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<p>The Argentines were an ecstatic bunch after the team triumphed in arguably, the greatest football game of all time to win the FIFA World Cup. During celebrations, however, goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez appeared to mock French superstar Kylian Mbappe, souring the mood of a few of the fans.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A video clip snapped from 'Instagram Live' done by Argentine defender Nichola Otamendi shows the entire squad celebrating the WC victory in the changing room by singing and dancing.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The squad could be heard chanting "a minute's silence for" in tandem when Martinez filled a deliberate pause with the shout: "For Mbappe who is dead!"</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">"A minute of silence for ... Mbappe!" 😅<br />
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Emiliano Martinez during Argentina's dressing room celebration.<br />
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(via nicolasotamendi30/Instagram) <a href="https://t.co/dwm3IrUNWG">pic.twitter.com/dwm3IrUNWG</a></p>
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNFC/status/1604594960665382914?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 18, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p>The clip has since gone viral on social media with many fans terming Martinez's action unnecessary and souring an otherwise joyful occasion.&nbsp;</p>

<p>While the Argentine was seemingly mocking Mbappe in the clip, another video showed him walking to the French striker after the end of the match to console him.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-2022-im-not-gonna-retire-announces-lionel-messi-after-wc-victory-544375" target="_blank"><strong>Read more: FIFA World Cup 2022: 'I’m not...': Lionel Messi drops a BOMB on his future after lifting the mega title</strong></a></p>

<p>Argentina beat France 4-2 on penalties after the match ended all square 3-3 after extra time. Though Mbappe covered his penalty kick, his teammates Aurelien Tchouameni and Kingsley Coman could not put the ball to the back of net as Martinez managed to steer Argentina to the elusive WC trophy.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, if it wasn't for Mbappe, Argentina would have run away with the match, before the full-time whistle.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It was Mbappe that fired the ball to the back of the Argentine net past Martinez, twice, in the space of 97 seconds to bring France back into the competition.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-2022-im-not-gonna-retire-announces-lionel-messi-after-wc-victory-544375" target="_blank"><strong>Read more: FIFA World Cup 2022: Mesmerising Messi’s Argentina fulfill the dream by beating France on penalties in final</strong></a></p>

<p>He beat Martinez's goal once again in extra time to force the game to penalties. The three goals in the final earned Mbappe the Golden Boot trophy as he finished the tournament with eight goals in his bag.</p>

<p>At the young age of 23, Mbappe is destined for a career similar to, if not better than Messi. He already has a World Cup in his armoury and could have had another, if it wasn't for Messi's brilliance.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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The Argentines were an ecstatic bunch after the team triumphed in arguably, the greatest football game of all time to win the FIFA World Cup. During celebrations, however, goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez appeared to mock French superstar Kylian Mbappe, souring the mood of a few of the fans.

The Argentines were an ecstatic bunch after the team triumphed in arguably, the greatest football game of all time to win the FIFA World Cup. During celebrations, however, goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez appeared to mock French superstar Kylian Mbappe, souring the mood of a few of the fans. A video clip snapped from 'Instagram Live' done by Argentine defender Nichola Otamendi shows the entire squad celebrating the WC victory in the changing room by singing and dancing. The squad could be heard chanting "a minute's silence for" in tandem when Martinez filled a deliberate pause with the shout: "For Mbappe who is dead!" "A minute of silence for ... Mbappe!" 😅 Emiliano Martinez during Argentina's dressing room celebration. (via nicolasotamendi30/Instagram) pic.twitter.com/dwm3IrUNWG — ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) December 18, 2022 × The clip has since gone viral on social media with many fans terming Martinez's action unnecessary and souring an otherwise joyful occasion. While the Argentine was seemingly mocking Mbappe in the clip, another video showed him walking to the French striker after the end of the match to console him. Read more: FIFA World Cup 2022: 'I’m not...': Lionel Messi drops a BOMB on his future after lifting the mega title Argentina beat France 4-2 on penalties after the match ended all square 3-3 after extra time. Though Mbappe covered his penalty kick, his teammates Aurelien Tchouameni and Kingsley Coman could not put the ball to the back of net as Martinez managed to steer Argentina to the elusive WC trophy. However, if it wasn't for Mbappe, Argentina would have run away with the match, before the full-time whistle. It was Mbappe that fired the ball to the back of the Argentine net past Martinez, twice, in the space of 97 seconds to bring France back into the competition. Read more: FIFA World Cup 2022: Mesmerising Messi’s Argentina fulfill the dream by beating France on penalties in final He beat Martinez's goal once again in extra time to force the game to penalties. The three goals in the final earned Mbappe the Golden Boot trophy as he finished the tournament with eight goals in his bag. At the young age of 23, Mbappe is destined for a career similar to, if not better than Messi. He already has a World Cup in his armoury and could have had another, if it wasn't for Messi's brilliance. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

WATCH: Argentine players mock Kylian Mbappe in the dressing room after World Cup victory

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<p>In what comes as another jolly news for Argentine fans across the footballing landscape, their superstar Lionel Messi has indicated he has no plans of slowing down and that he wants to play as the world champion.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“No, I’m not going to&nbsp;retire from the national team. I want to keep playing as World Cup champions with Argentina shirt," Messi was quoted as saying by various media outlets after the match.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I wanted to close my career with this, it was the one that was missing so I can no longer ask for anything else. I was able to get the Copa America and now the World Cup that I had fought so hard for. I've got it at the end of my career."</p>

<p>Messi's sentiments were echoed by the national team coach Lionel Scaloni who said the little magician can continue to keep playing.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“If he wants to keep playing, he will be with us. He is more than entitled to decide whether he wants to keep playing for Argentina or not or what he wants to do with his career," an emotional Scaloni told media after the match.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“He is such a huge player for us. It is such a pleasure for us to coach him and his teammates. Everything he transmits to his teammates is unparalleled - something I’ve never seen before.”</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-2022-who-won-the-golden-boot-golden-glove-and-golden-ball-awards-544342" target="_blank"><strong>Read more: FIFA World Cup 2022: Who won the Golden Boot, Golden Glove and Golden Ball awards?</strong></a></p>

<p><strong>Messi and his world-class performance on the biggest stage</strong></p>

<p>Argentina beat France 4-2 on penalties after the match ended 3-3 at the end of extra time at the Lusail International Stadium.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Messi scored twice and converted from the spot during the penalty shootout to guide his team to the promised land.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Messi became the first player to win two Golden Ball awards, having previously bagged the trophy in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Golden Ball award is given to the best player of the tournament, Mbappe came second to him while Croatia's Luka Modric finished third. The Argentine narrowly missed on the Golden Boot award as Mbapped (8) bagged a hattrick in the final to nudge ahead of him (7) by a goal.&nbsp;</p>

<p>With the WC triumph, Messi has joined the likes of Kempes and Maradona to have won the elusive trophy.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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In what comes as another jolly news for Argentine fans across the footballing landscape, their superstar Lionel Messi has indicated he has no plans of slowing down and that he wants to play as the world champion.

In what comes as another jolly news for Argentine fans across the footballing landscape, their superstar Lionel Messi has indicated he has no plans of slowing down and that he wants to play as the world champion. “No, I’m not going to retire from the national team. I want to keep playing as World Cup champions with Argentina shirt," Messi was quoted as saying by various media outlets after the match. "I wanted to close my career with this, it was the one that was missing so I can no longer ask for anything else. I was able to get the Copa America and now the World Cup that I had fought so hard for. I've got it at the end of my career." Messi's sentiments were echoed by the national team coach Lionel Scaloni who said the little magician can continue to keep playing. “If he wants to keep playing, he will be with us. He is more than entitled to decide whether he wants to keep playing for Argentina or not or what he wants to do with his career," an emotional Scaloni told media after the match. “He is such a huge player for us. It is such a pleasure for us to coach him and his teammates. Everything he transmits to his teammates is unparalleled - something I’ve never seen before.” Read more: FIFA World Cup 2022: Who won the Golden Boot, Golden Glove and Golden Ball awards? Messi and his world-class performance on the biggest stage Argentina beat France 4-2 on penalties after the match ended 3-3 at the end of extra time at the Lusail International Stadium. Messi scored twice and converted from the spot during the penalty shootout to guide his team to the promised land. Messi became the first player to win two Golden Ball awards, having previously bagged the trophy in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. The Golden Ball award is given to the best player of the tournament, Mbappe came second to him while Croatia's Luka Modric finished third. The Argentine narrowly missed on the Golden Boot award as Mbapped (8) bagged a hattrick in the final to nudge ahead of him (7) by a goal. With the WC triumph, Messi has joined the likes of Kempes and Maradona to have won the elusive trophy. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

FIFA World Cup 2022: 'I’m not...': Lionel Messi drops a BOMB on his future after lifting the mega title

<p>The 26-day grand spectacle of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar reached its fitting climax on Sunday night. Argentina overcame France, the defending champions to lay their hands on the WC silverware after a long, arduous wait of 36 years. While the finale was thrilling, the entirety of the tournament was no different with several top talents coming to the fore and old stalwarts turning back the clock.&nbsp;</p>

<p>With the incredible array of talent at display, it was only inevitable that WION's sports team made its&nbsp;World Cup XI. However, it is to be noted that the dynamics of the individual players&nbsp;may not necessarily be great for the XI enlisted below. The XI&nbsp;is purely based on players that had an exceptional tournament in their respective positions.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>(4-3-3&nbsp;formation)</strong></p>

<p><strong>Goalkeeper: </strong>Emiliano Martinez (Goalkeeper)</p>

<p><strong>Defenders: </strong>Achraf Hakimi (Morocco), Josko Gvardiol (Croatia), Ibrahima Konate (France), Theo Hernandez (France)<br />
<br />
<strong>Midfielders: </strong>Jude Bellingham (England), Antoine Griezzmann (France); Luka Modric (Croatia)</p>

<p><strong>Forwards: </strong>Lionel Messi (Argentina) Kylian Mbappe (France), Julian Alvarez (Argentina)</p>

<p><strong>Manager: </strong>Louis van Gaal (Netherlands)</p>

<p><img alt="WION's World Cup XI" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ecacc85e-2200-4860-b063-38c58fad077f" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/lineup%20%281%29.png" /></p>

<p><strong>Manager/Coach</strong></p>

<p>Morocco coach Walid&nbsp;Regragui could have easily made it as the manager of the squad but was pipped by Louis van Gaal by a tiny fraction. The Dutch showed exemplary tactical fluidity when chasing the game against Argentina that tipped the scales in his favour. van Gaal put Wout Weghorst and Luuk de Jong into the XI and used their aerial prowess to inflict a stunning comeback.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Formation</strong></p>

