Argentina vs France. South America vs Europe. Old Dog vs New Dog. Number 10 vs Number 10. Messi vs Mbappe. No matter the challenge, Destiny will not be denied. The final trophy has been achieved. Lionel and the Argentines have dethroned the defending champions in historic fashion!
After a disastrous first half which saw the French looking like contenders than champs, Les Bleus came storming in the second half with two goals from young sensation and possibly football's heir-apparent in Kylian Mbappe. A penalty kick and a beautiful steal for Coman from Messi lead to a brilliant counter attack that Mbappe finished. With the scores tied and the momentum shifting, France looked like the deadlier team going for the final kill. A tactical blunder by Scaloni to subbed Di Maria appeared to backfire as the Argentine offense looked stagnant. A spirited French defense, absent in the first half, showed hardened determination in the second. A stalemate ensued, regular time at 2-2.
The extra period was extra ordinary. The deadlock was broke when a mad scramble for the loose ball from a fantastic Lloris save went into Messi as he calmly kicked the ball for a 3-2 lead. With just a few minutes left and the championship seemingly secured, a handball violation allowed Mbappe to score a hat-trick to level the score again at 3-3. Mbappe and France will not go out without a fight.
The penalty period is the time when goalkeepers shine and Martinez stood up to the occasion again. A block from Coman and a missed by Tchouameni secured the Argentine victory, 4-2.
Argentina's previous legendary number 10 has won it. The current legendary 10 has NOW won it. Weird coincidence? Maradonna 10, Messi 10, Mbappe 10.
Fantastic victory! Fantastic World Cup!
This was a brilliantly written script - a script written by the football gods. Messi, in his late 30s, in what is touted as his final World Cup game, secures the final, elusive crown. Destiny will not be denied.
RB28
Photo Source: The Guardian
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