2022 FIFA World Cup : Argentina Champions After Pulsating Final

Argentina finally ended their 36-year wait for the World Cup trophy when they beat France 4-2 on penalties (3-3 after extra time) last night at the Lusail Iconic Stadium in the final of the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Lionel Messi's brace (23' pen, 108) either side of Angel Dí Maria's strike (36') were cancelled out by a Kylian Mbappe hat trick (80' pen, 82', 118' pen) after 120 pulsating minutes.  Emiliano Martinez was then the hero once again for Argentina in the penalty shootout exercise, stopping Kingsley Coman's shot before Aurelien Tchouameni shot missed the target as the 'Albiceleste' scored four penalties to carry the day.
Argentina were the better side in the opening quarter of the game as they looked to exploit the spaces between France’s full backs and centre halves. They finally forced open the door when Angel Dí Maria easily breezed past Ousmane Dembele before the French winger brought him down in the penalty box as the referee pointed to the spot. Lionel Messi (23') stepped up and sent Hugo Lloris the wrong way to give Argentina the lead and move to top in the race for the golden boot with six goals at that instant in the match. Argentina were heads and shoulders in the game and deservedly got a second when a smart turn on the half way line by Lionel Messi played through Julian Alvarez on the break. The Manchester City forward delivered a sumptuous ball to the on rushing Angel Di Maria (36') who clipped it past Hugo Lloris to spark wild scenes of celebrations among the Argentina fans inside the Lusail Iconic Stadium.  France coach Didier Deschamps had seen enough from his side and rang the changes just before the break, bringing on Marcus Thuram and Randal Kolo Muani for the ineffective Olivier Giroud who was marked out of the game and the leggy Ousmane Dembele. Argentina kept control in the second half but could not get the killer goal as France stayed alive.
The game then got on its head in the final ten minutes with France coming from nowhere to level scores through Mbappe (80', 82'). The PSG forward slotted from the penalty spot after Kolo Muani had been brought down inside the penalty area by Nicolas Otamendi. Mbappe then completed the comeback two minutes later with a volleyed-finish into the bottom corner to send the g...