<p>We have gone with a 4-3-3&nbsp;formation which is flexible as it allows Lionel Messi, the Golden Boot winner of the tournament to loiter anywhere in the middle and do what he does best. Essentially, in possession, it becomes a 4-4-2&nbsp;with Alvarez and Mbappe as the top two with the likes of Messi and Griezzmann feeding them.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Goalkeeper</strong></p>

<p>Emiliano Martinez was a no-brainer in the goalpost after he carried his team through two penalty shootouts in the tournament. Prior to the final's penalty shootout, Martinez pulled off a miraculous save in the dying seconds of extra time to save the Argentines a massive heartache. For his shot-stopping ability and decent sweeping technique, Martinez makes the cut.</p>

<p>Alternatives: Dominik Livakovic (Croatia),&nbsp;Yassine Bounou (Morocco) and&nbsp;Wojciech Szczesny (Poland) were the other options that could have easily walked into the XI.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/unmissable-argentina-captain-lionel-messis-table-dance-with-fifa-world-cup-trophy-goes-viral-watch-544444"><strong>WATCH | UNMISSABLE! Argentina captain Lionel Messi's table dance with FIFA World Cup trophy goes viral</strong></a></p>

<p><strong>Defenders</strong></p>

<p>The back four was one of the preferred options by managers in the World Cup. The two central defenders flanked by the wing-backs who liked to push up the pitch was&nbsp;a strategy that reaped rich dividends.</p>

<p>In the playing XI, the backline is being marshalled by Josko Gvardiol, one of the brightest prospects to come out of the tournament and Ibrahima Konate.</p>

<p>The Liverpool defender may not have got as much game time as he would have liked but he was a Rolls Royce of a defender whenever he was given the opportunity. His shift in the semifinals was one of the reasons why France reached the final.&nbsp;</p>

<p>To the right of Konate we have Morocco's Achraf Hakimi who had an extra set of lungs on him throughout the World Cup. Though Morocco focused on defensive solidity at the back where Hakimi had to concentrate most of his focus, his offensive output was worth nothing.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The left fullback position is occupied by Theo Hernandez. The AC Milan defender is one of the most talented left-backs in the world, if not the best. Hernandez likes staying high up during the attacking phases and make underlapping and overlapping runs through the winger.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Alternatives: Dayot Upamecano (France), John Stones (England), Roman Saiss (Morocco), Virgil Van Dijk (Netherlands)</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-2022-messis-argentina-fulfill-the-dream-by-beating-france-on-penalties-in-the-wc-final-544328"><strong>Read more:&nbsp;FIFA World Cup 2022: Mesmerising Messi’s Argentina fulfill the dream by beating France on penalties in final</strong></a></p>

<p><strong>Midfielders</strong></p>

<p>The engine room of our playing XI is being led by 35-year-old Luka Modric who carried his team to yet another podium finish at the World Cup. Age appears to have not caught up with the Croatian maestro who alongside Mateo Kovacic and Marcelo Brozovic formed one of the most lethal midfield trios of the tournament.&nbsp;</p>

<p>England's 19-year-old Jude Bellingham is the obvious choice for the other spot as the teenage sensation lit up the WC with his physicality, ball progression and creativity. And when needed, the Borussia Dortmund player did not shy away from doing the dirty work.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The last piece of machinery in the midfield is Antoine Griezmann who quietly had one of the best tournaments. He was involved in nearly every major moment for the French side during their journey to the final. The freedom given by Didier Deschamps to him to loiter anywhere in the midfield allowed the creator in Griezmann to come to the fore.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Alternatives: Enzo Fernandez (Argentina), Sofyan Amrbat (Morocco), Casemiro (Brazil), Mateo Kovacic (Croatia)</p>

<p><strong>Forwards:</strong></p>

<p>The attacking trio picked itself as their performances demanded an almost certain selection. Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe, the Golden Ball and Golden Boot winners respectively had a standout tournament. They both pulled their team out of the hard moments single-handedly and lit up the WC on their own. Joining them is Manchester City forward Julian Alvarez who managed to bag four goals in the tournament and prove his mettle.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Alternatives: Olivier Giroud (France), Ferran Torres (Spain), Bukayo Saka (England), Richarlison (Brazil)</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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The 26-day grand spectacle of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar reached its fitting climax on Sunday night. Argentina overcame France, the defending champions to lay their hands on the WC silverware after a long, arduous wait of 36 years.

The 26-day grand spectacle of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar reached its fitting climax on Sunday night. Argentina overcame France, the defending champions to lay their hands on the WC silverware after a long, arduous wait of 36 years. While the finale was thrilling, the entirety of the tournament was no different with several top talents coming to the fore and old stalwarts turning back the clock. With the incredible array of talent at display, it was only inevitable that WION's sports team made its World Cup XI. However, it is to be noted that the dynamics of the individual players may not necessarily be great for the XI enlisted below. The XI is purely based on players that had an exceptional tournament in their respective positions. (4-3-3 formation) Goalkeeper: Emiliano Martinez (Goalkeeper) Defenders: Achraf Hakimi (Morocco), Josko Gvardiol (Croatia), Ibrahima Konate (France), Theo Hernandez (France) Midfielders: Jude Bellingham (England), Antoine Griezzmann (France); Luka Modric (Croatia) Forwards: Lionel Messi (Argentina) Kylian Mbappe (France), Julian Alvarez (Argentina) Manager: Louis van Gaal (Netherlands) Manager/Coach Morocco coach Walid Regragui could have easily made it as the manager of the squad but was pipped by Louis van Gaal by a tiny fraction. The Dutch showed exemplary tactical fluidity when chasing the game against Argentina that tipped the scales in his favour. van Gaal put Wout Weghorst and Luuk de Jong into the XI and used their aerial prowess to inflict a stunning comeback. Formation We have gone with a 4-3-3 formation which is flexible as it allows Lionel Messi, the Golden Boot winner of the tournament to loiter anywhere in the middle and do what he does best. Essentially, in possession, it becomes a 4-4-2 with Alvarez and Mbappe as the top two with the likes of Messi and Griezzmann feeding them. Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez was a no-brainer in the goalpost after he carried his team through two penalty shootouts in the tournament. Prior to the final's penalty shootout, Martinez pulled off a miraculous save in the dying seconds of extra time to save the Argentines a massive heartache. For his shot-stopping ability and decent sweeping technique, Martinez makes the cut. Alternatives: Dominik Livakovic (Croatia), Yassine Bounou (Morocco) and Wojciech Szczesny (Poland) were the other options that could have easily walked into the XI. WATCH | UNMISSABLE! Argentina captain Lionel Messi's table dance with FIFA World Cup trophy goes viral Defenders The back four was one of the preferred options by managers in the World Cup. The two central defenders flanked by the wing-backs who liked to push up the pitch was a strategy that reaped rich dividends. In the playing XI, the backline is being marshalled by Josko Gvardiol, one of the brightest prospects to come out of the tournament and Ibrahima Konate. The Liverpool defender may not have got as much game time as he would have liked but he was a Rolls Royce of a defender whenever he was given the opportunity. His shift in the semifinals was one of the reasons why France reached the final. To the right of Konate we have Morocco's Achraf Hakimi who had an extra set of lungs on him throughout the World Cup. Though Morocco focused on defensive solidity at the back where Hakimi had to concentrate most of his focus, his offensive output was worth nothing. The left fullback position is occupied by Theo Hernandez. The AC Milan defender is one of the most talented left-backs in the world, if not the best. Hernandez likes staying high up during the attacking phases and make underlapping and overlapping runs through the winger. Alternatives: Dayot Upamecano (France), John Stones (England), Roman Saiss (Morocco), Virgil Van Dijk (Netherlands) Read more: FIFA World Cup 2022: Mesmerising Messi’s Argentina fulfill the dream by beating France on penalties in final Midfielders The engine room of our playing XI is being led by 35-year-old Luka Modric who carried his team to yet another podium finish at the World Cup. Age appears to have not caught up with the Croatian maestro who alongside Mateo Kovacic and Marcelo Brozovic formed one of the most lethal midfield trios of the tournament. England's 19-year-old Jude Bellingham is the obvious choice for the other spot as the teenage sensation lit up the WC with his physicality, ball progression and creativity. And when needed, the Borussia Dortmund player did not shy away from doing the dirty work. The last piece of machinery in the midfield is Antoine Griezmann who quietly had one of the best tournaments. He was involved in nearly every major moment for the French side during their journey to the final. The freedom given by Didier Deschamps to him to loiter anywhere in the midfield allowed the creator in Griezmann to come to the fore. Alternatives: Enzo Fernandez (Argentina), Sofyan Amrbat (Morocco), Casemiro (Brazil), Mateo Kovacic (Croatia) Forwards: The attacking trio picked itself as their performances demanded an almost certain selection. Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe, the Golden Ball and Golden Boot winners respectively had a standout tournament. They both pulled their team out of the hard moments single-handedly and lit up the WC on their own. Joining them is Manchester City forward Julian Alvarez who managed to bag four goals in the tournament and prove his mettle. Alternatives: Olivier Giroud (France), Ferran Torres (Spain), Bukayo Saka (England), Richarlison (Brazil) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

WION's FIFA World Cup 2022 best XI: Which players made the first team?

<p>On Sunday (December 18), Argentina defeated France in the FIFA World Cup 2022 final, at the Lusail Stadium, Qatar, to lift their first-ever WC title after 1986. Lionel Messi &amp; Co. dominated proceedings till the 80th minute, leading 2-0, before Kylian Mbappe's twin strikes brought his side back and stretched it to the extra time, which ended in a 3-3 scoreline taking the game to the penalty shootout. In the penalties, Argentina prevailed on top, by 4-2, to return home with the elusive title.&nbsp;</p>

<p>After the game, Messi's fan's 2015 Twitter post has gone viral. In a tweet, the fan said, "December 18, 2022. 34 year old Leo Messi will win the World Cup and become the greatest player of all times. Check back with me in 7 years." The post caught everyone's attention prior to the FIFA WC finale but went viral in no time post Argentina's famous win over the defending champions France. <strong>Here's the tweet:</strong></p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">December 18, 2022. 34 year old Leo Messi will win the World Cup and become the greatest player of all times. Check back with me in 7 years.</p>
— José Miguel Polanco (@josepolanco10) <a href="https://twitter.com/josepolanco10/status/579016398694805504?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 20, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<p>It is to be noted that the post has become a huge hit on the social media platform Twitter, garnering&nbsp;in excess of 58,000 retweets and more than 1,50,000 likes.</p>

<p><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/all-aligned-for-the-stars-heres-eerie-similarities-between-srts-2011-odi-wc-messis-fifa-wc-run-544485">All aligned for the 'stars'! Here's EERIE similarities between SRT's 2011 ODI WC &amp; Messi's FIFA WC run</a></strong></p>

<p>Talking about the 35-year-old Messi, he&nbsp;ended his World Cup run on an emphatic fashion. Having already revealed that the Qatar final will be his last-ever World Cup appearance, the Argentina captain couldn't have asked for a better end as his two goals kept the national side ahead in the contest and he also found the back of the net in the penalty shooutouts. The Argentina legend ended with the Golden Ball Award and became the first-ever to win it twice (having already won in the 2014 edition). Having lost the opportunity to win the FIFA WC in 2014, when Germany defeated Argentina in the final, Messi has moved past the past struggles to end his fifth and final WC appearance with the coveted title.&nbsp;</p>


On Sunday (December 18), Argentina defeated France in the FIFA World Cup 2022 final, at the Lusail Stadium, Qatar, to lift their first-ever WC title after 1986. Lionel Messi & Co.

