Football’s Greatest Games: Argentina 3-3 France (4-2 Pens)
A new series on Always Thinking Football, we briefly relive some of the greatest football matches in recent memory and the key events which made them so special.
Where better to start than with the most recent World Cup and the biggest game in football, the Final.
Of course, this was already a unique World Cup, being staged during the middle of the domestic season for the majority of European Nations. Yet the tournament produced magical moments and drama throughout. From the Netherlands’ last minute fight back against Argentina (albeit to ultimately be eliminated), or Saudi Arabia’s famous victory over Argentina. All of which cumulating in a huge clash between two great sides, the Holders France and Argentina, desperate to claim a third World Cup title.
The enormous sub-plot of this final was with regards to a certain Lionel Messi, would he skipper his nation to success and follow in the footsteps of the great Diego Maradona?
Lineups:
Argentina (4,3,3):
Martinez (GK), Molina, Romero, Otamendi, Tagliafico, Rodrigo De Paul, Fernandez, Mac Allister, Di Maria, Alvarez, Messi
France (4,2,3,1)
Lloris (GK), Kounde, Varane, Upamecano, Hernandez, Rabiot, Tchouaméni, Dembélé, Griezmann, Mbpappé, Giroud
The Action:
Unlike other World Cup finals we have seen in recent times, the beginning of this match was a stark contrast to a cagey affair with Argentina quickly seizing the initiative and dictating the ball, Fernandez and Mac Allister in particular made an impressive start. Di Maria and Alvarez both had early chances as France struggled to match the intensity. Things quickly went from bad to worse for France when Di Maria chopped back inside of Dembélé inside the French penalty area forcing the ref to point to the spot. Upon replays contact seemed minimal and re-watching the game for this report, my opinion on that has not changed, nevertheless, the VAR did not overturn and up stepped Lionel Messi… 1-0 Argentina as he sent Lloris the wrong way.
Just 13 minutes later, Argentina would double their lead with an electric counter attack. I’m still not convinced this goal gets the credit that it deserves. Mac Allister, Messi and Alvarez all combined before the latter returned the pass to Mac Allister to charge through on goal. He picked out Di Maria, who was able to slot the ball under the onrushing Hugo Lloris, bedlam amongst the Argentina fans in the ground. It was the very least that Argentina deserved heading into half time.
Deschamps required a huge team talk to lift a very mediocre France side in the second half. As the half began, it was more of the same. Di Maria again causing issues down the left hand side before cutting back to Messi who couldn’t quite get his strike away. The game was beginning to drift when suddenly a misjudgement from Otamendi saw substitute Marcus Thuram burst in behind, Otamendi had no choice but to pull him back. In hindsight he was probably fortunate he gave away a penalty as if this incident were outside the box, he would have been sent off I’m sure. Mbpappé had been quiet until this point but stepped up and slotted the penalty past Emi Martinez, who got a hand on it but couldn’t keep it out.
They say that goals change games and my word France were a different side for the last 15 minutes of this match. Messi of all people was tackled by Coman who tracked back with intent, he squared the ball to Rabiot who floated the ball onto Mbappé’s chest, he played a one two with Thuram before emphatically volleying beyond Martinez. In a blink of an eye it was 2-2 and all in the balance.
There was still plenty of room for drama in the 90 minutes, Messi picked the ball up on the edge of the area - cutting in on his left foot he forced a smart save from Lloris. At the time you thought that would be the moment for Messi and it was a miraculous save, upon rewatch it was a save you would expect the French number 1 to make. Shortly after the full time whistle blew and we were destined for extra time. Now, the last couple of finals that had been to extra time, whilst they’d produced the winner, they had been slow and nervy. The 2022 World Cup final may still have been nervy, but the tempo certainly did not drop.
Martinez’s effort was superbly blocked before Montiel’s follow up, which looked goal-bound was also blocked bravely by the head of Varane. This wouldn’t be Martinez’s only chance of the half as he fired Acuna’s smart trivela pass wide. Big chances, but the drama was to come in the second half of extra time…
Argentina re-took their lead as Lautaro Martinez was again denied, however this time Lloris could only spill to the feet of Messi, who diverted the ball across the line with his right foot, despite Kounde’s best efforts. It was a bizarre moment as the jubilation was temporarily halted as the stadium awaited the referee’s confirmation that the ball had crossed the line. Spoiler alert, it did. 3-2 Argentina. Surely there was no way back for France now?
I kind of already spoiled that with the blog title and I’d be amazed if anybody reading didn’t know by now, but France did find a way back. Again it was via the penalty spot as Mbappé’s shot was blocked by the arm of Montiel. This penalty had a lot more conviction than the one in normal time, sending Martinez the wrong way.
Yet still, there was time for one more huge moment, a moment where time stood still. Konaté’s punt forward fell to the feet of Kolo Muani and it seemed for all the world he would fire past Martinez and retain the World Cup for France, but celebrations were non-existent thanks to an amazing save by Martinez, sticking out his left leg to deny the Frenchman. This I’m sure will be remembered as one of the greatest saves in my lifetime. As we reflect, what do you think? Good save or bad miss?
Penalties beckoned as the match finished 3-3, my main takeaway from this was Messi’s beautifully casual penalty, rolling the ball past Lloris as if it were slow motion. Coman would be thwarted by Martinez on the next penalty before a second miss from Tchouaméni put Argentina on the brink of being crowned World Champions again. Up stepped Montiel, with the moment that every child who’s ever watched football dreams of. He whipped the ball into the bottom left corner and Argentina were crowned Champions of the World.
Personally, I loved this final. It was a captivating game, especially in the second half. Although I was a neutral, I am a huge Messi fan so couldn’t help that be delighted for him that he achieved his dream of lifting this trophy for Argentina. On the balance of play, it was probably deserved, Argentina dominated the first half and had double the amount of shots as France. As you know though, that’s not always how football works.
I will certainly remember this final for the rest of my life and it has set a benchmark for the drama, excitement and action I would like to see in all World Cup finals in the future.
This is for sure, one of Football’s Greatest Games.