A Game Not To Be Forgotten
December 18 in Qatar might come down in the history books for being the biggest World Cup game in tournament history.
Almost 89,000 people at Lusail Stadium and 3.2 billion witnessed it on live coverage. This game had people’s heart rate all over the place. What was pegged as the Messi vs Mbappe game definitely didn’t disappoint.
First half of the game was all Argentina.
In the 23rd minute, Di Maria gets past Dembele and is fouled in the box from behind by Dembele giving Messi a chance to get in front early. Messi goes to his right and he scores making it 1-0 Argentina. In the 36th minute, Alverez played the ball through to Mac Allister who played it across the box for Di Maria to hit it first time into the bottom right corner making it 2-0 Argentina. No shots for France and it was looking like it was ending for Mbappe and his team. Argentina was dominating and the score line showed it. Everyone around the world thought Messi was going to win it all. No one was prepared for the excitement of the second half.
In the 80th minute, with only one shot off target, France cleared the ball and Kolo Muani ran onto it, getting in front of Otemendi. Kolo Muani gets into the box and is fouled, giving France a penalty. Mbappe steps up for it and goes to his left scoring France’s first goal to make it 2-1. Just 33 seconds later, Mbappe and Thuram play a give and go in the air and Mbappe is free on top of the 18 and he hits a volley in the bottom right corner scoring and making the game tied at two. The score going from 2-0 to 2-2 in 90 seconds changed the excitement of the game. From the 80th minute to the end of regulation, the game was full of thrilling action. There were many great opportunities for both teams but it was still deadlocked at two going into extra time.
In extra time, it was still going back and forth, but in the 108th minute Messi broke the deadlock scoring a rebound from Martinez’s shot. Messi and his dreams were looking like they would come true, except in the 118th minute, Mbappe takes a shot outside the 18 and the ref points to the penalty spot after Mbappe’s shot goes off Montiel’s arm. Mbappe goes to his left on his penalty shot and ties it up again. In the 122nd minute, Kolo Muani gets played through with no one on him and he hits a volley, but Martinez makes a huge save keeping the game at three and it’s going to penalties.
France is the first to step up and it’s Mbappe for his third penalty of the game. He goes to his left and scores. Messi comes up for Argentina’s first penalty and hits a slow shot to his left, scoring making it 1-1. Koman comes up with the penalty shot and Martinez saves it. Dybala comes up for Argentina’s second pen and scores going down the middle making it 2-1 Argentina. France’s Tchouaméni comes up to the spot and misses the net completely to his left. Paredas steps up and goes to his left scoring making it 3-1. Kolo Muani steps up for France’s 4th penalty and goes down the middle making it 3-2. Montiel steps up for a do or die situation. If he scores, Argentina wins but if he misses France gets life. Montiel takes the shot to his left and scores, winning the World Cup for Argentina.
This game definitely goes down as one of the best games in World Cup – and soccer – history. The back and forth between France and Argentina, more specifically Messi and Mbappe, was incredible. Two goals for Messi and a hat trick for Mbappe. People around the world, even non-soccer fans, were entertained throughout the whole game. Messi on a million kids’ backs, and everyone hoping for one man to win it all. The pressure was on for Messi, but he definitely overcame it and showed he is the true goat. Argentina, champions of the world after a thrilling game against France.