On Sunday (December 18), Argentina defeated France in the FIFA World Cup 2022 final, at the Lusail Stadium, Qatar, to lift their first-ever WC title after 1986. Lionel Messi & Co. dominated proceedings till the 80th minute, leading 2-0, before Kylian Mbappe's twin strikes brought his side back and stretched it to the extra time, which ended in a 3-3 scoreline taking the game to the penalty shootout. In the penalties, Argentina prevailed on top, by 4-2, to return home with the elusive title. After the game, Messi's fan's 2015 Twitter post has gone viral. In a tweet, the fan said, "December 18, 2022. 34 year old Leo Messi will win the World Cup and become the greatest player of all times. Check back with me in 7 years." The post caught everyone's attention prior to the FIFA WC finale but went viral in no time post Argentina's famous win over the defending champions France. Here's the tweet: December 18, 2022. 34 year old Leo Messi will win the World Cup and become the greatest player of all times. Check back with me in 7 years. — José Miguel Polanco (@josepolanco10) March 20, 2015 × It is to be noted that the post has become a huge hit on the social media platform Twitter, garnering in excess of 58,000 retweets and more than 1,50,000 likes. Also read: All aligned for the 'stars'! Here's EERIE similarities between SRT's 2011 ODI WC & Messi's FIFA WC run Talking about the 35-year-old Messi, he ended his World Cup run on an emphatic fashion. Having already revealed that the Qatar final will be his last-ever World Cup appearance, the Argentina captain couldn't have asked for a better end as his two goals kept the national side ahead in the contest and he also found the back of the net in the penalty shooutouts. The Argentina legend ended with the Golden Ball Award and became the first-ever to win it twice (having already won in the 2014 edition). Having lost the opportunity to win the FIFA WC in 2014, when Germany defeated Argentina in the final, Messi has moved past the past struggles to end his fifth and final WC appearance with the coveted title.

'Check back with me in 7 years' - Lionel Messi's fan's 2015 prediction goes viral after Argentina win FIFA WC

<p>The FIFA World Cup 2022 edition lived up to expectations. The riveting group stage was followed by the Round of 16, hard-fought quarters, semi-finals before the final was one for the ages, involding Argentina and France. The two heavyweights locked horns, at the Lusail Stadium in Qatar, where Lionel Messi-led Argentina line-up ended their 36-year-drought to win the FIFA World Cup trophy in a nail-biting finale. After leading the French line-up 2-0 till the 80th minute, Argentina conceded two goals in succession before the match remained poised, at 3-3, after end of extra time. In the penalty shootout, Argentina edged past the defending champions, by a 4-2 margin, to end on a high.</p>

<p>Post the end of the FIFA WC, in Qatar, some eerie similarities have been brought forward between Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar's 2011 ODI World Cup run and Messi's overall journey in the recently-concluded event in the Middle East. <strong>Here are some glaring similarities:</strong></p>

<p><strong>1:</strong> Both donned Jersey No. 10</p>

<p><strong>2.</strong> Both Tendulkar and Messi had lost the World Cup final eight years back. SRT-starrer India had lost the 2003 ODI WC final whereas Argentina came second, versus Germany, in the 2014 final of the FIFA WC.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/who-earns-the-most-between-lionel-messi-or-kylian-mbappe-at-psg-find-out-544475">Who earns the most between Lionel Messi or Kylian Mbappe at PSG? Find out</a></strong></p>

<p><strong>3.&nbsp;</strong>Interestingly, Messi and Tendulkar were the Player-of-the-Match in the semi-finals of their respective victorious WC campaigns. SRT won it in India-Pakistan tie in 2011 whereas Messi returned with the award in the semi-final versus Croatia for solitary goal and splendid assist to Julian Alvarez.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>4.&nbsp;</strong>Both ended their last WC winning the coveted title. While Tendulkar won it in his sixth WC, Messi got to the feat in his fifth attempt.</p>

<p>After taking Argentina to the mega title, Messi spoke about his international future, having already cleared the air that this was his last WC. Post his side's historic win, he told TyC Sports, as quoted by Goal.com, "No, I'm not going to retiring from the Argentina national team. I want to continue playing as a champion." In addition, the 35-year-old returned with the Golden Ball Award, becoming the&nbsp;first player to win it twice (having earlier&nbsp;won in 2014).&nbsp;</p>

<p>Meanwhile, Tendulkar took to his official Twitter handle and wrote, "Many congratulations to Argentina on doing this for Messi! Wonderful comeback from the way they started the campaign. Special mention to Martinez for the spectacular save towards the end of extra time. That was a clear indication to me that Argentina would clinch this."</p>

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The FIFA World Cup 2022 edition lived up to expectations. The riveting group stage was followed by the Round of 16, hard-fought quarters, semi-finals before the final was one for the ages, involding Argentina and France.

The FIFA World Cup 2022 edition lived up to expectations. The riveting group stage was followed by the Round of 16, hard-fought quarters, semi-finals before the final was one for the ages, involding Argentina and France. The two heavyweights locked horns, at the Lusail Stadium in Qatar, where Lionel Messi-led Argentina line-up ended their 36-year-drought to win the FIFA World Cup trophy in a nail-biting finale. After leading the French line-up 2-0 till the 80th minute, Argentina conceded two goals in succession before the match remained poised, at 3-3, after end of extra time. In the penalty shootout, Argentina edged past the defending champions, by a 4-2 margin, to end on a high. Post the end of the FIFA WC, in Qatar, some eerie similarities have been brought forward between Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar's 2011 ODI World Cup run and Messi's overall journey in the recently-concluded event in the Middle East. Here are some glaring similarities: 1: Both donned Jersey No. 10 2. Both Tendulkar and Messi had lost the World Cup final eight years back. SRT-starrer India had lost the 2003 ODI WC final whereas Argentina came second, versus Germany, in the 2014 final of the FIFA WC. Also read: Who earns the most between Lionel Messi or Kylian Mbappe at PSG? Find out 3. Interestingly, Messi and Tendulkar were the Player-of-the-Match in the semi-finals of their respective victorious WC campaigns. SRT won it in India-Pakistan tie in 2011 whereas Messi returned with the award in the semi-final versus Croatia for solitary goal and splendid assist to Julian Alvarez. 4. Both ended their last WC winning the coveted title. While Tendulkar won it in his sixth WC, Messi got to the feat in his fifth attempt. After taking Argentina to the mega title, Messi spoke about his international future, having already cleared the air that this was his last WC. Post his side's historic win, he told TyC Sports, as quoted by Goal.com, "No, I'm not going to retiring from the Argentina national team. I want to continue playing as a champion." In addition, the 35-year-old returned with the Golden Ball Award, becoming the first player to win it twice (having earlier won in 2014). Meanwhile, Tendulkar took to his official Twitter handle and wrote, "Many congratulations to Argentina on doing this for Messi! Wonderful comeback from the way they started the campaign. Special mention to Martinez for the spectacular save towards the end of extra time. That was a clear indication to me that Argentina would clinch this." ×

All aligned for the 'stars'! Here's EERIE similarities between SRT's 2011 ODI WC & Messi's FIFA WC run

<p>Lionel Messi's dream of lifting the World Cup was fulfilled on Sunday evening (December 18) with Argentina beating France in a stunning FIFA WC final at the Lusail Stadium, Qatar. Defending champions France took on Messi's Argentina and produced a final for the ages. While Messi and Angel Di Maria's goals took Argentina to a 2-0 lead, Kylian Mbappe's twin strikes ended the regulation time at 2-2. The extra time once again saw Messi &amp; Co. taking a 3-2 lead, in the 108th minute, before Mbappe struck once again and found the back of the net in the 118th minute to level the scores, 3-3, and take the game to the penalty shootout.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In the shootouts, Argentina emerged on top, 4-2, courtesy of&nbsp;&nbsp;Emiliano Martínez's saves, and won its first-ever World Cup title since 1986. Messi also ended the debate for the Greatest of All Time, often being pitted alongside arch-rival Cristiano Ronaldo, by getting his hand on the WC trophy. After the pulsating affair, in front of a jam-packed stadium including many big names from various fields, Messi celebrated in style and his table-dance clip has gone viral in a jiffy. The 35-year-old entertained one and all with his moves in the Argentina dressing room. <strong>Here's the video:</strong></p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">LIONEL MESSI JUMPING ON THE TABLE IN THE DRESSING ROOM 😂<br />
<br />
(via <a href="https://twitter.com/Notamendi30?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Notamendi30</a>) <a href="https://t.co/WUTq3AmjKs">pic.twitter.com/WUTq3AmjKs</a></p>
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNFC/status/1604566690968264705?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 18, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-2022-im-not-gonna-retire-announces-lionel-messi-after-wc-victory-544375">FIFA World Cup 2022: 'I’m not...': Lionel Messi drops a BOMB on his future after lifting the mega title</a></strong></p>

<p>After the game, Messi also spoke about his international future. Post his side's semi-final win, he revealed that the Qatar final will be his last World Cup appearance. While his last game in the mega event has lived up to expectations, the Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) striker made it clear that he isn't going anywhere and will continue to play at the international level as a 'champion'.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Messi told TyC Sports, as quoted by Goal.com,&nbsp;"No, I'm not going to retiring from the Argentina national team. I want to continue playing as a champion." In addition, the veteran&nbsp;ended with the Golden Ball Award, becoming the&nbsp;first ever to win the title twice (earlier he won it in 2014).</p>


Lionel Messi's dream of lifting the World Cup was fulfilled on Sunday evening (December 18) with Argentina beating France in a stunning FIFA WC final at the Lusail Stadium, Qatar.

