South American champions Argentina exhibited nerves of steel to dethrone reigning World Champions France on post match penalties to lift the 2022 FIFA World Cup after a nail-biting 3-3 draw at the close of extra time.The regular time had ended two all with France conjuring two goals in two minutes to draw level with nine regular minutes left after Argentina had raced to first half lead.It was billed the Kylian Mbappe verses Lionel Messi show and lived up to expectations. Messi weighed in with a brace but it’s the twenty three year old French wonder that eclipsed the Argentine legend as he scored a hat trick in the final of a FIFA World Cup. After the full time whistle, it was Messi celebrating the final coveted trophy missing from his glamorous cabinet. A game of two halves it was in which France were depressingly subdued in the first as the utterly dominant Argentina raced to a two goal lead courtesy of Messi and the effervescent Angel Di Maria inside the opening 35 minutes.Lionel Messi is the first player to EVER score in the group stage, round of 16, quarterfinal, semifinal, and final in a SINGLE World Cup 🐐 pic.twitter.com/UhCWAXMtqb— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) December 18, 2022 The seco from neat interplay between Di Maria and Rodrigo de Paul that set up the game’s first shot on target, West Ham midfielder McAllister testing Hugo Lloris from edge of the box.The erratic Frenchmen gave away possession to the determined Argentina forward line.France had the first opportunity to score after eighteen minutes on the back foot. De Paul clumsily brought down Theo Hernandez on the right side of Argentina box and Antoine Griezman lofted a dangerous cross which Olivier Giroud met with a fierce header. Most matches played in World Cup history: Lionel Messi ✅Most goal contributions in World Cup history: Lionel Messi ✅The GOAT debate could finally be settled in 45 minutes 🐐⏳ #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/k2quNNUVrG— Farid Khan (@_FaridKhan) December 18, 2022 His effort went wide and the whistle blew for a foul. Two minutes later the dangerous Di Maria won Argentina a penalty. Barcelona winger Ousmane Dembele was adjudged to have tripped Di Maria when their feet came together as the Argentine bore down on goal. Messi stepped up sent Lloris the wrong way to put Argentina in front with his 6th goal in Qatar.Di Maria created a healthy buffer between the two countries with a neat finish low in the far post after McAllister laid a tantalizing cross from the other side. The French were abject and got duly punished. Kylian Mbappe was threatening to crack open the Argentine defense but a joint effort from Enzo Fernandez and Tagliafico dispossessed him. The clearance found Upamecano who casually lofted the ball in search of Mbappe. Sergio Romero intercepted and found Messi who launched a devastating counter attack. He expertly teed up McAllister who raced through on the porous French backline. With Dayot Upamecano hot on his heels the midfielder squared the ball to an on rushing Di Maria who beat Lloris to bring a glorious end to the swift counter attack. Didier Deschamps seeing no reaction from his charges on the pitch reacted by resting Giroud and Dembele for Kolo-Muani and Thuram in the 41st minute. The Argentines were in complete control of the game. French enforcer Griezman was anonymous and Mbappe had little room to wiggle in. Game management ensured Argentina carried the two-goal lead into halftime. Didier Deschamps would have hoped for a better response after the interval but it is Argentina who nearly made it 3-0 two minutes in through a De Paul shot that was Lloris did well to gather.La Albiceleste continued to run the show with a mix of controlling the proceedings and containing any attempts by France to come back into the game, their midfield in particular looked faultless. Attempts on goal still proved difficult to come by for the defending champions.Argentina went for a defensive change in the 64th minute. Di Maria, who played a part in both goals was rested for left-back, Marcos Acuna as coach Lionel Scaloni went to seal that left chanel.Deschamps made a further two changes in the 70th minute bringing on Eduardo Camavinga and Kingsley Coman for Theo Hernandez and Antoine Griezmann in a bid to inspire his team to try and do the unthinkable.Against the run of play, France won a penalty when substitute Kolo Muani was hacked down by Nicholas Otamendi inside the area. With Griezmann off, Kylian Mbappe stepped forward to convert. Things toomya dramatic turn of events 97 seconds later when Mbappe found the back of the net with a neat low effort after being set up by Thuram.Thuram thought he had won France a penalty in the 87th minute when he went down inside the penalty area, he was however booked for simulation. Messi forced Lloris into a huge save deep into stoppage time before the game was stretched to extra time.Visibly deflated after letting a glorious advantage slip, Argentina were not as aggressive in the first stanza of extra time. It is France and co that actually looked more dangerous with Kolo Muani and Thuram, both inspired changes causing Argentina endless problems.Argentina made two more changes in the 102nd minute Lautaro Martinez and Leandro Paredes were brought in for de Paul and Julien Alvarez. The later was denied two quick chances two minutes later with Upamecano superbly blocking his two goal-bound shots. The first phase of extra time ended even.Lloris was forced into another superb save by Messi in the second minute of extra time as the keeper stretched to deny him at far post but he wasn’t to be denied moments later as moments later he beat keeper on the rebound after he has pulled another save.There was one more twist in the game as Argentina conceded another spot kick three minutes before full-time when Mbappe’s effort hit Montiel’s arm in the box. The PSG man stepped forward to level the scores again.The game ended 3-3 and had to be settled from 12 yards.In the penalty shoot out Argentina won it 4-2.Messi, Dybala, Paredes and Montiel successfully converted their penalties.On France’s side, Mbappe and Kolo Muani scored while Coman was denied by Martinez. Tchouameni shot wide.
