Tag: messi
Lionel Messi is mobbed by mother Celia after Argentina’s stunning World Cup final win
Argentina fans go wild after Messi wins the World Cup while French supporters left devastated
Lionel Messi celebrates World Cup win with his family after taking Argentina to glory against France
Messi won the World Cup and the internet went BONKERS
An absolutely bonkers World Cup final has come to a close. It was the best and wildest World Cup match in memory. It was the best game I’ve seen in sports, period. There is no description too strong. In the end, Argentina won the 2022 final in Qatar on penalties, cementing the legacy of Lionel Messi, one of the greatest soccer players to ever do it.
All the while, the internet could not believe it, with everyone losing their collective mind for three hours. Here’s the short breakdown of what happened:
Argentina dominated most of the match in regular time. Messi scored on a penalty in the 23rd minute. Angel Di Maria followed it up with a tidy finish in the 36th minute. It seemed like Argentina and the GOAT Messi would coast to the title. Nope.
Enter France and superstar 23-year-old Kylian Mbappé. He scored on a penalty in the 80th minute then followed it up with a spectacular volley just a minute later. It was a total shocker and absolute brilliance from the French.
It was already an unbelievable match. From there, the game got even more nuts. It was watching two teams hold on for dear life. France attacked, Argentina countered. Argentina attacked, France countered. Messi nearly won it all with a brilliant strike, that was just parried away by the French keeper. But into overtime, we went.
In extra time, it was Messi who struck in the 108th minute. He slammed home a bouncing ball, surely securing the win. Nope. Because THEN, in the 118th minute, a handball from Argentina awarded a penalty, which Mbappe slammed home. And off to penalties we went.
In penalties, Messi and Mbappe both scored to lead their teams off. But then France missed twice and Argentina was perfect, taking home the title 4-2 on penalties. There has never been a game like it.
When the match ended, emotions ran high. Argentina fans cried. So did the French. People celebrated and felt joy for Messi, who finally achieved the one thing that eluded him in soccer. The tweets, too, were fantastic when the match ended.
It was a fantastic match and one that will live on with fans for years to come.
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Poland vs Argentina – World Cup Group C: How they’re doing, injuries and prediction as Messi looks to avoid early exit
LIONEL MESSI heads into a huge clash with Poland looking to avoid a very premature exit from what is almost certain to be his last World Cup.
The Argentines currently occupy second position in Group C but have work to do following their upset defeat to Saudi Arabia in the opening game.
A victory will guarantee their place in the knockout stages and almost certainly see them avoid another last 16 clash with France.
Poland meanwhile have built from the back and while not being easy on the eye, currently occupy top spot without having conceded a goal.
And after feeling aggrieved to miss out on the Ballon d’Or to Lionel Messi in 2021, Robert Lewandowski will be determined to guide his side to the knockout stages.
SunSport takes a look at what to expect from Poland vs Argentina, including our score prediction.
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How are they getting on?
Argentina: Messi and Co were stunned by Saudi Arabia in a 2-1 defeat in their opening match.
But the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner stepped up when his country needed it most to score the first goal in a 2-0 win over Mexico in the second game.
Read the full Argentina vs Mexico report…
Poland: The Poles could have already been through if Lewandowski had converted a penalty in their opening snore draw with Mexico.
But their talisman atoned to score the second goal in a crucial 2-0 win over Saudi Arabia in the following game.
Read the full Poland vs Saudi Arabia report…
Any injuries to worry about?
Poland: The Poles have no fresh injury worries ahead of this crucial clash.
Argentina: There are no injury concerns in the Argentine camp ahead of this one.
Who will be the star men?
Argentina: There is an array of talent in the Argentina ranks but nobody in the world has a CV quite like Messi.
Poland: The Poles are not likely to create too many chances in this game and Robert Lewandowski will need to take any that come his way.
Permutations
Argentina will qualify with a win over Poland and top the group provided Saudi Arabia don’t beat Mexico by three more goals than they can manage.
A draw will be enough if Saudi Arabia vs Mexico ends in a draw or Mexico win by less than four goals.
Argentina will be out if they lose.
Poland will qualify with a draw and top the group if Saudi Arabia fail to beat Mexico.
If Saudi Arabia draw, Poland must lose by less than three goals to be sure of qualifying.
Poland will be out if they lose and Mexico win with a five-goal swing.
What is the head-to-head?
Argentina have won six, drawn two and lost three against Poland.
At the World Cup, Poland ran out surprise 3-2 winners in 1974.
But Argentina got revenge four years later with a 2-0 win on the way to lifting the trophy in 1978.
The teams last meeting came in 2011 when Poland ran out 2-1 winners in a friendly in Warsaw.
Odds
Argentina 11-21
Draw 16-5
Poland 15-2
SunSport prediction
Poland 0 Argentina 2
Argentina vs Mexico – World Cup Group C: How they’re doing, injuries and prediction as Messi and Co look to bounce back
ONE of the pre-tournament favourites losing to the minnows.
We’ve seen it before… Senegal’s shock win over then-reigning champions France in 2002 springs to mind.
Fast forward 20 years and this time it was Argentina throwing away a one-goal lead to lose to Saudi Arabia.
If Lionel Messi and Co are to stand any chance of reaching the knockout stages, they’ll need a result in their second match.
But they face another potential banana skin in Mexico – who famously helped KO Germany from the 2018 World Cup – and with Poland yet to come, Argentina really are up against it.
SunSport takes a look at what to expect from the pivotal game… including the all-important scoreline prediction.
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How are they getting on?
Argentina: Not well. Not well, at all.
Tipped for glory in Qatar, the came up against a Saudi Arabia team who sent shockwaves through the footballing world after coming from behind to beat Argentina 2-1.
The result leaves the South Americans’ dream of winning the trophy in serious doubt in what could be Messi’s final World Cup.
Read the full Argentina vs Saudi Arabia report…
Mexico: Widely expected to finish third in the group, the Concacaf giants secured a creditable draw in their opening game.
Slightly lucky that Robert Lewandowski missed his penalty, but they’ll take the point and look to build on it here.
Read the full Mexico vs Poland report…
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Any injuries to worry about?
Argentina: No injury concerns, but changes are likely abound.
Manchester United star Lisandro Martinez will almost certainly start, while City ace Julian Alvarez and Paulo Dybala will be pushing for a spot in the XI.
Mexico: Similarly for Mexico, there are no injury worries.
But, having failed to break down Poland, there could be changes in the team as Wolves star Raul Jimenez and veteran Andres Guardado hope to get the nod.
Who will be the star men?
Argentina: Lionel Messi… how could it not be?
The South Americans are packed with superstar talent – but only one is a truly generational – if not once-in-a-lifetime – megastar.
Messi can win matches on his own and after the kick up the backside that was the Saudi Arabia loss, this could prove to be a revenge tour.
Mexico: Guillermo Ochoa, the veteran goalkeeper.
Always shines on the biggest stage, the World Cup, and he’ll need to be in top form to keep the likes of Messi, Lautaro Martinez, Dybala and Co out.
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What’s the head-to-head?
The two nations have played each other a staggering 35 times in history, with Argentina leading with 16 wins and just five defeats.
Argentina are unbeaten in the last ten matches against Mexico, including three straight victories.
They last met at a World Cup in 2010, with Argentina winning 3-1.
SunSport prediction
Argentina 3 Mexico 1