Lionel Messi's dream of lifting the World Cup was fulfilled on Sunday evening (December 18) with Argentina beating France in a stunning FIFA WC final at the Lusail Stadium, Qatar. Defending champions France took on Messi's Argentina and produced a final for the ages. While Messi and Angel Di Maria's goals took Argentina to a 2-0 lead, Kylian Mbappe's twin strikes ended the regulation time at 2-2. The extra time once again saw Messi & Co. taking a 3-2 lead, in the 108th minute, before Mbappe struck once again and found the back of the net in the 118th minute to level the scores, 3-3, and take the game to the penalty shootout. In the shootouts, Argentina emerged on top, 4-2, courtesy of Emiliano Martínez's saves, and won its first-ever World Cup title since 1986. Messi also ended the debate for the Greatest of All Time, often being pitted alongside arch-rival Cristiano Ronaldo, by getting his hand on the WC trophy. After the pulsating affair, in front of a jam-packed stadium including many big names from various fields, Messi celebrated in style and his table-dance clip has gone viral in a jiffy. The 35-year-old entertained one and all with his moves in the Argentina dressing room. Here's the video: LIONEL MESSI JUMPING ON THE TABLE IN THE DRESSING ROOM 😂 (via @Notamendi30) pic.twitter.com/WUTq3AmjKs — ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) December 18, 2022 × Also read: FIFA World Cup 2022: 'I’m not...': Lionel Messi drops a BOMB on his future after lifting the mega title After the game, Messi also spoke about his international future. Post his side's semi-final win, he revealed that the Qatar final will be his last World Cup appearance. While his last game in the mega event has lived up to expectations, the Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) striker made it clear that he isn't going anywhere and will continue to play at the international level as a 'champion'. Messi told TyC Sports, as quoted by Goal.com, "No, I'm not going to retiring from the Argentina national team. I want to continue playing as a champion." In addition, the veteran ended with the Golden Ball Award, becoming the first ever to win the title twice (earlier he won it in 2014).

UNMISSABLE! Argentina captain Lionel Messi's table dance with FIFA World Cup trophy goes viral - Watch

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<p>It was Lionel Messi's last dance on the World Cup stage, in perhaps one of the most thrilling finals ever. It was&nbsp;a grand finale to the tournament coinciding with the Argentine star’s last World Cup. And if the start against Saudi Arabia was as anticlimactic as they come, the end was just as romantic, thrilling and visceral as it could have been.</p>

<p>Argentina beat France 4-2&nbsp;on penalties after the match ended&nbsp;3-3&nbsp;at the end of extra time&nbsp;at the Lusail International Stadium in front of a majority Argentine crowd that never once let its voice down.</p>

<p>A spectacular save from Martinez to deny Aurélien Tchouaméni and a miss from Kingsley Coman allowed Argentina to clinch the WC trophy after going through a plethora of emotions through the course of the match.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Two goals from Argentina's talisman Messi and one from Angel Di Maria were not enough for Argentina to get ahead as Mbappe smashed a first World Cup hat-trick to take the game to penalties.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A bundle of narratives were weaved prior to the match, none as bigger and often asked as Messi or Mbappe? The answer, though, should have been a no-brainer from the get-go. It was merely the passing of the baton from one generation to another. Both players complete in their own styles and capable to take their team to victory shores fought hard and shone bright but it was Messi that came out on top.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Argentina nearly win it</strong></p>

<p>France were pinned back within the first 10 minutes as a powerful goal-inbound shot from de Paul in the eighth minute hit a French defender and crashed across the byline.&nbsp; Prior to it, a thumping effort from Alexis Mac Allister hit straight to Lloris was pouched by the Tottenham keeper.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Argentina with their buccaneering attitude kept coming back and managed to earn the well-deserved advantage in the 23rd minute via a Messi penalty.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The penalty was earned by none other than Angel Di Maria who had Dembele on tenterhooks since the beginning of the game. With France tucked in a compact shape, the winger was forced to do the defensive work but came up short against the Argentine.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Lusail witnesses the <a href="https://twitter.com/Oficial7DiMaria?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Oficial7DiMaria</a> MANIA 💥<br />
<br />
The man for the BIG OCCASION with a splendid finish ⭐<br />
<br />
Keep watching the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FIFAWorldCup?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FIFAWorldCup</a> Final ➡ LIVE on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JioCinema?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#JioCinema</a> &amp; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sports18?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Sports18</a> 📺📲<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ARGFRA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ARGFRA</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ArgentinaVsFrance?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ArgentinaVsFrance</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Qatar2022?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Qatar2022</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FIFAWConJioCinema?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FIFAWConJioCinema</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FIFAWConSports18?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FIFAWConSports18</a> <a href="https://t.co/1S9SNBnsjq">pic.twitter.com/1S9SNBnsjq</a></p>
— JioCinema (@JioCinema) <a href="https://twitter.com/JioCinema/status/1604511426386677760?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 18, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-argentina-lead-through-messi-and-di-marias-strike-in-the-final-of-fifa-wc-2022-544309" target="_blank"><strong>WATCH | Argentina lead through Messi and Di Maria's strike in the final of FIFA WC 2022</strong></a></p>

<p>After the goal, one would have thought that Deschamps' men would pick up the pace and counter-attack. However, it was Argentina that dictated the play and through sustained pressure managed to double the lead in the 36th minute.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A swift move started by Messi with an outside-of-the-boot touch in the right-side half-space to Alvarez who guided it to Mac Allister. The Brighton player charged across the turf and calmly placed the ball at the feet of Di Maria who had no trouble in finding the back of the net from that distance.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Lusail witnesses the <a href="https://twitter.com/Oficial7DiMaria?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Oficial7DiMaria</a> MANIA 💥<br />
<br />
The man for the BIG OCCASION with a splendid finish ⭐<br />
<br />
Keep watching the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FIFAWorldCup?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FIFAWorldCup</a> Final ➡ LIVE on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JioCinema?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#JioCinema</a> &amp; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sports18?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Sports18</a> 📺📲<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ARGFRA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ARGFRA</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ArgentinaVsFrance?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ArgentinaVsFrance</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Qatar2022?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Qatar2022</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FIFAWConJioCinema?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FIFAWConJioCinema</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FIFAWConSports18?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FIFAWConSports18</a> <a href="https://t.co/1S9SNBnsjq">pic.twitter.com/1S9SNBnsjq</a></p>
— JioCinema (@JioCinema) <a href="https://twitter.com/JioCinema/status/1604511426386677760?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 18, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p><strong>France make a comeback</strong></p>

<p>After the two goals, Deschamps was forced to make quick substitutions around the 40-minute mark as Giroud and Dembele were hooked and replaced by Marcus Thuram and last-match goalscorer Randal Kolo Muani.</p>

<p>With Argentina firmly in the driving seat, Scaloni opted for defensive changes in the second half as Di Maria was replaced by Acuna. And that turned the game on its head. France jumped to life in the 80th minute when Kolo Muani drove at full tilt in the opposition box and got Otamendi to foul him.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Mbappe converted&nbsp;from the spot and nearly 97 seconds later, rifled a half-volley past Martinez to bring France right back into the competition.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The game ended level after 90 minutes and the first quarter of extra time went without much development. However, in the second half of the extra time, Messi produced another moment of brilliance to beat Lloris and bring Argentina to the cusp.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Just when it looked like France were dead and buried, Mbappe, the 23-year-old youngster brought another special trick from his drawer and managed to stun the full-house Argentine crowd.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Scaloni's tactical masterclass</strong></p>

<p>The French camp had a tumultuous 48 hours leading into the World Cup final. A serious bout of illness and minor injuries meant that several players were having a race against time to get fit for, arguably, the biggest game of their careers.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Deschamps decided to make two changes to the lineup from the one that played against Croatia. Defender Dayot Upamecaon and midfielder Adrien Rabiot replaced Ibrahima Konate and Youssouf Fofana.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As for Argentina, Scalnoi brought his big match player Ángel Di María in place of Leandro Parades as the only change. With Ousmane Demble not tracking back and Tchoumaeni expected to be loitering high up the pitch, Scaloni's plan was to overload the left side with Mac Allister and Di Maria teaming up.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The ploy worked like a charm as Di Maria, along with Messi remained one of the most influential players on the field for the men in blue-and-white stripes.</p>

<p><strong>A fairytale comes to draw</strong></p>

<p>The WC triumph by Messi and his men is all the more memorable because it comes in the backdrop of the start they had to endure. Argentina were flattened by Saudi Arabia in the opening league game and many believed that it was the end of the road for Messi.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“It’s a very hard blow for everyone, we didn’t expect to start like this. Things happen for a reason. We should prepare for what’s coming; we have to win, and it depends on us," said Messi after the game.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, after the Argentine victory, the World Cup has come to its fitting culmination after the grand spectacle began 26 days ago. It may have passed in a blink of an eye but has given fans across the world, memories, to be cherished for a lifetime.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Fairytales are often conjured in this game and fans had none but one&nbsp;they wanted to come true more than anything. Lionel Messi, the trailblazer of the sport lifting the shining golden WC trophy. It came true on Sunday.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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It was Lionel Messi's last dance on the World Cup stage, in perhaps one of the most thrilling finals ever. It was a grand finale to the tournament coinciding with the Argentine star’s last World Cup.

