Argentina champion: the step by step of the penalties and the video of Scaloni’s relief

A match for a thousand heart attacks could have no other end than a penalty shootout. The 3-3 had already been dramatic and spectacular… for the neutrals. But it lacked more. The world champion would come out of what many call a lottery but it’s not. Above all, it has its heroes. And his villains too.

Emiliano Martinez He again promised his teammates he would save two and again, as against the Netherlands, more hands were raised to kick than would be necessary, he said staircases.

The point is that the 12-pass shots came with the immediate background of three penalties in the 120 minutes. Messi had converted his goals, for the 1-0 at 11pm of the first half. Mbappé had served (1-2) in the same way at 80 and equalized in the agony of extra time, two minutes from the end, after Messi’s second goal.

He could mbappe Converting three penalties against a specialist like Emiliano Martínez? The Argentinian fans booed, crossed their fingers and threw some “kiricocho”. But the 10 of France makes no mistake and executes the three shots on the same side, Dibu’s right foot. The next was up to Messi, everything seemed to resurrect in that duel between them, the legend and the present/future. Leo did not fail either, on Lloris’ left.

With the 1-1 run it was Kingsley Coman’s turn, a good game. Unwritten law: they are the ones that usually fail. In reality, what he didn’t miss was Dibu, who dived to his right and deflected the ball. The responsibility for giving Argentina the lead rested on the left foot of Paul Dybala, entered a few minutes earlier through Tagliafico for that very reason. And the Jewel chose the center of the arc, strong in the middle, as popular wisdom says. Two to one.

In the next one, Dibu bewitched Tchouameniwhich finished to the left, deflected. Walls He didn’t hesitate, dry and to the right of Lloris. Two ahead for the national team and a hug with Emiliano Martínez. But no one could dare to celebrate.

All the pressure was on Kuolo Mani. If he was wrong, it ended there; but she was right. So the snail remained in the right leg of Gonzalo Montiel, a specialist. The ball did not burn the former River: 4-2. Suddenly, about thirty people ran wildly towards him. They were all world champions.

On one side of the pitch, Lionel Scaloni throbs a penalty second by second in which he is forced to restart after the goal scored by an infallible Mbappé.

The expression of tension and concern gave way to emotion and tears as the sequence unfolded: Dibu’s save, Tchouameni’s shot wide and the loudest goal of all, that of Gonzalo Montiel. Champion of Argentina, a dream come true.