Argentina faced off against France at the Lusail Iconic Stadium earlier today as they looked to secure a win in the final of the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The Argentine players made an electric start to the game and got their noses ahead in the 23rd minute courtesy of Lionel Messi’s penalty. Angel Di Maria doubled Argentina’s advantage when he finished a wonderful breakaway team goal. The South American nation went into the half-time break with a 2-0 lead.
Kylian Mbappe converted a penalty in the 80th minute before going on to score the equaliser just one minute later when he scored with a brilliant finish. The match finished 2-2 after normal time.
Argentina pushed on in search of the winning goal in extra time and managed to score yet again via Lionel Messi’s finish from close range. However, Kylian Mbappe converted another penalty for France in the 118th minute to take the match to penalties after it finished 3-3.
Argentina ended up securing a 4-2 win on penalties and finally got their hands on the prestigious World Cup trophy in Qatar.
Let’s take a look at how each Argentina player fared during the match against France.
GK: Emiliano Martinez – 7.5/10
Martinez made a couple of solid saves but still ended up netting three goals after 120 minutes. However, he saved a crucial penalty in the shootout.
RB: Nahuel Molina – 6/10
He gave away the ball cheaply at times and produced an average display defensively. Molina offered very little in the final third.
CB: Cristian Romero – 6.5/10
Romero made a lot of important clearances at the back and earned the ball back twice for his team.
CB: Nicolas Otamendi – 5.5/10
Otamendi used his experience well at times but struggled to cope with the pace of the France counterattacks.
LB: Nicolas Tagliafico – 7/10
He worked his socks off defensively and made one good chance going forward.
CM: Rodrigo de Paul – 6.5/10
De Paul struggled to get a foothold in the game at times but produced a tireless display in both halves.
CM: Enzo Fernandez – 7.5/10
He got stuck in with plenty of solid tackles and ran the show in the France half.
CM: Alexis Mac Allister – 7.5/10
Mac Allister came back to defend when needed and was a real threat in the final third.
RW: Lionel Messi – 9/10
Messi scored a goal each in normal time and extra time. He even converted his penalty in the shootout and finally got his hands on the World Cup.
ST: Julian Alvarez – 6/10
He struggled to influence the game in the opponent’s half and got replaced in the 102nd minute.
LW: Angel Di Maria – 8.5/10
Di Maria was simply unstoppable in the first half and took his goal well in the 36th minute.
Substitutes:
LB: Marcos Acuna – 6/10
He made a couple of decent chances from the left flank.
RB: Gonzalo Montiel – 6/10
Montiel made two good chances in the final third and scored the winning penalty in the shootout.
CM: Leandro Paredes – 6.5/10
Paredes added more energy to Lionel Scaloni’s midfield.
ST: Lautaro Martinez – 5.5/10
He couldn’t take any of his chances to win the game.
CB: Germán Pezzella – N/A
Pezzela hardly had any time to influence the game.
ST: Paulo Dybala – N/A
He scored his penalty in the shootout.
