Chris (@Chris10Pricey) looks at the twists and turns in a truly stunning Final.
World Cup Final Match Report – Argentina 3 France 3
Argentina win 4-2 on penalties
The truth is often stranger than fiction, and in a dramatic World Cup Final even the most talented Hollywood script writer would have struggled to have conjured up a final like this. This had all the ingredients for a classic. Arguably the GOAT, back from retirement with his second and final chance at immortality. The young prince leading his team to back-to-back World Cups against all the odds.
Embed from Getty ImagesAn Argentina side, now a collective team rather than a set of superstars and a French team steeped in consistency rather than infighting. Football purists arguing over whether sport would gift a happy ending that is rarely seen or a beautiful disaster.
From the off, Argentina took control of the game. Messi was touching more of the ball than he normally does in the first 15 minutes. Angel Di Maria was running riot down the left and was a constant threat. France just couldn’t get the ball.
Embed from Getty ImagesDi Maria, who has seemed to be defined in this country by his disastrous spell at Man United, showed the quality the rest of Europe has seen for years. The first pivotal moment of the final saw him get in behind Dembele, and with the slightest contact, went down in the penalty area. The referee immediately pointed to the spot. Even the laziest of writer could have thought this up, as Messi stepped up to the spot. Despite it almost being telegraphed, he sent Lloris the wrong way and Argentina had the perfect start their dominance deserved.
Embed from Getty ImagesAnd 13 minutes later, Argentina were 2-0 up. For the first time in the game, Mbappe almost wriggled free down the left, but the cover managed to snuff it out. A long ball, led to a deft Messi flick around the corner and Argentina were away and in behind. Alexis MacAllistair played a beautiful ball across the box and right into the path of Di Maria, who bounce finished it over Lloris for 2-0. Cue wild celebrations and Argentina were in total control.
Embed from Getty ImagesHad the sickness bug taken its toll on the French? Did the injuries that have been mounting up finally become too much? Taking off Giroud and Dembele after 40 minutes may have been a clue, although their replacements Thuram and Muani would play a significant role later. Even arguably the player of the tournament Antoine Griezeman, couldn’t get into the game and was replaced by Coman after 70 minutes.
Embed from Getty ImagesFor nearly 80 minutes, this almost seemed like a procession. Argentina were in total control, France looked as if they hadn’t realised a World Cup Final was actually taking place and they were in it. Such was Argentina’s control, they took off their best player, Di Maria, with almost half an hour left. When asked to write a match report about it, I was genuinely thinking about what I could write about. And then in 90 seconds, everything changed!
A hopeful ball forward from Mbappe put Muani in behind Ottamendi, who couldn’t resist a nibble at him, and France had a way back in to the game. Mbappe stepped up and rifled it past Martinez into the bottom left who couldn’t keep it out despite getting a hand to it. He fetched the ball instantly and the urgency was evident.
Embed from Getty ImagesFrom the restart, Messi had the ball in midfield but was harassed by Kingsley Coman, and a beautiful bit of interplay saw a one two from Mbappe with Thuram and France were in behind. Normal strikers might have taken a touch and rolled it in the far corner. However, Mbappe went for the audacious volley and smashed it into the bottom corner. Incredible scenes and from 2 down, France were off the proverbial sick bed and back fighting fit. Surely, Messi’s final contribution couldn’t be giving the ball away?
Embed from Getty ImagesFrom a game that was petering out, suddenly an end-to-end cup final had appeared and those that would have had this on in the background were about to witness one of the truly great finales. Space and chances were appearing everywhere. And in the final minute of stoppage time with the final kick of the game, there was nearly the Hollywood ending. Messi shifted the ball on to his left foot from about 20 yards out and took aim. It took a stunning save from Lloris to deny him and take the game to extra time.
Embed from Getty ImagesExtra time can sometimes be a non-event, as two teams who are just waiting for penalties play out time. This was anything but. Was this partially down to the fact that looking at the line ups, it was difficult to see who would take a penalty due to the number of substitutions?
