Issue #11.2.6 "I'm Here to Win and Walk Away" (After Final)

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Monday, December 19, 2022

[Dailies: 17-18 ]

2022 World Cup Champion	2022 Winningest Region
1978   |   1986   |   2022	UEFA - Europe Union of European Football Associations
ARG - La Albiceleste Asociación del Fútbol Argentino (AFA) Confederación Sudamericana de Fútbol (CONMEBOL)
#3 | C1 | Group C Winners | 4-1-2 | 15 GF-8 GA 6th Final ('30, '78, '86, '90, '14) 3rd Championship C1: Lost #53 Saudi Arabia 1-2 C4: Beat #13 Mexico 2-0 C5: Beat #26 Poland 2-0 R16: Beat #38 2D-Australia 2-1 QF: Beat #8 1A-Netherlands 2-2 (4-3 PSO) SF: Beat #12 2F-Croatia 3-0 F: Beat #4 1D-France 3-3 (4-2 PSO)	UEFA | 8 Teams | 8 Wins |  8-8 Qualified:  1A-NED, 1B-ENG, 2C-POL, 1D-FRA, 2E-ESP, 2F-CRO, 2G-SUI, 1H-POR R16 (5):  49-NED, 53-CRO, 51-ENG, 52-FRA, 56-POR QF (2):  58-CRO, 59-FRA SF (1):  62-FRA F (0): -

INSTANT CLASSIC WITH 5 GOALS BETWEEN 2 SUPERSTARS
Soccerbix is joined by SoccerWife, KevLo, AC in Doha, and Merman in top 5; Free Merman wins Bonus

MANHATTAN BEACH, CA (smt) -- Legendary superstar Lionel Messi scored twice and had a key touch for another goal to help 1C-Argentina win their 3rd World Cup title, outlasting a hat trick from new superstar Kylian Mbappé 3-3 (4-2 in penalty shootout).  Messi was there to win and walk away, playing defense and helping his team in any way.  He wins his first WC after winning his first Copa America last year and says he wants to play a few games as a champion before potentially retiring from the national team.  Messi played in a WC-record 26th match and is the first player to score at least 1 goal in all 4 knockout matches.  But it wasn't easy.

ARG jumped to their sixth straight 2-0 lead (including Messi's 3rd PK) and dominated for 70 minutes (1D-France did not even have a shot until the 67' and made two forward subs in the 41') and it felt like ARG would just cruise to victory since FRA was not putting up any sustained attacks.  But you don't need sustained attacks if you have speed, and when ARG pulled down a FRA player that blew past him in the box, Kylian Mbappé got FRA on the board in the 80' on their first shot on goal.  In the 81', quick one-touch give-and-go passing resulting in their second shot on goal, a Mbappé perfect strike to level the match at 2 apiece. 

In extra time, Messi put in a rebound in the 108' that seemed to finally seal the deal.  But an errant hand blocking a Mbappé shot off a CK gave FRA another PK and Mbappé went the same way to tie it at 3 in the 118'.  In end-to-end action, FRA could've won if not for a kick save (not taken by Mbappé) and ARG could've won if not for an open header mishit (not taken by Messi), both in the 120'+3'.   In the PSO, both Mbappé and Messi scored but ARG GK came up big with a save and ARG hit all 4 PKs to win 4-2.

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.  

ARG vs FRA - Live!

PSG Rumble on FOX!

HOME - If I can wake up early, will try to capture thoughts as they happen - Will Messi get his first WC trophy in his swan song or will Mbappé get his 2nd trophy before he turns 24?

12:19 am PST - 3 goals were scored in the 3rd place match and this Final could add to that total which is our total goals tiebreaker.  Remember, penalty shootout (PSO) goals do not count if it is tied after 120 minutes.  Fernando B (Soccerbix) gets to relax after already clinching 1st place by building more than a 14-point (value for picking correct champion) lead over those who picked FRA.

Right now, if ARG wins, KevLo takes 2nd over SoccerWife (she needs 4+ goals in Final to switch this) and Unlucky and Merman take 4th and 5th with AC in Doha out of the money in 6th.  AC in Doha needs 5 goals scored in final to get 5th (knocking Unlucky out) and 6+ goals to finish 4th.

If FRA wins, currently 2 Goals 1 World Cup, Redhat Dave, and Kona Coast Uno will finish 2nd/3rd/4th.  If 3 goals are scored in final, then Redhat Dave and Kona Coast Duo finish tied for 2nd.  If 4+ goals are scored, Kona Coast Uno takes 2nd, Redhat Dave 3rd, and 2 Goals 1 World Cup 4th.  KevLo would take 5th over SoccerWife (but if 4+ goals are scored, it reverses).

For Bonus, if ARG and FRA are scoreless and go to PSO, then if ARG wins PSO, Union FC and Cisco split the Bonus.  If FRA wins PSO after scoreless tie, then MezLove wins Bonus.  But every goal scored in final will change who is in pole position.

5' - Woke up in time to see ARG get a long strike that was saved.  ARG being aggressive which is good to see.