Argentina is crowned with suffering and glory

This is the story of a final of world Cup who refused to finish. The clock stopped at the Argentina hand and the second hand at France. In the penalty shootout, after the 2-2 draw in regular time, and the closed 3-3 draw in the two overtimes, the shots from the eleven steps condemned the runner-up French homeland today.

La Albiceleste added their third World Cup trophy, beating the champion in Russia in 2018, which in the match went from less to more, reaching a point of resistance that made the Argentines suffer, who made the road difficult after the 2-0 in their favor .

The first two goals were the coordinated work of Lionel Messi (23′) and Ángel Di María (36′). Messi’s was controversial, because the penalty he converted was due to a foul inside the area committed by Ousmane Dembélé on Di María, who got up without physical impediment. Before halftime, Di María finished off with his left foot to move the nets.

Kylian Mbappé said enough. He woke up the French by scoring the first goal of his hat-trick in the 80th minute. Until then, the Argentines had been superior. The 23-year-old star striker scored via penalty after the referee called a free kick from Nicolás Otamendi to Randal Kolo Muani.

Thus began the French rebellion. Two minutes later the second goal fell. Kylian tied the score at 2-2 and the Lusail stadium shocked the Argentines who had already anticipated the title celebration. At that moment, the roles were reversed, the Argentine fans were crying, the French were now raising their colors.

Extra time was required. The most important men in number 10 and current scorers from their nations were in charge of leaving the score 3-3, curiously both did so by way of a penalty.

France grew to defend itself, Argentina suffered when seeing the degree of difficulty. For example, Dayot Upamecano’s sweep stopped a shot from Lautaro Martínez. The Frenchman put his leg in at the right time.

He who perseveres, reaches and thus, at 108′ Lautaro returned to the scene after finishing off from long distance but into the hands of goalkeeper Hugo Lloris. In the blink of an eye, Messi reached the counter-attack to advance the score 3-2. The stadium went crazy and the blue colors reappeared. Messi gave meaning to the fight, but since the game was already dramatic and suffered, the referee scored a handball from defender Gonzalo Montiel. Just a breath away from the end of the second overtime.

Mbappé asked to take the penalty and scared the Argentines by making it 3-3. The final that refused to finish. The last step was the penalties.

The numbers 10 of both teams opened the penalties, both were right to give the emotional blow. France felt the final blow with shots missed by Kingsley Coman (26 years old) and Aurélien Tchouaméni (22 years old). Paulo Dybala scored for Argentina, Leandro Paredes and finally Gonzalo Montiel in the fourth shot confirmed the World Champion, preventing France from achieving the two-time championship. It is the tenth World Cup that goes to a South American team after the five won by Brazil, the two by Uruguay and the other two that Argentina already boasted.

deportes@eleconomista.mx