(Qatar World Cup) Argentina beats France in penalty shootout to win third World Cup title
China News Agency, Doha, December 18 (Reporter Xing Chong) The final of the 2022 Qatar World Cup will be staged on the 18th.
The Argentine team defeated defending champion France 7:5 (4:2 in penalty shootout) and won the World Cup again after 36 years. This is the third time in the team's history.
Messi, the core figure in the team, won the Hercules Cup for the first time in his career.
The final of the day was held at the Lusail Stadium, the largest stadium of the cup.
One hour before the final, the stadium first performed a closing performance with the theme of "A Night to Remember (A Night to Remember)".
During the short 15-minute performance, "Hayya Hayya" and other theme songs of this World Cup were sung on the spot, reliving the wonderful moments of this cup on the spot.
At about 5:40 p.m., the legendary Spanish goalkeeper Iker Casillas escorted the Hercules Cup into the Lusail Stadium, kicking off the final.
After the team entrance ceremony, the finals officially began.
The starting lineups of both sides have been adjusted. The Argentine team Di Maria returned from injury, and Rabiot and Pamecano of the French team, who missed the semi-finals due to illness, returned to the starting lineup.
After the start of the game, the Argentine team quickly started fighting and quickly dominated the situation on the field, while the French team seemed too conservative.
In the 21st minute, Di Maria dribbled past Dembele and broke into the French team's penalty area. Dembele brought Di Maria down while catching up, and the Argentine team won a penalty kick.
Messi scored a penalty and Argentina took a 1-0 lead.
In the 36th minute, the Argentine team successfully intercepted in the backcourt. Di Maria scored after receiving a cross from the front of the penalty area from his teammate, helping the team expand its lead.
The morale of the Argentine team, which led by two goals, was greatly boosted, forming a comprehensive suppression of the French team, and the French team had 0 shots throughout the first half.
Easy side to fight again, the scene was a little dull.
French team coach Didier Deschamps strengthened his offensive through changes, and the French team finally set off an offensive climax in the last 10 minutes.
In the 80th minute, Otamendi fouled Mouani in the penalty area. The referee awarded a penalty kick and Mbappe made the penalty. After just over 1 minute, Thuram picked a pass from the penalty area after Mbappe scored the ball. On the left, Mbappe volleyed in and scored to help the French team equalize.
The game was tied at 2 in regular time and the game entered overtime.
In the 109th minute, after Lautaro's shot from the bench was saved by the French goalkeeper Lloris, Messi made a supplementary shot and the Argentine team led 3:2; however, Mbappe scored another penalty kick in the 118th minute, and the two sides fought again. The tie ended with 3:3 overtime.
The final was dragged into a penalty shootout.
In the first round, Mbappe opened the scoring for the French team, and Messi also scored easily; Koeman and Chuameni, who played in the French team, failed to hit, and the Argentine team did not miss; both players made free throws in the fourth round In the end, the Argentine team defeated the French team 4:2 in the penalty shootout and won the championship with a total score of 7:5.
This is the third time that the Argentine team has won the World Cup since they won the championship in 1978 and 1986. Messi won the championship with the team for the first time in five World Cups.
After the game, a grand awards ceremony was held. In addition to the Argentina team and France team winning the championship and runner-up respectively, various individual awards were also announced.
Messi won the Golden Globe Award, which symbolizes the most valuable player. Mbappe, who contributed 3 goals to the French team in the final, won the Golden Boot Award, the Best Young Player Award and the Best Goalkeeper Award with a total of 8 goals. Received by Argentina's Enzo Fernandez and Martinez respectively.
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