Lived up to the Hype (12/18)

HOME - On paper, it was a great story for a few days talking about Messi vs Mbappe, two PSG teammates with different legacies on the line.  But for the first 75 minutes or so, 1C-Argentina came out firing on all cylinders while 1D-France, whether due to the flu bug that was spreading or just unprepared how ARG would attack this match, was always playing catch-up.  ARG buzzed and scored twice (Messi his 3rd PK) and blew chances for more in the first half.  ARG kept the pressure in the 2nd half as well.

I mean it took FRA 67 minutes to get their first official shot.  But a couple of key subs in the 71' and speed kills as a FRA player was pulled down in the box.  Mbappe just snuck the PK past the GK and 93 seconds later, a give-and-go and first-time strike by Mbappe tied the match at 2 in the 81'.  ARG was in survival mode but made it to the end of regulation.

In extra time, after some caution play, things opened up for some end-to-end action.  Messi put in a rebound with his right foot in the 108' but never count FRA out.  Pressure and off a CK, a shot hit an ARG defender in the arm for a clear PK.  Unlike Harry Kane, who had 2 PKs and missed the second, Mbappe went the same direction to tie the game at 3.  

The biggest play though, was a pass over the top for a one-on-one on ARG GK but the strike was saved in the 120'+3'.  If that was Mbappe with the shot instead, FRA would have their 3rd title.  ARG then came back and an open header was mishit high.  If that was Messi with the shot instead, ARG would have their 3rd title.  Whew.

Like in the other 4 PSOs, one GK shined and this time it was ARG GK Emiliano Martinez, who saved one and then played mind games with another by knocking the ball off the spot (who then missed wide left).  The 4-2 PSO win gave Messi his first WC trophy after getting his first Copa American trophy last year.

I still wore my 1998 FRA home jersey (#12 Henry) from the morning and got a few compliments while walking around the plaza before settling for Gobi Ice Cream which rolls their very creamy ice cream to look like finger biscuits in their very cute store.

In the pool, tiebreakers were in play as well as who won.  The early 2 goals ballooned into 6 and when added to the 3 yesterday in the 3rd place match, made it 9 goals for the total goals tiebreaker.  ARG's win gave SoccerWife 2nd over KevLo via tiebreaker and AC in Doha and Merman 4th/5th over Unlucky, who was eliminated via tiebreaker and finished 6th.  Of course, all follow our two-time pool champion Soccerbix who ended up with 137 points.  31 ultimately picked ARG to be their champion (2nd behind 33 who picked BRA).

For the Bonus, Free Merman wins (who also won 5th with a different entry) by picking 9.5 goals as UEFA ended with just 8 wins.