2022 WORLD CUP FINAL: Argentina 3 (2) – (0) 3 France AET [Argentina won 4-2 on penalties] (Lusail Iconic Stadium, Lusail)

Argentina scorers: Messi (23′ pen, 108′), Di María (36′). France scorers: Mbappé (80’pen, 81′, 118′ pen)

A quite incredible final, that will go down as one of the greatest of all time. Drama, controversy, gamesmanship, it was all there.

After sixty four minutes and with Argentina 2-0 they took off Angel Di Maria who had scored his countries second goal in a clinical team move and had tortured France all game. The French had offered nothing up to that point and reports of a virus that had gone through the squad seemed accurate in a lacklustre and jaded performance that had seen Dembele, and Giroud substituted before half-time. But with Di Maria withdrawn, Argentina began to sit back and with ten minutes to go, gave away a penalty which Mbappe gratefully put away to make it 2-1. Within a minute the game had turned on its head as a superb strike from the French number nine levelled the game and suddenly Les Bleus were in the ascendancy. Into extra time in which both sides looked for the winner. Within three minutes of the second period Argentina went ahead again as Messi tapped-in only for Mbappe to score his second penalty two minutes from time to secure a hat-trick. The drama wasn’t over yet as France had a great chance to win it with the clock running down, with Kolo Muani finding himself free only for Emiliano Martinez to make a vital save. Argentina broke up field and nearly snatched a winner themselves as their final chance feel to Lautaro Martinez who headed wide. And so to penalties where Argentina’s ‘keeper Martinez was once more the hero so setting the motion the Messi love-in that so much of the media and no doubt FIFA wanted.

A breathless and memorable final no doubt.

But…once again the refereeing and VAR were poor. Was the first Argentina penalty and France’s second really penalties? Both were extremely harsh in my opinion. In this case and others the match referees were far too lenient with persistent fouls and seemed loathe to book anybody at times, providing no deterrent for those engaged in a string of niggly fouls. Was that really a top quality playing surface for a final? Certain areas had been sprayed/painted to hide the wear and tear, with one goal area looking like it had a huge section replaced – hardly fitting for the World’s biggest game. And what were FIFA thinking of allowing Messi to be drabbed in that cape? It should have been an iconic image, instead of one of comic proportions.

And finally, it’s hard to congratulate Argentina who have showed themselves to be a graceless and unsporting mob. Their behaviour after their spot-kick win over the Dutch was deplorable as were the antics of ‘keeper Martinez during that penalty shoot-out and in the final. He should not been allowed to get in the faces of those taking the penalties and in throwing the ball away before one of the French kicks in the final was inexcusable. He then compounded his graceless actions by making a needless and crude gesture with his Golden Glove award. Classless all round.