It was Lionel Messi's last dance on the World Cup stage, in perhaps one of the most thrilling finals ever. It was a grand finale to the tournament coinciding with the Argentine star’s last World Cup. And if the start against Saudi Arabia was as anticlimactic as they come, the end was just as romantic, thrilling and visceral as it could have been. Argentina beat France 4-2 on penalties after the match ended 3-3 at the end of extra time at the Lusail International Stadium in front of a majority Argentine crowd that never once let its voice down. A spectacular save from Martinez to deny Aurélien Tchouaméni and a miss from Kingsley Coman allowed Argentina to clinch the WC trophy after going through a plethora of emotions through the course of the match. Two goals from Argentina's talisman Messi and one from Angel Di Maria were not enough for Argentina to get ahead as Mbappe smashed a first World Cup hat-trick to take the game to penalties. A bundle of narratives were weaved prior to the match, none as bigger and often asked as Messi or Mbappe? The answer, though, should have been a no-brainer from the get-go. It was merely the passing of the baton from one generation to another. Both players complete in their own styles and capable to take their team to victory shores fought hard and shone bright but it was Messi that came out on top. Argentina nearly win it France were pinned back within the first 10 minutes as a powerful goal-inbound shot from de Paul in the eighth minute hit a French defender and crashed across the byline. Prior to it, a thumping effort from Alexis Mac Allister hit straight to Lloris was pouched by the Tottenham keeper. Argentina with their buccaneering attitude kept coming back and managed to earn the well-deserved advantage in the 23rd minute via a Messi penalty. The penalty was earned by none other than Angel Di Maria who had Dembele on tenterhooks since the beginning of the game. With France tucked in a compact shape, the winger was forced to do the defensive work but came up short against the Argentine. Lusail witnesses the @Oficial7DiMaria MANIA 💥 The man for the BIG OCCASION with a splendid finish ⭐ Keep watching the #FIFAWorldCup Final ➡ LIVE on #JioCinema & #Sports18 📺📲#ARGFRA #ArgentinaVsFrance #Qatar2022 #FIFAWConJioCinema #FIFAWConSports18 pic.twitter.com/1S9SNBnsjq — JioCinema (@JioCinema) December 18, 2022 × WATCH | Argentina lead through Messi and Di Maria's strike in the final of FIFA WC 2022 After the goal, one would have thought that Deschamps' men would pick up the pace and counter-attack. However, it was Argentina that dictated the play and through sustained pressure managed to double the lead in the 36th minute. A swift move started by Messi with an outside-of-the-boot touch in the right-side half-space to Alvarez who guided it to Mac Allister. The Brighton player charged across the turf and calmly placed the ball at the feet of Di Maria who had no trouble in finding the back of the net from that distance. Lusail witnesses the @Oficial7DiMaria MANIA 💥 The man for the BIG OCCASION with a splendid finish ⭐ Keep watching the #FIFAWorldCup Final ➡ LIVE on #JioCinema & #Sports18 📺📲#ARGFRA #ArgentinaVsFrance #Qatar2022 #FIFAWConJioCinema #FIFAWConSports18 pic.twitter.com/1S9SNBnsjq — JioCinema (@JioCinema) December 18, 2022 × France make a comeback After the two goals, Deschamps was forced to make quick substitutions around the 40-minute mark as Giroud and Dembele were hooked and replaced by Marcus Thuram and last-match goalscorer Randal Kolo Muani. With Argentina firmly in the driving seat, Scaloni opted for defensive changes in the second half as Di Maria was replaced by Acuna. And that turned the game on its head. France jumped to life in the 80th minute when Kolo Muani drove at full tilt in the opposition box and got Otamendi to foul him. Mbappe converted from the spot and nearly 97 seconds later, rifled a half-volley past Martinez to bring France right back into the competition. The game ended level after 90 minutes and the first quarter of extra time went without much development. However, in the second half of the extra time, Messi produced another moment of brilliance to beat Lloris and bring Argentina to the cusp. Just when it looked like France were dead and buried, Mbappe, the 23-year-old youngster brought another special trick from his drawer and managed to stun the full-house Argentine crowd. Scaloni's tactical masterclass The French camp had a tumultuous 48 hours leading into the World Cup final. A serious bout of illness and minor injuries meant that several players were having a race against time to get fit for, arguably, the biggest game of their careers. Deschamps decided to make two changes to the lineup from the one that played against Croatia. Defender Dayot Upamecaon and midfielder Adrien Rabiot replaced Ibrahima Konate and Youssouf Fofana. As for Argentina, Scalnoi brought his big match player Ángel Di María in place of Leandro Parades as the only change. With Ousmane Demble not tracking back and Tchoumaeni expected to be loitering high up the pitch, Scaloni's plan was to overload the left side with Mac Allister and Di Maria teaming up. The ploy worked like a charm as Di Maria, along with Messi remained one of the most influential players on the field for the men in blue-and-white stripes. A fairytale comes to draw The WC triumph by Messi and his men is all the more memorable because it comes in the backdrop of the start they had to endure. Argentina were flattened by Saudi Arabia in the opening league game and many believed that it was the end of the road for Messi. “It’s a very hard blow for everyone, we didn’t expect to start like this. Things happen for a reason. We should prepare for what’s coming; we have to win, and it depends on us," said Messi after the game. However, after the Argentine victory, the World Cup has come to its fitting culmination after the grand spectacle began 26 days ago. It may have passed in a blink of an eye but has given fans across the world, memories, to be cherished for a lifetime. Fairytales are often conjured in this game and fans had none but one they wanted to come true more than anything. Lionel Messi, the trailblazer of the sport lifting the shining golden WC trophy. It came true on Sunday. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

FIFA World Cup 2022: Mesmerising Messi’s Argentina fulfill the dream by beating France on penalties in final

<p>Magical Lionel Messi had an instant impact on the final of the FIFA World Cup here in Qatar after he fired a penalty to the&nbsp;back of the net to grant Argentina an advantage in the 21st minute of the match.&nbsp;</p>

<p>With the goal, Messi went level with legendary Pele in the number of goals (12) scored at the World Cup. The goal meant that Messi had his hands firmly on the golden boot as well with 6 goals.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The penalty was earned by none other than Angel Di Maria who had Dembele on tenterhooks since the beginning of the game. With France tucked in a compact shape, the winger was forced to do the defensive work and came up short against the Argentine.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The second goal was created via a beautiful move that started deep in the Argentine territory with Messi's pass providing the finesse. In the end, it was Di&nbsp;Maria again who found himself in the thick of things as he calmly slotted the ball past Lloris after receiving a gently rolled ball from MacAllister.&nbsp;</p>

<p>La Albiceleste were off the blocks swiftly and attacked the French box within the first 10 minutes. Meanwhile, the defending champions were happy to allow Argentina have the ball.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">BIG BIG step towards the 🏆 dream 🙌🏻<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Messi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Messi</a> scores his 6️⃣th goal of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Qatar2022?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Qatar2022</a> &amp; no better time than this 🔥<br />
<br />
Can the <a href="https://twitter.com/FrenchTeam?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FrenchTeam</a> strike back? Find out LIVE on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JioCinema?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#JioCinema</a> &amp; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sports18?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Sports18</a> 📺📲<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ARGFRA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ARGFRA</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FIFAWorldCup?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FIFAWorldCup</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FIFAWConJioCinema?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FIFAWConJioCinema</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FIFAWConSports18?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FIFAWConSports18</a> <a href="https://t.co/Io6fyc2uRm">pic.twitter.com/Io6fyc2uRm</a></p>
— JioCinema (@JioCinema) <a href="https://twitter.com/JioCinema/status/1604506440210984962?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 18, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Di Maria goal to double the lead for Argentina 🔥🔥<br />
<a href="https://t.co/v52gpVdwW0">pic.twitter.com/v52gpVdwW0</a></p>
— Adriana 🇫🇷🇪🇸🇬🇷🇩🇴 (@Adrianamessi30) <a href="https://twitter.com/Adrianamessi30/status/1604501345750245378?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 18, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p>Argentina had the first crack at the French goalpost when previous match hero Julian Alvarez placed one for MacAllister who let it fly from outside the box, straight into the cupping hands of Lloris.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Playing XIs:</strong></p>

<p>The French camp had a tumultuous 48 hours leading into the World Cup final. A serious bout of illness and minor injuries meant that several players were having a race against time to get fit for, arguably, the biggest game of their careers.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Deschamps decided to make two changes to the lineup from the one that played against Croatia. Defender Dayot Upamecaon and midfielder Adrien Rabiot replaced Ibrahima Konate and Youssouf Fofana.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As for Argentina, Scalnoi brought his big match player Ángel Di María in place of Leandro Parades as the only change. With Ousmane Dembele not tracking back and Tchoumaeni expected to be loitering high up the pitch, Scaloni's plan was to overload the left side with Kounde teaming up with Di Maria.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>


Magical Lionel Messi had an instant impact on the final of the FIFA World Cup here in Qatar after he fired a penalty to the back of the net to grant Argentina an advantage in the 21st minute of the match.

Magical Lionel Messi had an instant impact on the final of the FIFA World Cup here in Qatar after he fired a penalty to the back of the net to grant Argentina an advantage in the 21st minute of the match. With the goal, Messi went level with legendary Pele in the number of goals (12) scored at the World Cup. The goal meant that Messi had his hands firmly on the golden boot as well with 6 goals. The penalty was earned by none other than Angel Di Maria who had Dembele on tenterhooks since the beginning of the game. With France tucked in a compact shape, the winger was forced to do the defensive work and came up short against the Argentine. The second goal was created via a beautiful move that started deep in the Argentine territory with Messi's pass providing the finesse. In the end, it was Di Maria again who found himself in the thick of things as he calmly slotted the ball past Lloris after receiving a gently rolled ball from MacAllister. La Albiceleste were off the blocks swiftly and attacked the French box within the first 10 minutes. Meanwhile, the defending champions were happy to allow Argentina have the ball. BIG BIG step towards the 🏆 dream 🙌🏻#Messi scores his 6️⃣th goal of #Qatar2022 & no better time than this 🔥 Can the @FrenchTeam strike back? Find out LIVE on #JioCinema & #Sports18 📺📲#ARGFRA #FIFAWorldCup #FIFAWConJioCinema #FIFAWConSports18 pic.twitter.com/Io6fyc2uRm — JioCinema (@JioCinema) December 18, 2022 × Di Maria goal to double the lead for Argentina 🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/v52gpVdwW0 — Adriana 🇫🇷🇪🇸🇬🇷🇩🇴 (@Adrianamessi30) December 18, 2022 × Argentina had the first crack at the French goalpost when previous match hero Julian Alvarez placed one for MacAllister who let it fly from outside the box, straight into the cupping hands of Lloris. Playing XIs: The French camp had a tumultuous 48 hours leading into the World Cup final. A serious bout of illness and minor injuries meant that several players were having a race against time to get fit for, arguably, the biggest game of their careers. Deschamps decided to make two changes to the lineup from the one that played against Croatia. Defender Dayot Upamecaon and midfielder Adrien Rabiot replaced Ibrahima Konate and Youssouf Fofana. As for Argentina, Scalnoi brought his big match player Ángel Di María in place of Leandro Parades as the only change. With Ousmane Dembele not tracking back and Tchoumaeni expected to be loitering high up the pitch, Scaloni's plan was to overload the left side with Kounde teaming up with Di Maria. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

WATCH | Argentina lead through Messi and Di Maria's strike in the final of FIFA WC 2022

<p><meta name="uuid" content="uuidgau1wL9tgBrQ" /><meta charset="utf-8" />Former Paris Saint-Germain manager Mauricio Pochettino believes that the clamour surrounding Argentine superstar Lionel Messi's defensive work is silly and that he needs others to do the running for him.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Honestly, I think the debate about Messi's defensive work is stale, almost silly,"&nbsp;Pochettino was quoted as saying by The Athletic.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The 50-year-old former Tottenham Hotspur manager cited the example of Maradona and Pele and said:&nbsp;"You can't pretend that Maradona or Pele - along with Messi, the most important players in football - were focused on trying to win the ball back. He can't participate in that. He just needs others to run for him."</p>

<p>Ever since the two teams for the final were decided, questions were asked if Argentina's defensive line will be able to keep France's rapid wide players like Mbappe and Dembele quiet.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-final-argentina-vs-france-live-updates-lusail-stadium-ready-for-the-final-showdown-544211"><strong>Read more:&nbsp;FIFA World Cup final Argentina vs France LIVE updates: Nora Fatehi to perform at the Closing ceremony</strong></a></p>

