Wait for a generation of Argentina fans are over!
People say hard work pays when you are consistent enough on the field as well as in your legacy in the sport you play and we did see such example in 18th December, 2022 when the last penalty kick from extra time was scored by Argentina and finally after 36 years of struggle and tournament gone by this country lifts the world cup with pride. Buenos Ares became absolutely crazy after such performance. Half the country was on the streets, celebrating for days long. The white and sky-blue flags was hoisted throughout the world by Argentinian fans and people were relieved after such performance. The match ended with three goals each.
But the journey was not an easy one for the favorites of the tournament. After 1986, from the lights of the legend Diego Maradona, the dream of ruling in the big tournament fell short for a lot of years. 1990 and 2014 were two significant years they qualified for the finals but yet the golden jewel of success was not to be conquered. The era where club football is talked about throughout the world football, where individual brilliance is always a talking point in the soccer, it was hard to keep up the equal brilliance and quality in international football when all the excellent players came in for the country. At times teams like England, Italy, Germany, Spain, Brazil and lot more struggled to deliver in the bigger stage in many occasions, the stakes were a lot high in this FIFA world cup 2022. Argentina were too questioned by the pundit about their quality In the team in recent years. But they did show significant progress in Copa America in 2021 where they took on Brazil with sincere progress. Di Maria showing his class in the upfront and Messi doing what he does the best in decade, uplifting is him and creating good chances along with brilliant gameplay to crack down the defense of Brazil and securing the cup title.
Its was quite same in the main stage of the World Cup 2022. Though less to mention they did have some hard time qualifying for the cup in the later stage as well as the group stage of the game in the initial stage.
Set back did came in with Saudi Arabia defeating them the complete trajectory changed in terms of their attitude towards the play. It changed their approach of the gameplay. The defense took in charge and in the forward zone Messi along with the other players made their presence felt. The only difficult and dramatic game was with the Dutch where the second half was quite nervy and cost them to draw the match and also caught up with unnecessary fouls which took the match into a harsh brawl between players. From two scoring to conceding then winning the match into penalty was a very dramatic end to the match itself. Croatia in the semi`s were not much of a threat and the Argentine players did dominate the game but the finals was a completely different story.
Spectators witnessed something insane from a thrilling final ever in a FIFA world. The game was all thought to be done and dusted with Messi scoring a penalty and providing a second open space for Di Maria to secure the match in first half but all went vain when Mbappe steps in to dominate the match. The old mistakes were again seen to be done by the blues and whites. Defense gradually opened for the players and forward runs were easy for France to build momentum. Mbappe showed his class with scoring two important goals to keeps their hopes alive. The extra time was more dramatic as Messi scores again for his team in a open net situation in the box but again was drawn in the last moment of the game when Argentina conceded a penalty and converted by Mbappe.A clinical save was done by the Martinez for a one-on-one situation with the goal keeper to keep the hopes alive. The penalties where always a favorable situation for Argentina with Enzo Martinez always being confident about it with his tricks and skills saved enough to bring the world cup home. A jaw dropping moment as well as an emotional story for all the fans around the globe to celebrate for Argentina and a relief for Messi and his fans to at last get their hands on the only trophy he missed out of his closet and probably the last world cup he is promised to play. Well-deserved season for Argentina!