Following four weeks of soccer.
Argentina was crowned World Cup champion on Sunday in Qatar, defeating France on penalty kicks in what will be remembered as one of the greatest finals of all time.
Lionel Messi has won the World Cup for the first time, completing his collection of just about every trophy. Messi scored twice in the final and converted his penalty kick, giving him seven goals in seven games.
France’s Kylian Mbappe finished with eight goals, including three in the final, but his team fell short in a penalty shootout with the chance to win a second World Cup in a row.
Here’s how things went down on Sunday at Qatar’s Lusail Stadium:
Lionel Messi has won the World Cup. Finally.
Argentina defeated France in a penalty shootout to win the World Cup title that had eluded Messi throughout his illustrious career. Gonzalo Montiel, whose handball in extra time gave France a chance, converted the final penalty, sparking a wild celebration among Argentina’s players and fans.
Messi waved to the crowd as several of his teammates sobbed.
While Messi’s majestic moment will be remembered, Kylian Mbappe’s heroics will also be remembered. After being all but written off after a sluggish first 80 minutes, he scored twice in 90 seconds to force extra time and then converted a penalty to force the shootout.
PENALTIES GO TO ARGENTINA!
France’s Kingsley Coman and Aurélien Tchouaméni both missed, while Argentina converted all four kicks to win its third World Cup title. Argentina’s winner came from Gonzalo Montiel.
The World Cup final will be decided on penalties.
The World Cup final will be decided by penalty kicks for the third time in history. Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe each scored in the second period of extra time to send the game to penalties, making it one of the most memorable World Cup matches in history.
FRANCE, GOAL! Kylian Mbappe’s penalty equalises the score at 3-3.
After a handball in the penalty area, France’s Kylian Mbappe converted his third goal of the night from the spot in the 118th minute, giving him the second hat trick in World Cup final history.
ARGENTINA, GOAL! Lionel Messi scores on a rebound to give Barcelona a 3-2 lead.
In the 108th minute of the World Cup final, Lionel Messi pounced on a rebound to smash the ball over the line and put Argentina ahead 3-2. It’s his second goal of the night, and he’s reclaimed the lead in the Golden Boot race.
After the first period of extra time, France and Argentina were still tied.
Because neither team scored in the first 15 minutes of extra time, we’re only 15 minutes away from penalty kicks if the score stands. Argentina had two golden chances in the final few minutes, but France defender Dayot Upamecano made a game-saving slide tackle to block one, and Lautaro Martinez was unable to get a shot on frame in a one-on-one with keeper Hugo Lloris.
At 2-2, the World Cup final is heading to extra time.
Both teams pushed hard for a winner in the final 10 minutes of regulation, but the world champion will be decided in extra time in Qatar, with an additional 30 minutes and penalty kicks if necessary.
Extra time has been used in four of the last five World Cup finals, including Argentina’s defeat to Germany in 2014.
FRANCE, GOAL! Kylian Mbappe seals the deal
Kylian Mbappe scored the equaliser less than two minutes after scoring a penalty kick to bring France back into the game. Mbappe has now scored seven goals in the tournament, helping his country recover after struggling for the first 75 minutes.
Wow.
Argentina also blew a 2-0 lead against the Netherlands in the quarterfinals, but won on penalties.
FRANCE, GOAL! Kylian Mbappe’s penalty makes the score 2-1.
After Mbappe converted from the spot in the 80th minute, it will be a breathless final 10 minutes plus stoppage time.
France is still unable to find a way out.
The defending champions haven’t been able to get anything going since the break after a listless first half, while Argentina has taken advantage of the space to create some good chances in the first 20 minutes of the half.
Argentina leads France 2-0 at halftime.
Argentina dominated the first half, leading 2-0 at the break thanks to goals from Lionel Messi and Angel Di Maria. They’re 45 minutes away from winning their first World Cup since 1986, and the first of Messi’s illustrious career.
Messi is the first player in history to score in all four rounds of the knockout stage, converting penalty kicks in the quarterfinals, semis, and final after scoring in the round of 16.
Argentina leads 2-0 thanks to Angel Di Maria’s goal.
Angel Di Maria scores on a sweeping cross from Alexis Mac Allister, capping off a beautiful counter-attack. Lionel Messi’s deft flick from midfield put his teammates in space behind the French defence.
There will be no better goal in a World Cup final than that.
Argentina leads 1-0 thanks to a penalty from Lionel Messi.
Argentina’s Angel Di Maria was fouled in the box by France’s Ousmane Dembélé, earning Lionel Messi a penalty kick, which he converted coolly as Hugo Lloris went the wrong way.
Messi’s sixth goal of the tournament puts him in first place for the Golden Boot.
Argentina exerting early pressure
The Argentines have been on the offensive in the first 20 minutes, getting a couple of good looks at goal but being caught offsides twice.
Hugo Lloris of France went down for a few moments after being hit in the penalty area.
France has recovered from the flu.
Les Bleus are fully recovered. This is as close to full strength as they will get in this tournament.