<p>In the front two where Messi and Alvarez play in manager Lionel Scaloni's system, France are expected to have Kylian Mbappe with fullback Theo Hernandez, bombing forward on the left flank.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, with Messi not tracking back akin to modern players born and brought up in high-pressing systems, it is his teammates like Rodrigo de Paul that have to pick up the slack and ensure that Argentina are not hurt.</p>

<p>This has been the formula for Argentina's success this tournament. Messi has been allowed to occupy the half spaces across the pitch.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/pep-shouldve-been-fired-7-8-times-says-pochettino-when-asked-about-his-psg-sacking-539790" target="_blank"><strong>Read more: 'Pep should've been fired 7-8 times', says Pochettino when asked about his PSG sacking</strong></a></p>

<p>It was perhaps one of the reasons why at the young age of 35 years, Messi was able to beat Gvardiol and manage to net himself a beautiful assist during the semifinal clash against Croatia.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"That's the most important thing about this Argentina team and the reason why they are in the final. It's because the players understand their roles perfectly. When you have Messi on your team, you must run for him," said Pochettino.&nbsp;</p>

<p>If Messi begins to track back and embroil himself in dirty, defensive work, Argentina's offensive output suffers as he is the lynchpin, pulling string from the middle of the park by dropping deep.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Argentina and France will square up against each other, later in the evening at the Lusail Stadium. While Les Bleus will be attempting to become the first team since Brazil in 1962 to retain the World Cup trophy, Messi's men&nbsp; will be seeking to break a 36-year-old WC trophy drought.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>


Former Paris Saint-Germain manager Mauricio Pochettino believes that the clamour surrounding Argentine superstar Lionel Messi's defensive work is silly and that he needs others to do the running for him.

Former Paris Saint-Germain manager Mauricio Pochettino believes that the clamour surrounding Argentine superstar Lionel Messi's defensive work is silly and that he needs others to do the running for him. "Honestly, I think the debate about Messi's defensive work is stale, almost silly," Pochettino was quoted as saying by The Athletic. The 50-year-old former Tottenham Hotspur manager cited the example of Maradona and Pele and said: "You can't pretend that Maradona or Pele - along with Messi, the most important players in football - were focused on trying to win the ball back. He can't participate in that. He just needs others to run for him." Ever since the two teams for the final were decided, questions were asked if Argentina's defensive line will be able to keep France's rapid wide players like Mbappe and Dembele quiet. Read more: FIFA World Cup final Argentina vs France LIVE updates: Nora Fatehi to perform at the Closing ceremony In the front two where Messi and Alvarez play in manager Lionel Scaloni's system, France are expected to have Kylian Mbappe with fullback Theo Hernandez, bombing forward on the left flank. However, with Messi not tracking back akin to modern players born and brought up in high-pressing systems, it is his teammates like Rodrigo de Paul that have to pick up the slack and ensure that Argentina are not hurt. This has been the formula for Argentina's success this tournament. Messi has been allowed to occupy the half spaces across the pitch. Read more: 'Pep should've been fired 7-8 times', says Pochettino when asked about his PSG sacking It was perhaps one of the reasons why at the young age of 35 years, Messi was able to beat Gvardiol and manage to net himself a beautiful assist during the semifinal clash against Croatia. "That's the most important thing about this Argentina team and the reason why they are in the final. It's because the players understand their roles perfectly. When you have Messi on your team, you must run for him," said Pochettino. If Messi begins to track back and embroil himself in dirty, defensive work, Argentina's offensive output suffers as he is the lynchpin, pulling string from the middle of the park by dropping deep. Argentina and France will square up against each other, later in the evening at the Lusail Stadium. While Les Bleus will be attempting to become the first team since Brazil in 1962 to retain the World Cup trophy, Messi's men will be seeking to break a 36-year-old WC trophy drought. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

'He needs others to run for him': Mauricio Pochettino on Lionel Messi ahead of World Cup final

<p><strong>FIFA World Cup Final 2022:</strong>The ongoing World Cup in Qatar hasn't been short on controversies. Referees and Video Assistant Referee (VAR) have been at the receiving end of criticism from players and fans alike. However, amid the gloom, there is one heartening story of a referee that is set to register his name in the history books.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Szymon Marciniak will be the first referee in the final between France and Argentina at the Lusail Stadium on Today (Sunday December 18). The 41-old-year referee, hailing from Poland will become the first Polish person to officiate a final of the FIFA World Cup.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Marciniak finding himself at the centre of the biggest match of the sport is something that he himself could not have imagined a year ago. The Polish referee was forced to step away from officiating duties after being diagnosed with&nbsp;Tachycardia -- a heart condition where the heart rate exceeds the normal resting rate.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I had a very difficult time for the last year-and-a-half. I had Tachycardia - it's a heart illness. In the beginning, it was very difficult,"&nbsp;Marciniak was quoted as saying by Reuters.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I missed the UEFA European Championship, it was a terrible feeling. Now, life gives back to me and I cannot even stop smiling because it's a great feeling."</p>

<p>Marciniak started his career in 2009 in Poland's top-flight tournament. Four years later, he joined FIFA's official list of referees. He was also involved in the 2018 World Cup held in Russia and is famously known for handing German player Jerome Boateng a red card.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Marciniak will be joined by assistants Pawel Sokolnicki and Tomasz Listkiewicz who also happen to be Polish. As for VAR,&nbsp;Tomasz Kwiatkowski will man the consoles with Ismail Elfath as the fourth official.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>What is the controversy around referees?</strong></h2>

<p>Referees at the Qatar World Cup 2022 have had to endure a tough time ever since the knockout phase began. It all started during the highly physical quarterfinal match between Netherlands and Argentina where Lionel Messi and goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez slammed referees.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I don’t want to speak about referees because after they will sanction you. But people saw what happened. I think FIFA must take care of this. It cannot put a referee like that for a match of such magnitude, of such importance. The referee cannot fail to be up to the task," said Messi in a post-match interview.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/messi-martinez-slam-referee-and-dutch-coach-after-tense-quarterfinal-win-541778"><strong>Read more:&nbsp;Messi, Martinez slam referee and Dutch coach after tense quarterfinal win</strong></a></p>

<p>Notably, similar criticism was levelled by Portuguese players following their 1-0 defeat against Morocco. Portugal's midfield leader Bruno Fernandes said an 'Argentine' referee should not have been allowed to officiate their match.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I don't know if they're going to give the cup to Argentina. I don't care, I'm going to say what I think, and screw them. It's very strange that a referee from a team that's still in the cup officiates us. They've clearly tilted the field against us," said Fernandes.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


FIFA World Cup Final 2022:The ongoing World Cup in Qatar hasn't been short on controversies. Referees and Video Assistant Referee (VAR) have been at the receiving end of criticism from players and fans alike.

FIFA World Cup Final 2022:The ongoing World Cup in Qatar hasn't been short on controversies. Referees and Video Assistant Referee (VAR) have been at the receiving end of criticism from players and fans alike. However, amid the gloom, there is one heartening story of a referee that is set to register his name in the history books. Szymon Marciniak will be the first referee in the final between France and Argentina at the Lusail Stadium on Today (Sunday December 18). The 41-old-year referee, hailing from Poland will become the first Polish person to officiate a final of the FIFA World Cup. Marciniak finding himself at the centre of the biggest match of the sport is something that he himself could not have imagined a year ago. The Polish referee was forced to step away from officiating duties after being diagnosed with Tachycardia -- a heart condition where the heart rate exceeds the normal resting rate. "I had a very difficult time for the last year-and-a-half. I had Tachycardia - it's a heart illness. In the beginning, it was very difficult," Marciniak was quoted as saying by Reuters. "I missed the UEFA European Championship, it was a terrible feeling. Now, life gives back to me and I cannot even stop smiling because it's a great feeling." Marciniak started his career in 2009 in Poland's top-flight tournament. Four years later, he joined FIFA's official list of referees. He was also involved in the 2018 World Cup held in Russia and is famously known for handing German player Jerome Boateng a red card. Marciniak will be joined by assistants Pawel Sokolnicki and Tomasz Listkiewicz who also happen to be Polish. As for VAR, Tomasz Kwiatkowski will man the consoles with Ismail Elfath as the fourth official. What is the controversy around referees? Referees at the Qatar World Cup 2022 have had to endure a tough time ever since the knockout phase began. It all started during the highly physical quarterfinal match between Netherlands and Argentina where Lionel Messi and goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez slammed referees. "I don’t want to speak about referees because after they will sanction you. But people saw what happened. I think FIFA must take care of this. It cannot put a referee like that for a match of such magnitude, of such importance. The referee cannot fail to be up to the task," said Messi in a post-match interview. Read more: Messi, Martinez slam referee and Dutch coach after tense quarterfinal win Notably, similar criticism was levelled by Portuguese players following their 1-0 defeat against Morocco. Portugal's midfield leader Bruno Fernandes said an 'Argentine' referee should not have been allowed to officiate their match. "I don't know if they're going to give the cup to Argentina. I don't care, I'm going to say what I think, and screw them. It's very strange that a referee from a team that's still in the cup officiates us. They've clearly tilted the field against us," said Fernandes. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

FIFA World Cup Final 2022: Are you watching Argentina vs France final today? Find out who is Szymon Marciniak

<p><meta name="uuid" content="uuidgau1wL9tgBrQ" /><meta charset="utf-8" /></p>

<p>Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez has criticised France superstar Kylian Mbappe over his previous statements about the quality of football in South America.</p>

<p>“He doesn’t know enough about football. He never played in South America. When you don’t have this experience, it may be better not to talk about it. But it doesn’t matter. We are a great team, recognised as such,” Martinez told the media on the eve of the final.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Argentine goalkeeper was referring to statements made by Mbappe a few months ago where he said European nations are better prepared for World Cup compared to their South American counterparts.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Argentina haven't played games of great quality to reach the World Cup. In South America football isn't as advanced as Europe. That's why if you look at the last World Cups it's always the Europeans that win," Mbappe had said at the time.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-2022-final-is-lionel-messi-fit-to-play-against-france-get-the-latest-update-544175"><strong>Read more:&nbsp;FIFA World Cup 2022 Final: Is Lionel Messi fit to play against France? Get the latest update</strong></a></p>

<p>Mbappe was slammed even then for his statement with players like Lionel Messi, Lautaro&nbsp;Martinez and&nbsp;former Brazil coach Tite gently reminding the Frenchman to not make such unfair comparisons when conditions and oppositions were starkly different.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Many times we talked about that in Spain. When we returned from a qualifier, we told them: You don’t know how difficult it would be for you to qualify for the World Cup if you had to go there, at altitude, in the heat, in Venezuela," Messi said in an interview.</p>

<p>Similarly, Inter Milan striker Martinez called Mbappe's statement unfair and added,&nbsp;"We are happy with how it's working and what we're doing on the field. I saw what [Mbappe] said, but Argentina and Brazil have players of great quality and talent. Brazil, just like us, has most of its players in Europe. I thought it was an unfair comment."</p>

<p>Argentina and France will square up against each other in the final of the FIFA World Cup later in the evening at the Lusail Stadium. While Les Bleus will be attempting to become the first team since Brazil in 1962 to retain the World Cup trophy, Argentina will be seeking to break a 36-year-old trophy drought.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>


Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez has criticised France superstar Kylian Mbappe over his previous statements about the quality of football in South America.

Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez has criticised France superstar Kylian Mbappe over his previous statements about the quality of football in South America. “He doesn’t know enough about football. He never played in South America. When you don’t have this experience, it may be better not to talk about it. But it doesn’t matter. We are a great team, recognised as such,” Martinez told the media on the eve of the final. The Argentine goalkeeper was referring to statements made by Mbappe a few months ago where he said European nations are better prepared for World Cup compared to their South American counterparts. "Argentina haven't played games of great quality to reach the World Cup. In South America football isn't as advanced as Europe. That's why if you look at the last World Cups it's always the Europeans that win," Mbappe had said at the time. Read more: FIFA World Cup 2022 Final: Is Lionel Messi fit to play against France? Get the latest update Mbappe was slammed even then for his statement with players like Lionel Messi, Lautaro Martinez and former Brazil coach Tite gently reminding the Frenchman to not make such unfair comparisons when conditions and oppositions were starkly different. "Many times we talked about that in Spain. When we returned from a qualifier, we told them: You don’t know how difficult it would be for you to qualify for the World Cup if you had to go there, at altitude, in the heat, in Venezuela," Messi said in an interview. Similarly, Inter Milan striker Martinez called Mbappe's statement unfair and added, "We are happy with how it's working and what we're doing on the field. I saw what [Mbappe] said, but Argentina and Brazil have players of great quality and talent. Brazil, just like us, has most of its players in Europe. I thought it was an unfair comment." Argentina and France will square up against each other in the final of the FIFA World Cup later in the evening at the Lusail Stadium. While Les Bleus will be attempting to become the first team since Brazil in 1962 to retain the World Cup trophy, Argentina will be seeking to break a 36-year-old trophy drought. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

'He doesn't know enough about football': Emiliano Martinez about Kylian Mbappe ahead of the final

<p>The stage is set for the biggest football game of the year and the mind games have already started. France goalkeeper and captain Hugo Lloris during a presser said the final is not only about Argentine superstar Lionel Messi.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The event is too important to focus on one player. It's a final between two great nations.When you face this kind of player (Messi), you have to pay attention to him, but this game is not just about him," said Lloris.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper added that his team was still preparing for Sunday's summit clash by studying the opposition.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Tomorrow there will be a game plan to respect. We are still studying this team and preparing for this big game. There are always things we are not prepared for."</p>

<p>"To face that we need a perfect mindset, to be ready to go above and beyond. We know that we are capable of playing with possession and on the counter-attack. We have a lot of fast players offensively. The strength of our team is that we can adapt to any type of scenario."</p>

<p>France skipped their way past a resolute Moroccan side in the semifinals to set up the summit clash. Meanwhile, the La Albiceleste rode on Messi's brilliance to brush aside 2018 finalists Croatia.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-2022-marvellous-messi-fires-argentina-to-wc-final-as-alvarez-grabs-two-542824"><strong>Read more:&nbsp;FIFA World Cup 2022: Marvellous Messi fires Argentina to WC final as Alvarez grabs two</strong></a></p>

<p>After the shocking defeat against Saudi Arabia, Argentina's World Cup hopes hanged by a thread. However, since then, Messi has single-handedly guided his team. one step away from the ultimate prize.&nbsp;</p>

<p>While Lloris may be playing down Messi's threat, coach Didier Deschamps will be well aware that giving the 35-year-old any space in the middle of the&nbsp;park could be suicidal. Often such high-stakes matches are decided by one moment of brilliance that a player of the class of Messi is more than capable of conjuring. &nbsp;</p>

<p>Les Bleus will seek to become the first team since Brazil in 1962 to retain the World Cup trophy. Meanwhile, Messi's men will look to emulate the glory of Maradona's 1986 team.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>


The stage is set for the biggest football game of the year and the mind games have already started. France goalkeeper and captain Hugo Lloris during a presser said the final is not only about Argentine superstar Lionel Messi.

The stage is set for the biggest football game of the year and the mind games have already started. France goalkeeper and captain Hugo Lloris during a presser said the final is not only about Argentine superstar Lionel Messi. "The event is too important to focus on one player. It's a final between two great nations.When you face this kind of player (Messi), you have to pay attention to him, but this game is not just about him," said Lloris. The Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper added that his team was still preparing for Sunday's summit clash by studying the opposition. "Tomorrow there will be a game plan to respect. We are still studying this team and preparing for this big game. There are always things we are not prepared for." "To face that we need a perfect mindset, to be ready to go above and beyond. We know that we are capable of playing with possession and on the counter-attack. We have a lot of fast players offensively. The strength of our team is that we can adapt to any type of scenario." France skipped their way past a resolute Moroccan side in the semifinals to set up the summit clash. Meanwhile, the La Albiceleste rode on Messi's brilliance to brush aside 2018 finalists Croatia. Read more: FIFA World Cup 2022: Marvellous Messi fires Argentina to WC final as Alvarez grabs two After the shocking defeat against Saudi Arabia, Argentina's World Cup hopes hanged by a thread. However, since then, Messi has single-handedly guided his team. one step away from the ultimate prize. While Lloris may be playing down Messi's threat, coach Didier Deschamps will be well aware that giving the 35-year-old any space in the middle of the park could be suicidal. Often such high-stakes matches are decided by one moment of brilliance that a player of the class of Messi is more than capable of conjuring. Les Bleus will seek to become the first team since Brazil in 1962 to retain the World Cup trophy. Meanwhile, Messi's men will look to emulate the glory of Maradona's 1986 team. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

FIFA World Cup 2022: 'Game is not just about him': Hugo Lloris on Messi threat in the final

<p><meta name="uuid" content="uuidzpnrMCtpDZPH" /><meta charset="utf-8" /></p>

<p>Croatian centre-back Josko Gvardiol has said he was glad to have played against Argentina superstar Lionel Messi in the World Cup semifinal and that he will tell his kids about it.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"It was a nice experience even though I played against him in the club last season. He is a completely different type of player in the club and in the national team," said the defender.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I am glad that I played against him even though we lost. It's a great experience, and one day I'll tell my kids that I played against the best player in history. I guess we will beat him next time."</p>

<p>Gvardiol has been of the brightest stars of the FIFA World Cup 2022. The 20-year-old looked far more mature than his age and played like a man possessed throughout Croatia's run in the tournament. His performances&nbsp;have&nbsp;attracted attention of some of the biggest clubs in the world which will be looking to avail his services soon.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Despite having a stellar tournament, Gvardiol came second-best against Lionel Messi in the semi-final encounter, as have many prized defenders of the past. While many thought a youngster with a pedigree of Gvardiol will be able to keep Messi silent, the Argentine pulled one of the moments of the World Cup against him.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Messi torpedoed&nbsp;through the heart of Croatian midfield and engaged with Gvardiol outside the penalty box. The defender did not do a whole lot by staying on his feet and pushing Messi to the outside.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/fifa-world-cup-2022-two-time-world-champions-argentina-beat-croatia-3-0-to-enter-the-final-542852"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;FIFA World Cup 2022: Two-time world champions Argentina beat Croatia 3-0 to enter the final</strong></a></p>

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<p>However, the seven-times Ballon d'Or winner managed to beat Gvardiol inside the box and place a laser-sharp pass at the feet of Julian Alvarez who slotted the ball to the back of the net.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Classic Messi Move 🔥<br />
<br />
The little 🧙‍♂️ tip-toes past the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Croatia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Croatia</a> defence to set up an easy finish for Julian Alvarez 👏<br />
<br />
Watch <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ARGCRO?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ARGCRO</a> ➡ LIVE on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JioCinema?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#JioCinema</a> &amp; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sports18?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Sports18</a> 📲📺<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Qatar2022?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Qatar2022</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FIFAWorldCup?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FIFAWorldCup</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FIFAWConJioCinema?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FIFAWConJioCinema</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FIFAWConSports18?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FIFAWConSports18</a> <a href="https://t.co/kMWpzRUQdB">pic.twitter.com/kMWpzRUQdB</a></p>
— JioCinema (@JioCinema) <a href="https://twitter.com/JioCinema/status/1602767241199509504?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p>Messi scored one and assisted one while playing a major part in another&nbsp;as Argentina steamrolled the Croatian challenge 3-0 to give their talisman a chance at achieving greatness for posterity.</p>

<p>Croatia dominated the game early one with their compact shape. It was only after Messi&nbsp;began dragging Gvardiol, arguably the best defender of the tournament from his left-centre-back position and into the midfield, that the game changed.</p>

<p>This allowed Argentina to knock the ball behind the Croatian defence with Julian Alvarez galloping forward, inviting goalkeeper Livakovic to foul him and earn a penalty.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-2022-marvellous-messi-fires-argentina-to-wc-final-as-alvarez-grabs-two-542824" target="_blank"><strong>Read more: FIFA World Cup 2022: Marvellous Messi fires Argentina to WC final as Alvarez grabs two</strong></a></p>

<p>Before heading home, Gvardiol has one last challenge left as his team plays the third-place playoff against Morocco on Saturday. The 2018 runners-up will look to win the playoff and end the campaign on a high.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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Croatian centre-back Josko Gvardiol has said he was glad to have played against Argentina superstar Lionel Messi in the World Cup semifinal and that he will tell his kids about it.

