ARGENTINA’S coach and players as well as France’s captain expressed different emotions moments after the dramatic Qatar 2022 World Cup final in Doha last night.
The match, one of the most spectacular games of football in the history of the sport, had to be settled by a penalty shootout after full-time and extra-time ended in an enthralling 3-3 draw.
Argentina first led 2-0 through a Lionel Messi penalty and an Angel Di Maria finish.
France, who had sleepwalked through most of the encounter, then came awake 10 minutes from time to score two quick goals — a penalty and a fine volley, both by Kylian Mbappe.
Messi restored Argentina’s lead in the second half of extra-time but France refused to go away, with Mbappe completing a rare World Cup final hat-trick from the penalty spot with just two minutes left on the clock.
In the shootout, Argentina converted all their four kicks while France missed two, Emiliano Martinez saving from Kingsley Coman while Aurelien Tchouamen completely missed target.
After all the emotional celebrations and the shedding of tears of joy and agony on both sides, some of the key actors spoke to FIFA.
Lionel Scaloni, the head coach of Argentina coach said: “I’m proud. Today I am liberated. This team gives me so much pride, it is all down to them.”
Martinez, the heroic Aston Villa goalkeeper who won the Golden Glove award, said: “We had the game under control but the team were doomed to suffer.
“France almost scored a winner, too, but thank God we are here. The World Cup is something I have been dreaming of. I have no words to express what I’m feeling.”
Rodrigo De Paul, the battling Argentina midfielder, added: “We were born to suffer, we are going to suffer all our lives, but I will never forget this.
“I think we are fair winners. To be champions, you had to beat the last champion, and we did. This is a joy I can’t explain.”
Hugo Lloris, the captain who has led France to World Cup gold and silver at back-to-back tournaments, said: “We were too reactive. It was almost a boxing match, we surrendered blow for blow. The only regret we can have is that we may have missed our first half. Despite that, we didn’t give up, we believed until the end.
“It’s always cruel to be on the wrong side. But we will have given everything from beginning to end in this competition. We come out empty, it’s been almost a month of competition.”
