The game looked decided, and I had just posted a conspiratorial joke on Twitter, comparing the 1998 and 2022 finals.
In that decision of painful memories, Brazil wore Nike, and France, Adidas. France turned the first half 2-0 and then made the third at the end. And for years there were crazy rumors in Brazil that the Brazilian team had sold out, in a supposed plot that involved the two manufacturers.
In this final, France wore Nike, and Argentina, Adidas. And, again, the first half ended 2-0 for the striped ones. The second was going through a somewhat drawn-out phase, with Argentina in clear psychological and tactical superiority over the French, and I was looking for a way to make the game fit in 280 touches.
Until then, Argentina taught a soccer class. The French were not on the field and did not risk passes of more than a few meters. Lost, like Brazil in 1998.
No sooner had I posted than the tectonic plates of football shifted. Di María left to make way for Acuña, a full-back who was as willful as a bull, but who was not at the level of the best player of the match until that moment.
The French had four attackers on the field, and there were so many people that there seemed to be no room left for Mbappé.
Until on the other side of the field, where Argentina had been 100% dominant, the weather began to change.
A covering error, a penalty, and France regains its confidence, its energy, and is back in the game. With the draw then, the game turns. It passes from the left side to the right side of the brain. From reason to emotion, from logic to instinct.
There it started to become clear that it would be the biggest Cup final I’ve ever seen.
The energy that the French gain seems to be at the expense of the Argentines. The brothers seem physically exhausted, but it’s the emotions that block them, the fear of letting go of a Cup that seemed to be in their hands.
In overtime, coaches guide, players hydrate, hearts calm down, and the game balances. The Argentines have regained their strength and recovered football, but when France counterattacks, their defense melts like boiled ramen.
In the second half of extra time, Messi scored one more and it seems that he secured the title and top scorer in the Cup. Two mistakes. Mbappé equalizes again, and the tie does not come out because of a save from Martínez that will be regretted in France for years to come.
Penalties are also special, they go beyond the game itself. Underneath the goal, Lloris, the son of a banker and a successful lawyer, and Martínez, the son of a fish seller and a maid, face each other.
The one who has been in the starting line-up for just a year and a half surpasses the goalkeeper with the longest history in the World Cup and also a record holder for the French national team.
It was a final of several surrealities, with six goals, including three real but dubious penalties, scored without much contestation. It was a game that not only looked like it would never end, it certainly had fans cheering against the clock.
Argentina won. It could have been France. Whatever the result, it would have left an immense sense of merit on one side and a bitter aftertaste of injustice on the other.
The worst World Cup in history turned out to be one of the most exciting of all time.
As a seasoned news journalist, I bring a wealth of experience to the field. I’ve worked with world-renowned news organizations, honing my skills as a writer and reporter. Currently, I write for the sports section at News Bulletin 247, where I bring a unique perspective to every story.
