Mueez Ajao
– Argentina were made to suffer before landing their first World Cup title in 36 years, having twice squandered a lead, including in extra-time before edging past defending champions France 4-2 on penalties in the final on Sunday.
– “It was a game where we suffered,” said Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, who saved one penalty in the shootout on Sunday after previously saving two more spot kicks in their quarterfinal against Netherlands.
– “Two crappy shots, and they [France] levelled. They give them another penalty, they scored. Thank God later I did my thing, what I dreamed of.”
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– It was a dramatic final with Argentina first squandering a two-goal lead in regular time and then going back in front in extra-time with Lionel Messi’s second goal before Kylian Mbappe completed his hat-trick to level 3-3 in the 118th minute with a second penalty that forced the shootout.
– “There could not have been a World Cup that I have dreamed of like this. I was calm during the penalties,” Martinez said.
– For Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni, it was a nail-biting finish to a turbulent tournament and he could not hold back his tears after the final whistle.
– “I cannot believe that we have suffered so much in a perfect game. Unbelievable, but this team responds to everything,” Scaloni said.
– “I am proud of the work they did. It is an exciting group. With the blows we received today, with the draws, this makes you emotional. I want to tell people to enjoy, it’s a historic moment for our country.”
– It was the third world title for Argentina and the first since the late Diego Maradona won the trophy almost single-handedly in 1986.
– For Argentina players and captain Messi, who netted twice in the 120 minutes before also scoring in the shootout, it was the biggest title of their careers.
– Messi’s Argentine team had made the final as recently as 2014, but on that occasion they finished second best to Germany.
– “I’ll never forget it. We had to suffer but we deserved to win,” said Argentina defender Rodrigo De Paul. “We’ve beaten the last champions, it’s a joy I cannot put into words.
– “I’m proud of being born in Argentina, and today we are on top of the world.”
