2022 is the year in which Leo Messi achieves his dream of becoming a world champion with Argentina. The best player in history has no World Cup on his record and in Qatar 2022 he was finally able to lift the trophy as captain of the albiceleste. In the epic, on penalties (4-2 after 3-3), against France, who defended the title. But this time yes. Messi, at 35 years old, in his last participation in the tournament, raised the World Cup in the sky in Doha on December 18, the third for his country, after those in 1978 and 1986.
Messi knows the bitterness of losing a World Cup final (he went down 1-0 in Brazil 2014 against Germany) and the edition of Qatar 2022 started for Argentina with an unexpected defeat against Saudi Arabia (1-2). But the albiceleste, led by Lionel Scaloni, reacted, reaching the round of 16 after defeating Mexico (2-0) and Robert Lewandowski’s Poland (0-2), the quarterfinals after defeating Australia (2- 1), the semifinals after eliminating the Netherlands on penalties with Dibu Martínez as the hero (3-4 after a 2-2 draw) and reaching the final after defeating Croatia (3-0). Barcelona player Lewandowski scored for the first time in a World Cup and scored 2 goals in total.
This is not Messi’s only World Cup. Dibu Martínez’s too, again a hero with his performance in the final (and later controversial because of its celebration), that of Julián Álvarez (author of 4 goals), that of Enzo Fernández (chosen best youth), that of Ángel Di María, who did not got the 2014 final and scored the second goal against France.
The big loser was Kylian Mbappé, who, despite proclaiming himself top scorer with 8 goals and despite his excellent performance in the final, was unable to win his second World Cup, after Russia 2018. Runners-up in the ‘bleus’ are two Barcelona players, Ousmane Dembélé and Jules Koundé.
The Croatian ‘miracle’
Croatia repeated its ‘miracle’: four million inhabitantsthe 2018 runner-up this time finished third again led by Luka Modric. Dominik Livakovic, his goalkeeper, is a hero and Brazil will never forget him, as he saved Rodrygo’s penalty in the shootout. And Josko Gvardiol, 20, has become one of the stylish defenders.
The undoubted revelation was Morocco, who made history: the first African team to reach the semifinals of a World Cup. The team led by Walid Regragui eliminated Spain on penalties (3-0 after a 0-0 loss) which meant the end of Luis Enrique’s period at La Roja, and he also dumped Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal (1-0). Only France separated Bono, Amrabat, Achraf, Ziyech, Ounahi and their teammates in the final (2-0 in the ‘semi’).
Brazil is crying again
The Brazilian team dreamed of a six-time championship and came as one of the main candidates for the title, but Neymar and the other stars led by Tite (he has left office) did not go beyond the quarterfinals, where Croatia, Livakovic and penalties crossed paths. Brazil has not won the World Cup since 2002.
The rooms marked the roof of England (1-2 against France) and the Netherlands. Bigger failures were experienced, apart from Spain and Brazil, the four-time world champion Germany (beaten by Japan and who, as in 2018, did not pass the first stage), Belgium (third in Russia) and Uruguay
Source: La Verdad
I’m Rose Herman and I work as an author for Today Times Live. My expertise lies in writing about sports, a passion of mine that has been with me since childhood. As part of my job, I provide comprehensive coverage on everything from football to tennis to golf.