The first half of extra time belonged to Dayot Upemacano. Much derided as the weak link against England, sick for the semi-final, made 2 crucial interventions to keep the scores level. As Martinez took aim, he threw himself at a block to deny a huge chance. And when Martinez got in behind, Upemacano’s crucial touch took his effort wide rather than into the back of the net.
Embed from Getty ImagesMartinez would have a pivotal role in the next huge moment of the final in the 108th minute. A long ball forward and some lovely interplay with Messi put him in behind. His drive was instinctively stopped by Lloris who threw a hand at it. The rebound fell to Messi, this was the moment… he bundled it over the line and despite Kounde’s best efforts to clear it, it was clearly over the line.
Surely this was it? Lionel Messi, who had scored so many incredible goals, goals that defied logic, was about to win a World Cup with possibly the scruffiest goal of his career. It wouldn’t matter, it would still be described as his most beautiful if Argentina were to go on and win it.
Embed from Getty ImagesWith the way the game had gone, you knew France would create one more big chance. And with 2 minutes to go, it was Mbappe again. A corner was partially cleared, Mbappe lined up a worldie only for it to be charged down by Parades’ elbow. The referee pointed instantly to the spot, despite the seeming confusion. Mbappe stepped up again, this time going the same way, but Martinez went the opposite and France were level again. As Ally McCoist put it, Mbappe became the first player to score a World Cup final hat-trick where all 3 goals were over the line!
Embed from Getty ImagesYou would think that would be it, but there was still time for more drama. Muani almost got on the end of a beautiful ball from Mbappe and any sort of contact would have seen it in. Then seconds later, Muani got in behind and but for a stunning bionic leg type save from Martinez to deny him, could have got the goal his performance deserved and won France the World Cup.
Within seconds, Argentina broke and Martinez was set up with a free header 12 yards out but he directed it horribly wide. A breathless, enthralling finale would need to be settled from the spot.
Embed from Getty ImagesAppropriately, both Messi and Mbappe scored their opening penalties, in very different fashion, but fittingly for Argentina, Messi’s teammates were about to become heroes. Emi Martinez was about to become the first hero. His heroics helped Argentina to the Copa America and earlier in the tournament and his mind games worked. Coman’s penalty was saved and Tchouameni dragged his penalty wide.
Embed from Getty ImagesThis led Gonzalo Montiel to become the quiz question answer for the next four years. He coolly slotted his, producing a roar from the incredible Argentinian fans heard all the way to Buenos Aires and a flood of emotion. Messi dropped to his knees, surrounded by his team-mates. In stark contrast to 8 years ago, Argentina showed they had a team led by a superstar, rather than a superstar team. And this was encompassed in their celebrations. The togetherness epitomised by the beautiful inclusion of Sergio Aguero, who would have loved to have been part of it but for his unfortunate health conditions.
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A word for Kylian Mbappe. The Messi Final nearly became the Mbappe Final. To score a hat-trick in a World Cup Final and lose is an incredible disaster, but he dragged his team back into a game they had no right to be in. He was superb in Russia 4 years ago, but it is hard to gauge how good he is based on playing for PSG. I think it’s clear after tonight, he is the King in Waiting, for when Messi finally decides to walk away. Mbappe will define the next generation and with 3 more World Cups at least possible for him, it’s hard to see France not winning at least another one.
And so, after the most different, controversial and dramatic World Cups I can remember, Argentina were crowned Campeones del Mundo for the third time. Argentina have been the most consistent team in world football for the last two years and despite the shock loss to Saudi Arabia in their opening game, it is hard to argue that they weren’t worthy winners.
Embed from Getty ImagesThere was still time for the image of the tournament, Messi kissing the trophy, a hilarious interlude of Martinez pretending his Golden Glove was an extension of his penis, and Infantino trying to get in on the celebrations and the Emir dressing Messi.
Embed from Getty ImagesAfter what seemed to be an age and all the awards being dished out, Messi was finally handed the trophy. Even the most hard-nosed, old fashioned football fan would raise a smile at the pure joy on his face. The incredible Messi story had the happy ending most would have wanted, in a way that no-one could have predicted. Ryan Reynolds described football as a gorgeous, evil curse.
Maybe sport should write Hollywood scripts?
Photo of Trophy courtesy of Ank Kumar