World Cup 2022: Argentina crowned champions after shoot-out drama against France
19-12-2022 09:12 AM
Ammon News - Argentina have won the 2022 World Cup after a thrilling penalty shoot-out victory against France in an astonishing final.
Gonzalo Montiel’s spot kick sealed a 4-2 win in the shoot-out for the South American side at Qatar’s 89,000-capacity Lusail Stadium on Sunday after the two teams were tied at 3-3 at the end of extra time.
Montiel’s decisive effort came after France’s Kingsley Coman had an attempt saved by Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez and Aurelien Tchouameni shot wide.
The roller-coaster contest was one of the all-time great finals and cemented Argentina captain Lionel Messi’s already glittering legacy, with the 35-year-old guiding his side to their first World Cup win since 1986 – and third overall.
He scored two goals and then another in the shoot-out to cap a dominant showing at the tournament in Qatar, with Sunday’s showing marking a record-breaking 26th World Cup appearance – a tally that will not be added to after he announced prior to the final that this would be his last World Cup.
Following the match, however, Messi dismissed a possible retirement from the national team for now.
“I want to play a few more games as a world champion. I was lucky to clinch every title in my career, this was the only one missing,” he told reporters. “I want to take this one there [to Argentina] and enjoy it with everybody else.”