The situation
The French team could not repeat the feat and fell in the World Cup final against Argentina in an agonizing penalty shootout. Didier Deschamps’ team, which came to be trailing 2-0, tied the game a few minutes from the end and tied it again after extra time, just when Argentina already looked like champions. However, on penalties, as against Italy in 2006, the former world champion succumbed and ceded its title to the albiceleste.
Lloris: there was little he could do in the two goals from Argentina. In the 1-0, Messi deceived him and in the second, he tried to cover Di María as wide a gap as possible, but El Fideo also deceived him with a subtle touch. In the second half, he repelled a good shot from Julián Álvarez and made a savior with a spectacular save to Messi in a classic shot from Rosario in the front. In the third, maybe he could do something more and, on penalties, he didn’t stop a shot.
Koundé : one of those who suffered the most in the first half. Scaloni placed Di María on the left wing and the winger, who is actually a central defender, had no help from Dembélé. The 1-0 was generated by his band before the winger’s penalty and, at 2-0, he had to close because Upamecano had left the zone and forgot that he had Di María behind him. In the second half, he was much more solid and even gave depth in attack.
Varane: succumbed, like all of France, in the first half to the Argentine gale. He couldn’t do anything in the play that converted Messi from a penalty and tried to correct Upamecano’s back in the second, but he was late because Argentina attacked much faster. In the second half, he suffered from Julián Álvarez and his continuous unchecking, but he was solid in the side centers.
The details
Upamecano : outclassed by the stage, although he made several cuts that prevented transitions from Argentina. There was little he could do at 1-0, as he was not touched by his band and, in the second, he went for Messi and left his back uncovered, which allowed a lateral cross that went through the entire axis of the rear. In the second half, he was correct to contain Julián Álvarez’s ruptures and get past Messi up front. Already in extra time, he saved two goals from Lautaro Martínez in the first half, the first being a spectacular cut after going to the ground.
Théo Hernández: The game started very nervous. He lost two very dangerous balls that made Argentine counterattacks possible and, in attack, he barely helped Mbappé. He was surpassed, during practically the entire game, to the point that Deschamps put him in for Camavinga in the final stretch of the second half.
Tchouaméni : could not multiply by a thousand in defense. They came to France in a rush and he is not an alien. The speed of Scaloni’s men in midfield, especially in the first half, was a nightmare for him and for Rabiot. In the second half, right in the best minutes for France, it was a steamroller that cut off several dangerous rival counterattacks. In extra time he was already melted and, finally, in the penalty shootout, he missed his shot.
Rabiot : He was once again the parsimonious player who, for several seasons, made Juventus fans despair. He started nervous, trembling, as if the final had been able to with him. He, too, was not fine in the second plays and when he had to help Mbappé in attack, he was very tired. In the second half he went from less to more and, although he saw the yellow, the Argentine midfield did not have so much rope. In extra time, Fofana entered for him.
