By Jim James (Maker of Correct Predictions)
Sure, the World Cup Final ended hours ago, but I am still catching my breath. 3-3, thrilling shootout, and GOAT status cemented. This surely has to be the greatest World Cup final of all time. Here’s my match review.
For the first 70 or so minutes, it was all Argentina. There was an early penalty on 20 minutes which Leo Messi converted. 1-0. Argentina continued their domination and 36 minutes in, a beautiful counter-attack saw them double the lead through Di Maria. 2-0. The 2nd half, the majority of it at least, wasn’t very eventful. France only registered their first shot around 65 minutes in. However, 80 minutes in, Nicolas Otamendi gave away a needless penalty which was converted by Kylian Mbappé. The next minute, France equalized, again through Mbappé.
At this point I was panicking. I couldn’t do a half-hour more of this plus penalties, but that’s what went down. The first half of extra-time went scoreless, but 3 minutes into the second, Messi took an effort which went just over the line before being cleared by Kounde and made it 3-2 Argentina. However, even though we though Argentina had won, Gonzalo Montiel conceded a bad penalty which Kylian Mbappé, yet again, converted.
It went to a shootout, where both teams scored their first efforts, but Argentina scored their next two and France missed their next two. Both teams scored on the fourth shot, and Argentina won the shootout, as well as the World Cup.
Forget the greatest final, this game is getting shouts as the best GAME of all time. I think it has merits. It was a game full of twists and turns, with many times it being decided by, in my opinion, correct refereeing by Szymon Marciniak, and it ended with the Greatest of all Time overthrowing the reigning champions.
This match must confirm Leo Messi as the greatest player to ever play the sport, and while there will be arguments Leo Messi finally added the one missing piece of the puzzle to his argument. He also got to his fifth international final, while Ronaldo has only 2.
The best Argentine players in that game were, of course, Leo Messi, as well as Angel Di Maria, Alexis Mac Allister, and Emiliano Martinez. The rest of the players did their jobs well today to ensure victory.
Today was one of those surreal days in football, the Hollywood script. The fairy tale ending for Lionel Messi, who in the space of 18 months, has turned his international legacy from one of failure to one of undisputed glory, and one of the most decorated international CVs ever.
This match and this day will live forever in my memory as a Football Fan. It will for everyone. I’m Jim James, until next time!