World Cup final: Argentina beat France on penalties in dramatic Qatar showpiece

1 year ago 110

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Lionel Messi finally achieved his World Cup dream as Argentina won their third crown on penalties following one of the greatest finals in the tournament's history at Lusail Stadium.

Argentina won 4-2 in the shootout after a spectacular game which developed into the much-anticipated confrontation between the 35-year-old maestro Messi and his France opposite number Kylian Mbappe, who scored a hat-trick - the first in a World Cup final since 1966 - but still ended up on the losing side.

Messi looked to be securing the one major honour missing from his glittering collection in comfort as Argentina cruised into a two-goal lead, only for an explosive intervention from Mbappe turned a spectacular encounter on its head with two goals inside a minute late on.

Messi had given Argentina lead from the penalty spot in the 23rd minute following Ousmane Dembele's foul on Angel Di Maria. It made him the first player in World Cup history to score in the group stage, last 16, quarter-final, semi-final and final of a single tournament.

He then contributed a delicate touch within a magnificent counter-attack that ended with Brighton's Alexis Mac Allister setting up Di Maria for the second 13 minutes later.

Argentina were untroubled until the closing stages, only for Mbappe to give France a lifeline from the penalty spot with nine minutes left - then restore equality with a magnificent volley moments later.

Messi bundled Argentina back in front in extra time, but Mbappe completed his treble from the spot two minutes from the end of a frantic, chaotic added spell.

And so it went to penalties, with the two greats opening the scoring. But Argentina and Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez saved from Kingsley Coman, before Aurelian Tchouameni missed, leaving Gonzalo Montiel to win the World Cup.

Messi, a World Cup winner at last, collapsed to his knees in the centre circle and was engulfled by jubilant Argentina team-mates.

Reaction to one of the most dramatic World Cup finals

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Argentina

Squad number23Player nameE Martínez
Squad number26Player nameMolina
Squad number13Player nameRomero
Squad number19Player nameOtamendi
Squad number3Player nameTagliafico
Squad number7Player nameDe Paul
Squad number24Player nameFernández
Squad number20Player nameMac Allister
Squad number10Player nameMessi
Squad number9Player nameÁlvarez
Squad number11Player nameDi María

Squad number4Player nameMontiel
Squad number5Player nameParedes
Squad number6Player namePezzella
Squad number8Player nameAcuña
Squad number21Player nameDybala
Squad number22Player nameLa Martínez

France

Squad number1Player nameLloris
Squad number5Player nameKoundé
Squad number4Player nameVarane
Squad number18Player nameUpamecano
Squad number22Player nameHernández
Squad number8Player nameTchouaméni
Squad number14Player nameRabiot
Squad number11Player nameDembélé
Squad number7Player nameGriezmann
Squad number10Player nameMbappé
Squad number9Player nameGiroud

Squad number3Player nameDisasi
Squad number12Player nameKolo Muani
Squad number13Player nameFofana
Squad number20Player nameComan
Squad number24Player nameKonaté
Squad number25Player nameCamavinga
Squad number26Player nameThuram

Line-ups

Argentina

Formation 4-3-3

23E MartínezBooked at 126mins
26MolinaSubstituted forMontielat 90'minutesBooked at 116mins
13Romero
19Otamendi
3TagliaficoSubstituted forDybalaat 120+1'minutes
7De PaulSubstituted forParedesat 102'minutesBooked at 114mins
24FernándezBooked at 45mins
20Mac AllisterSubstituted forPezzellaat 116'minutes
10Messi
9ÁlvarezSubstituted forLa Martínezat 103'minutes
11Di MaríaSubstituted forAcuñaat 64'minutesBooked at 90mins

Substitutes

1Armani
2Foyth
4Montiel
5Paredes
6Pezzella
8Acuña
12Rulli
14Palacios
15Correa
16Almada
17Gómez
18Rodríguez
21Dybala
22La Martínez
25Li Martínez

France

Formation 4-2-3-1

1Lloris
5KoundéSubstituted forDisasiat 120+1'minutes
4VaraneSubstituted forKonatéat 113'minutes
18Upamecano
22HernándezSubstituted forCamavingaat 71'minutes
8Tchouaméni
14RabiotBooked at 55minsSubstituted forFofanaat 96'minutes
11DembéléSubstituted forKolo Muaniat 41'minutes
7GriezmannSubstituted forComanat 71'minutes
10Mbappé
9GiroudBooked at 90minsSubstituted forThuramat 41'minutesBooked at 87mins

Substitutes

2Pavard
3Disasi
6Guendouzi
12Kolo Muani
13Fofana
15Veretout
16Mandanda
17Saliba
20Coman
23Aréola
24Konaté
25Camavinga
26Thuram

Referee:Szymon Marciniak

Attendance:88,966

Live Text

Match ends, Argentina 3(4), France 3(2).
Penalty Shootout ends, Argentina 3(4), France 3(2).
Goal! Argentina 3(4), France 3(2). Gonzalo Montiel (Argentina) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom left corner.
Emiliano Martínez (Argentina) is shown the yellow card.
Goal! Argentina 3(3), France 3(2). Randal Kolo Muani (France) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the high centre of the goal.
Goal! Argentina 3(3), France 3(1). Leandro Paredes (Argentina) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom left corner.
Penalty missed! Bad penalty by Aurélien Tchouaméni (France) right footed shot is close, but misses to the left. Aurélien Tchouaméni should be disappointed.
Goal! Argentina 3(2), France 3(1). Paulo Dybala (Argentina) converts the penalty with a left footed shot to the centre of the goal.
Penalty saved! Kingsley Coman (France) fails to capitalise on this great opportunity, right footed shot saved in the bottom left corner.
Goal! Argentina 3(1), France 3(1). Lionel Messi (Argentina) converts the penalty with a left footed shot to the bottom left corner.
Goal! Argentina 3, France 3(1). Kylian Mbappé (France) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom left corner.
Penalty Shootout begins Argentina 3, France 3.
Second Half Extra Time ends, Argentina 3, France 3.
Attempt missed. Lautaro Martínez (Argentina) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Gonzalo Montiel following a fast break.
Attempt saved. Randal Kolo Muani (France) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Ibrahima Konaté with a through ball.
Offside, Argentina. Lionel Messi tries a through ball, but Lautaro Martínez is caught offside.
Substitution, Argentina. Paulo Dybala replaces Nicolás Tagliafico.
Substitution, France. Axel Disasi replaces Jules Koundé.
Corner, Argentina. Conceded by Jules Koundé.
Goal! Argentina 3, France 3. Kylian Mbappé (France) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom left corner.