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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Charles Curtis

6 reasons the World Cup Argentina – France final was one of the greatest championship games ever

Argentina Fox Soccer World Cup ”Mbappe France Lionel Messi Soccer

WHEW.

WHAT. A. WORLD CUP. FINAL.

Have you caught your breath yet from that unbelievable 2022 World Cup Final?

Argentina and France played all the way to extra time, and then within that version of soccer overtime, both teams scored, which meant they went to a penalty kick shootout, and that’s where a save by Argentina’s confident goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, and a complete miss by France on one kick clinched it for a relieved, legendary Lionel Messi and his team.

So many called it the greatest World Cup game ever played. I’d even venture to put it in the conversation for one of the greatest championship games ever played.

After all of that, let’s look back at the six reasons why this was an all-timer of a game:

1
Argentina was up 2-0 in the first half

Everyone wondered when France was going to show up after Argentina completely dominated the first half. Well …

 

2
Mbappe's magic late in regulation was unbelievable

He scored off a penalty in the 80th minute …

Then he tied it with this MAGICAL boot:

 

3
There was so much back and forth action at the end of regulation

Like this Messi near-miss:

4
We all thought Messi had clinched it for Argentina

This goal was WILD!

5
And then a penalty for a handball gave Mbappe his hat trick

6
And in penalties, Argentina won it!

WOW.

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