Croatia 2-1 Morocco
After both teams missed out on a spot in the final, Croatia battled for the crown of finishing third at the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Croatia were ahead after 7 minutes through Josko Gvardiol’s header. All I can say about this goal is the set piece routine was perfect, Morocco had no answer to it. What Morocco did have an answer for though was how to get back on level terms as less than 2 minutes later, Achraf Dari headed home from inside the six-yard box to make it 1-1. With just a few minutes left in the first half, Mislav Orsic made it 2-1 to Croatia with a brilliantly curled shot. Right at the end of the game, Youssef En-Nesyri had a great chance but he put his header onto the top of the net. Overall, Morocco didn’t get the win that they had hoped for but I don’t really think many people in that nation will be complaining about finishing in 4th. What a brilliant underdog run. As for Croatia, a second and a third place at the last two world cups is pretty amazing. However, they will still be slightly frustrated about that refereeing decision in their game with Argentina.
Argentina 3-3 France (4-2 on Penalties)
After 63 games, Argentina took on France for the right to be called World Champions. After a clumsy act from Ousmane Dembele, Lionel Messi scored from the penalty spot to put Argentina in front. After 35 minutes, Argentina were 2-0 up through Angel Di Maria. This goal was brilliant: Messi’s pass, Alvarez’s pass, Mac Allister’s pass and Di Maria’s finish topped off one of the best goals of the whole tournament. Argentina were in control for most of this game and as it looked like they were about to coast to the championship, Nicholas Otamendi stupidly brought down Kolo Muani to give France a little bit of hope. Kylian Mbappe stepped up and scored to give France a lifeline in this final. Martinez was close to it but it was just about in the corner enough to go in. Just over a minute later, Kylian Mbappe made it Argentina 2, France 2. Mbappe laid it off for Marcus Thuram who lobbed the ball over to Mbappe who smashed the ball home first time.
In extra time, Lionel Messi sent the Argentinian fans wild after making it 3-2 with just under 13 minutes to play. However, the game wasn’t over as France were awarded another penalty, this time due to a handball by Gonzalo Montiel. Kylian Mbappe stepped up and completed his hat trick to send the crowd wild. Mbappe has now joined Sir Geoff Hurst in the list of men that have achieved World Cup hat tricks. Emiliano Martinez then pulled out one of, if not the save of the tournament to deny Randal Kolo Muani before Argentina counterattacked and Lautaro Martinez poorly headed wide meaning we were going to penalties. Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi stepped up first and scored for their nations because of course they did. Kingsley Coman then stepped up and he saw his penalty saved by Emiliano Martinez before Paulo Dybala scored to put Argentina in front. It then got worse for France as Aurelien Tchouameni put his penalty wide and Leandro Paredes scored meaning it was 3-1 to Argentina with just 2 penalties left each. Randal Kolo Muani coolly placed his penalty home to keep them in it but it didn’t matter as Gonzalo Montiel brilliantly placed his shot into the bottom left-hand corner to win his nation the World Cup trophy. Overall, France will be frustrated with a defeat but they can be happy with their resiliency to not lose the game outright. When it comes to Kylian Mbappe, I think I understand the hype now! As for Argentina, they finally became World Champions again after 36 long years. They did a very good job at getting the result even when they were on the ropes and that’s what you need if you are going to win a tournament as big as this one. Also, this fully completes the Lionel Messi trophy cabinet.
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