right channel and Messi – who else? – bundled the ball over the line from a Martinez assist. It was his Jorge Burruchaga moment.
And then it was not, nothing in this final was what it ever looked, everything was in a constant flux – Mbappe, irresistible, and France rallied to equalise yet again. The French number 10 was the first man since 1966 and Geoff Hurst to score three goals in a World Cup final.
Still, the drama was not over, one of the last major opportunities fell to Muani but Martinez responded with the save of his life. He’d also become a hero during the shoutout. He saved from Kingsley Coman and watched Aurélien Tchouaméni miss.
And so for the first time since 2002 the World Cup returns to South America. Italy, Spain, Germany and France had all won the world crown since. Argentina claimed the World Cup for a third time after victories in 1978 and 1986, ending a 36-year wait, but ultimately this was all about Messi. It was his consecration, once and for all stepping out of Maradona’s shadow. Winning the one prize that had eluded him all this time, the prize that mattered the most, he is now immortal.
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1714673744labto1714673744ofdlr1714673744owedi1714673744sni@i1714673744tnuk.1714673744ardni1714673744mas1714673744