France’s midfielder Adrien Rabiot and defender Dayot Upamecano, who missed the semifinal due to the flu, were both named starters for Sunday’s final against Argentina. Raphael Varane is also in the starting lineup, despite missing practise two days earlier due to “flu-like symptoms.”
Ibrahima Konate and Kingsley Coman are also available to play despite missing practise on the same day as Varane.
Karim Benzema is one player who is not available.
The reigning Ballon d’Or winner is back in training with Real Madrid after recovering from the thigh injury that forced him to miss the World Cup, and there were reports that the club had cleared him to join France for the final. Benzema, on the other hand, is listed as “absent” on the starting lineup.
Argentina’s only change is that Angel Di Maria returns to the starting lineup and Leandro Paredes comes off the bench.
Di Maria, 34, started Argentina’s first four World Cup games but came on as a substitute against the Netherlands in the quarterfinals. He did not take part in the semifinal against Croatia on Tuesday.
What Argentina and France need to do to win the World Cup final
This was not the final that many expected when the World Cup began nearly a month ago, with France decimated by injuries and Argentina losing to Saudi Arabia in its opener. Yet here we are, with the defending champions and Lionel Messi and company emerging as the tournament’s class as both chase history.
So, what are the keys to each team’s victory?
Argentina:
Be merciless.
Forget about the stakes Corral Kylian Mbappe France:
Maintain your focus.
Don’t dismiss Argentina’s youth.
Don’t tamper with what’s already working.
Click here to read Nancy Armour’s complete World Cup final preview.
Is Qatar’s World Cup a warm-up for the Middle East Olympics?
There will come a time, not long from now, when Qatari officials will argue that the success of this World Cup has demonstrated that Doha is a worthy host of the Summer Olympics. As early as 2036 is possible. They will brag about the spectacular World Cup stadiums, first-rate training facilities, and efficient metro system that transported fans between games. They’ll show photos of those happy fans cheering on their teams while the cityscape glitters in the background.
They will remind the IOC that no Middle Eastern country has ever hosted an Olympic Games, and they will argue that excluding a region with over 400 million people is unjust. It will be a compelling argument, and one that is sure to tempt IOC president Thomas Bach, who considers himself to be a great statesman.
WORLD CUP 2022 FINAL RECAP: Argentina defeats France on penalties
Sports on USA TODAY
Following four weeks of soccer.
Argentina was crowned World Cup champion on Sunday in Qatar, defeating France on penalty kicks in what will be remembered as one of the greatest finals of all time.
Lionel Messi has won the World Cup for the first time, completing his collection of just about every trophy. Messi scored twice in the final and converted his penalty kick, giving him seven goals in seven games.
A GLANCE AT THE 2022 WORLD CUP: A look back at the tournament.
France’s Kylian Mbappe finished with eight goals, including three in the final, but his team fell short in a penalty shootout with the chance to win a second World Cup in a row.
Here’s how things went down on Sunday at Qatar’s Lusail Stadium:
Follow every match with the most recent World Cup scores and schedules.
Argentina’s players celebrate their World Cup victory.
Lionel Messi has won the World Cup. Finally.
Argentina defeated France in a penalty shootout to win the World Cup title that had eluded Messi throughout his illustrious career. Gonzalo Montiel, whose handball in extra time gave France a chance, converted the final penalty, sparking a wild celebration among Argentina’s players and fans.
Messi waved to the crowd as several of his teammates sobbed.
While Messi’s majestic moment will be remembered, Kylian Mbappe’s heroics will also be remembered. After being all but written off after a sluggish first 80 minutes, he scored twice in 90 seconds to force extra time and then converted a penalty to force the shootout.
Nancy Armour’s
PENALTIES GO TO ARGENTINA!
France’s Kingsley Coman and Aurélien Tchouaméni both missed, while Argentina converted all four kicks to win its third World Cup title. Argentina’s winner came from Gonzalo Montiel.
The World Cup final will be decided on penalties.
The World Cup final will be decided by penalty kicks for the third time in history. Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe each scored in the second period of extra time to send the game to penalties, making it one of the most memorable World Cup matches in history.
In the final minute of extra time, each team had a good chance.
FRANCE, GOAL! Kylian Mbappe’s penalty equalises the score at 3-3.
After a handball in the penalty area, France’s Kylian Mbappe converted his third goal of the night from the spot in the 118th minute, giving him the second hat trick in World Cup final history.
ARGENTINA, GOAL! Lionel Messi scores on a rebound to give Barcelona a 3-2 lead.
In the 108th minute of the World Cup final, Lionel Messi pounced on a rebound to smash the ball over the line and put Argentina ahead 3-2. It’s his second goal of the night, and he’s reclaimed the lead in the Golden Boot race.
After the first period of extra time, France and Argentina were still tied.
Because neither team scored in the first 15 minutes of extra time, we’re only 15 minutes away from penalty kicks if the score stands. Argentina had two golden chances in the final few minutes, but France defender Dayot Upamecano made a game-saving slide tackle to block one, and Lautaro Martinez was unable to get a shot on frame in a one-on-one with keeper Hugo Lloris.
