For the first time since 1986, La Albiceleste were world champions — and their immaculate attacker, Lionel Messi, could finally add the last piece of glory to his extraordinary career, Steven Goff writes.
The big question before kickoff was how severely an illness spreading through the French camp would impact Didier Deschamps’s lineup. There were fears Saturday that he could miss multiple players.By gametime, though, defender Dayot Upamecano and midfielder Adrien Rabiot had returned to the squad after missing the semifinal against Morocco, while defender Raphael Varane was cleared to play after missing Friday’s training session.
From the start, Argentina was fresher and hungrier. France couldn’t keep up. Argentina was curious in the attack, probing for the opportunity to pierce France’s flat resistance and put its stamp on the match. If Argentina’s first goal was plain and simple, the second was elegant, sophisticated and rollicking — a counterattack executed to perfection that flowed from one end to the other in a matter of seconds and with economical touches on the ball.It began in the 36th minute with Rodrigo De Paul winning the ball and supplying Alexis Mac Allister, who set up Messi for a clever touch wide to Julián Álvarez at midfield. All the while, Mac Allister continued to make a run.
Di María left to a rousing ovation in the 64th minute. Had Scaloni erred in removing him too soon, though?France was not ready to concede. Argentina’s Nicolás Otamendi dragged down substitute Randal Kolo Muani in the box, and with Mbappé's penalty kick slipping under Martinez’s glove, France was back in it.
Argentina had three chances late in the first 15-minute period, but in each case, French defenders intervened. There was no stopping Messi at the start of the next session.
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