So FIFA get what they wanted, a Mbappé v Messi final. And Infantilo told the world in only his second press conference in Qatar that this was the best World Cup ever, the very words he used when licking Putin's money-laden arse 4 years ago! We can only stand back and admire the man's objectivity - akin to Apple claiming their phones are the best on the planet.
As for the matches themselves, I should firstly say that I saw neither of them live - I was in the the air for the first and in a jet-lag induced coma for the second (K.O. 02:00 Thai time - no way I was getting out of bed for that!).
How many times have I already written that Argentina keep getting better! And so it was in the semi-final v Croatia too. Of course it is all thanks to Messi, who has me eating ridiculous amounts of humble pie, though he could still fall at the last fence! ! As has become usual, Messi grabbed the opener, a confident left boot smash from the penalty spot. Minutes later Alvarez made it 2 with a long solo run and a bit of luck with a ball that seemed eager to get away from him a couple of times but somehow kept within boot reach. That was before half time. Messi polished off Croatia in the second half with the sort of classy football dance that matters (Brazil, take note!) - he waltzed around the brilliant Gvardiol and then delivered a lovely ball to Alvarez through Gvadiol's legs for an easy slot home. Poor old Croatia made no reply and Gvardiol, who has been one of the outstanding players in this World Cup, is going to hate replaying this goal!
In the second semi, Morocco's squad depth proved to be shallower than a neap tide! They had 3 of their best players as doubtful starters. In the end, all 3 started but none of them finished. It was obvious that none of them were match fit. France did it with a goal in either half but it's a real shame that Morocco weren't at full strength. Yet they put up a decent fight, inspired by the player of the match, Amrabat, and that crucuial 12th. man, their fanatical supporters. A full strength Morocco would have given France a real run for their money and maybe more....
The playoff for 3rd. and 4th. is often a carefree encounter as the stakes are low and the pressure is off. Croatia and Morocco kept that particular tradition fully intact with some great football, especially in the first half. Croatia took the lead after only 7 minutes with a superb headed pass onto Gvardiol's flying head - Gvardiol's first goal for his country and he's now the youngest Croatian to do so - he's only 20. I was happy for him, nice compensation for the Messi run-around in the semi. Morocco didn't waste any time equalising with a header of their own only 2 mins later. For two teams that had been through tough matches and penalty shootouts, they were zipping around like carefree youngsters on any given Saturday in any given town! How brilliant football can be when played for fun. Croatia snatched a second with a lovely lob (or was he going for a cross - that's what I thought watching live!). There was an inevitable slow down in the second half as Morocco used all of their subs and Croatia used 4 of theirs. Fatigue seemed to finally catch up with the Moroccans as Croatia looked stronger. Ultimately, the second half was scoreless and Croatia finished third again, as they did in 1998, their WC debut. Runners-up and two 3rd place finishes - not bad for a country with red and white squares decorating their jersies! Morocco have been a revelation too, giving lesser-rated teams hope. Croatia and Morocco played out a fairly boring 0-0 draw in their respective first matches of this World Cup. The match was generally dismissed as a dull encounter of two almost no-hopers. Croatia were aging and had lost their front men of the previous World Cup while Morocco were, by name alone, not taken seriously. How wrong we were! Well done to both of them - if only Ireland (my sad, sorry football nation) had half their belief, energy and commitment
Enough about all that has gone before, let the final begin! (And France win!)
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