Kylian Mbappe (10) of France celebrates his second goal of the game against Argentina during the second half of the 2022 World Cup final at Lusail Stadium.
At 2-2, the World Cup final is heading to extra time.
Both teams pushed hard for a winner in the final 10 minutes of regulation, but the world champion will be decided in extra time in Qatar, with an additional 30 minutes and penalty kicks if necessary.
Extra time has been used in four of the last five World Cup finals, including Argentina’s defeat to Germany in 2014.
FRANCE, GOAL! Kylian Mbappe seals the deal
Kylian Mbappe scored the equaliser less than two minutes after scoring a penalty kick to bring France back into the game. Mbappe has now scored seven goals in the tournament, helping his country recover after struggling for the first 75 minutes.
Wow.
Argentina also blew a 2-0 lead against the Netherlands in the quarterfinals, but won on penalties.
FRANCE, GOAL! Kylian Mbappe’s penalty makes the score 2-1.
After Mbappe converted from the spot in the 80th minute, it will be a breathless final 10 minutes plus stoppage time.
France is still unable to find a way out.
The defending champions haven’t been able to get anything going since the break after a listless first half, while Argentina has taken advantage of the space to create some good chances in the first 20 minutes of the half.
Argentina leads France 2-0 at halftime.
Argentina dominated the first half, leading 2-0 at the break thanks to goals from Lionel Messi and Angel Di Maria. They’re 45 minutes away from winning their first World Cup since 1986, and the first of Messi’s illustrious career.
Messi is the first player in history to score in all four rounds of the knockout stage, converting penalty kicks in the quarterfinals, semis, and final after scoring in the round of 16.
Argentina leads 2-0 thanks to Angel Di Maria’s goal.
Angel Di Maria scores on a sweeping cross from Alexis Mac Allister, capping off a beautiful counter-attack. Lionel Messi’s deft flick from midfield put his teammates in space behind the French defence.
There will be no better goal in a World Cup final than that.
Argentina leads 1-0 thanks to a penalty from Lionel Messi.
Argentina’s Angel Di Maria was fouled in the box by France’s Ousmane Dembélé, earning Lionel Messi a penalty kick, which he converted coolly as Hugo Lloris went the wrong way.
Messi’s sixth goal of the tournament puts him in first place for the Golden Boot.
Argentina exerting early pressure
The Argentines have been on the offensive in the first 20 minutes, getting a couple of good looks at goal but being caught offsides twice.
Hugo Lloris of France went down for a few moments after being hit in the penalty area.
France has recovered from the flu.
Les Bleus are fully recovered. This is as close to full strength as they will get in this tournament.
France’s midfielder Adrien Rabiot and defender Dayot Upamecano, who missed the semifinal due to the flu, were both named starters for Sunday’s final against Argentina. Raphael Varane is also in the starting lineup, despite missing practise two days earlier due to “flu-like symptoms.”
Ibrahima Konate and Kingsley Coman are also available to play despite missing practise on the same day as Varane.
Karim Benzema is one player who is not available.
The reigning Ballon d’Or winner is back in training with Real Madrid after recovering from the thigh injury that forced him to miss the World Cup, and there were reports that the club had cleared him to join France for the final. Benzema, on the other hand, is listed as “absent” on the starting lineup.
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Argentina’s only change is that Angel Di Maria returns to the starting lineup and Leandro Paredes comes off the bench.
Di Maria, 34, started Argentina’s first four World Cup games but came on as a substitute against the Netherlands in the quarterfinals. He did not take part in the semifinal against Croatia on Tuesday.
Nancy Armour’s
What Argentina and France need to do to win the World Cup final
This was not the final that many expected when the World Cup began nearly a month ago, with France decimated by injuries and Argentina losing to Saudi Arabia in its opener. Yet here we are, with the defending champions and Lionel Messi and company emerging as the tournament’s class as both chase history.
So, what are the keys to each team’s victory?
Argentina:
Be merciless.
Forget about the stakes Corral Kylian Mbappe France:
Maintain your focus.
Don’t dismiss Argentina’s youth.
Don’t tamper with what’s already working.
Click here to read Nancy Armour’s complete World Cup final preview.
Is Qatar’s World Cup a warm-up for the Middle East Olympics?
There will come a time, not long from now, when Qatari officials will argue that the success of this World Cup has demonstrated that Doha is a worthy host of the Summer Olympics. As early as 2036 is possible. They will brag about the spectacular World Cup stadiums, first-rate training facilities, and efficient metro system that transported fans between games. They’ll show photos of those happy fans cheering on their teams while the cityscape glitters in the background.
They will remind the IOC that no Middle Eastern country has ever hosted an Olympic Games, and they will argue that excluding a region with over 400 million people is unjust. It will be a compelling argument, and one that is sure to tempt IOC president Thomas Bach, who considers himself to be a great statesman.