Croatian centre-back Josko Gvardiol has said he was glad to have played against Argentina superstar Lionel Messi in the World Cup semifinal and that he will tell his kids about it. "It was a nice experience even though I played against him in the club last season. He is a completely different type of player in the club and in the national team," said the defender. "I am glad that I played against him even though we lost. It's a great experience, and one day I'll tell my kids that I played against the best player in history. I guess we will beat him next time." Gvardiol has been of the brightest stars of the FIFA World Cup 2022. The 20-year-old looked far more mature than his age and played like a man possessed throughout Croatia's run in the tournament. His performances have attracted attention of some of the biggest clubs in the world which will be looking to avail his services soon. Despite having a stellar tournament, Gvardiol came second-best against Lionel Messi in the semi-final encounter, as have many prized defenders of the past. While many thought a youngster with a pedigree of Gvardiol will be able to keep Messi silent, the Argentine pulled one of the moments of the World Cup against him. Messi torpedoed through the heart of Croatian midfield and engaged with Gvardiol outside the penalty box. The defender did not do a whole lot by staying on his feet and pushing Messi to the outside. WATCH | FIFA World Cup 2022: Two-time world champions Argentina beat Croatia 3-0 to enter the final × However, the seven-times Ballon d'Or winner managed to beat Gvardiol inside the box and place a laser-sharp pass at the feet of Julian Alvarez who slotted the ball to the back of the net. Classic Messi Move 🔥 The little 🧙‍♂️ tip-toes past the #Croatia defence to set up an easy finish for Julian Alvarez 👏 Watch #ARGCRO ➡ LIVE on #JioCinema & #Sports18 📲📺#Qatar2022 #FIFAWorldCup #FIFAWConJioCinema #FIFAWConSports18 pic.twitter.com/kMWpzRUQdB — JioCinema (@JioCinema) December 13, 2022 × Messi scored one and assisted one while playing a major part in another as Argentina steamrolled the Croatian challenge 3-0 to give their talisman a chance at achieving greatness for posterity. Croatia dominated the game early one with their compact shape. It was only after Messi began dragging Gvardiol, arguably the best defender of the tournament from his left-centre-back position and into the midfield, that the game changed. This allowed Argentina to knock the ball behind the Croatian defence with Julian Alvarez galloping forward, inviting goalkeeper Livakovic to foul him and earn a penalty. Read more: FIFA World Cup 2022: Marvellous Messi fires Argentina to WC final as Alvarez grabs two Before heading home, Gvardiol has one last challenge left as his team plays the third-place playoff against Morocco on Saturday. The 2018 runners-up will look to win the playoff and end the campaign on a high. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

'I'll tell my kids...': Croatian defender Josko Gvardiol on facing Messi at the World Cup

In pics | Messi's 2022 World Cup journey so far as he advances to another final

<p>Croatia exited the World Cup following a 3-0 defeat to Argentina on Tuesday at the Lusail&nbsp;Stadium. Croatian captain and midfielder Luka Modric, however, was not happy with the match referee who he labelled a 'disaster'.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Argentina was a fair winner of the match, they were better, they deserved to win, but these things have to be mentioned, I generally don't do them, but today they have to be done," said Modric in a post-match interview.</p>

<p>Modric, who often shies away from controversies and keeps a low profile despite a stellar career brimming with trophies was visibly frustrated due to the calls made by the referee.&nbsp;</p>

<p>''We had a good time on the pitch until the penalty, which for me wasn't there, because he (Julian Alvarez) shoots and hits our goalkeeper. Usually, I don't like to talk about referees, but this is one of the worst. I don't have a good memory of [Orsato], he's a disaster. For me it wasn't a penalty.''</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-2022-marvellous-messi-fires-argentina-to-wc-final-as-alvarez-grabs-two-542824"><strong>Read more:&nbsp;FIFA World Cup 2022: Marvellous Messi fires Argentina to WC final as Alvarez grabs two</strong></a></p>

<p>The penalty was indeed the turning point of the match as it came against the run of play. Till the 30th minute, Croatia were bossing the play, despite not having a lot to show for it in the final third.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A mere five minutes after the goal, Argentina broke through the water-tight Croatian defence once again. Alvarez was served by Messi deep from the Argentine side of the pitch from where the Manchester City player made a good 40-50 yard dash before slotting the ball past goalkeeper Livakovic.&nbsp;</p>

<p>''Despite this, I don't want to detract from Argentina. The penalty killed us. We have to recover for third place and win that match," added Modric.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/fifa-world-cup-2022-two-time-world-champions-argentina-beat-croatia-3-0-to-enter-the-final-542852"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;FIFA World Cup 2022: Two-time world champions Argentina beat Croatia 3-0 to enter the final</strong></a></p>

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<p>Modric and his teammates were hoping to reach the final and repeat the feat of 2018 World Cup when they came agonisingly close to the World Cup trophy.&nbsp;</p>

<p>While Argentine no. 10 Messi was weaving his magic on the field, his compatriot Modric was taken off the pitch in the 81st minute to a rousing reception from the Croatian record, in what was perhaps his second-last game on the world stage.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Croatia will be involved in a third-place playoff on Saturday against the loser of France vs Morocco match.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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Croatia exited the World Cup following a 3-0 defeat to Argentina on Tuesday at the Lusail Stadium. Croatian captain and midfielder Luka Modric, however, was not happy with the match referee who he labelled a 'disaster'.

Croatia exited the World Cup following a 3-0 defeat to Argentina on Tuesday at the Lusail Stadium. Croatian captain and midfielder Luka Modric, however, was not happy with the match referee who he labelled a 'disaster'. "Argentina was a fair winner of the match, they were better, they deserved to win, but these things have to be mentioned, I generally don't do them, but today they have to be done," said Modric in a post-match interview. Modric, who often shies away from controversies and keeps a low profile despite a stellar career brimming with trophies was visibly frustrated due to the calls made by the referee. ''We had a good time on the pitch until the penalty, which for me wasn't there, because he (Julian Alvarez) shoots and hits our goalkeeper. Usually, I don't like to talk about referees, but this is one of the worst. I don't have a good memory of [Orsato], he's a disaster. For me it wasn't a penalty.'' Read more: FIFA World Cup 2022: Marvellous Messi fires Argentina to WC final as Alvarez grabs two The penalty was indeed the turning point of the match as it came against the run of play. Till the 30th minute, Croatia were bossing the play, despite not having a lot to show for it in the final third. A mere five minutes after the goal, Argentina broke through the water-tight Croatian defence once again. Alvarez was served by Messi deep from the Argentine side of the pitch from where the Manchester City player made a good 40-50 yard dash before slotting the ball past goalkeeper Livakovic. ''Despite this, I don't want to detract from Argentina. The penalty killed us. We have to recover for third place and win that match," added Modric. WATCH | FIFA World Cup 2022: Two-time world champions Argentina beat Croatia 3-0 to enter the final × Modric and his teammates were hoping to reach the final and repeat the feat of 2018 World Cup when they came agonisingly close to the World Cup trophy. While Argentine no. 10 Messi was weaving his magic on the field, his compatriot Modric was taken off the pitch in the 81st minute to a rousing reception from the Croatian record, in what was perhaps his second-last game on the world stage. Croatia will be involved in a third-place playoff on Saturday against the loser of France vs Morocco match. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

FIFA World Cup 2022: 'He's a disaster...': Luka Modric slams Argentina vs Croatia match referee

<p>It was a match fitting for the occasion. Argentina and Croatia, the two powerhouses of modern football went toe-to-toe against each other in the first semifinal of the FIFA World Cup in front of a capacity crowd at the Lusail Stadium in Qatar. However, it was one man and phenomenon that stole the show and it was none other than Lionel Messi.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Messi scored one and assisted two goals as Argentina steamrolled the Croatian challenge 3-0 to give their talisman a chance at achieving greatness for posterity.</p>

<p>While the scoreline may flatter, the start of the game was tentative for the South American side.&nbsp;Argentina went into the game by making two changes from their last match against the Netherlands. Nicolas Tagliafico and Leandro Parades came into the squad replacing suspended Marcos Acuna and Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, Croatia went into the game with the same team that beat Brazil on penalties. The midfield of Kovacic-Modric-Brozovic that ran through the Brazilian midfield of Casemiro and Paqueta was given a stiff challenge by Scaloni who made the tactical changes.</p>

<p>Argentina played a midfield four with MacAllister, Enzo, Paredes and de Paul attempting to stop the tank of a Croatian midfield. During the first half-an-hour of the game, Croatia looked compact and the midfield three managed to gobble up most of the Argentine transitions.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Against the run of time, the first save of the match came in 25th minute when Livakovic had to be on alert from a sweet strike from Enzo Fernandez from outside the penalty box.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Messi starts to weave his magic wand</strong></p>

<p>Just when it looked like Croatia were dominating the ball, Messi rose to the challenge and started making things happen. The little master began dragging Gvardiol, arguably the best defender of the tournament from his left-centre-back position and into the midfield.</p>

<p>This allowed Argentina to knock the ball behind the Croatian defence with Julian Alvarez galloping forward, inviting goalkeeper Livakovic to foul him and earn a penalty.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Notably, prior to the penalty, Modric had pulled off a nutmeg deep in Croatian territory to start a move that flowed beautifully up until it didn't. Messi took the penalty and promptly dispatched the ball to the back of the net.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It was Messi's 11th goal in 25 World Cup games and the fifth of this tournament which brought him level with&nbsp;Kylian Mbappe in the golden boot race.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Alvarez's fleet-footed, solo goal</strong></p>

<p>A mere five minutes after the goal, Argentina broke through the water-tight Croatian defence once again. &nbsp;Alvarez was served by Messi deep from the Argentine side of the pitch from where&nbsp;the Manchester City player made a good 40-50 yard dash with right-back Nahuel Molina providing the decoy run.&nbsp;</p>

<p>While most players would have looked for options to the right and left, Alvarez, brimming with confidence went toe-to-toe with the Croatian defenders and courtesy of some luck and two ricochets, managed to finesse the ball past goalkeeper Livakovic.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-julian-alvarezs-stunning-solo-goal-in-the-fifa-2022-world-cup-semifinal-542820"><strong>WATCH | Julian Alvarez's stunning solo goal in the FIFA 2022 World Cup semifinal</strong></a></p>

<p>Trailing at half-time, Croatian coach&nbsp;Zlatko Dalić was forced to make two substitutes as Nikola Vlasic and Mislav Orisic came on for Sosa and Pasalic. Few minutes into the second half, Croatia were dealt another blow as their midfield maestro Brozovic felt something and was forced to make way for previous match hero Bruno Petkovic.&nbsp;</p>

<p>With a two-goal lead to defend and Croatia bombing men forward, Argentine coach Scaloni went for defensive changes as he brought on Martinez for Fernandes. Till the hour mark, Croatia did not have a single shot on target, suggesting Argentina had done their part of the bargain decently well.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Box-office Messi on display</strong></p>

<p>Perhaps, the most Messi-esque moment came in the 69th minute when Messi single-handedly beat Gvardiol in the Croatian penalty box to set up Alvarez for his second goal.&nbsp;</p>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Classic Messi Move 🔥<br />
<br />
The little 🧙‍♂️ tip-toes past the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Croatia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Croatia</a> defence to set up an easy finish for Julian Alvarez 👏<br />
<br />
Watch <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ARGCRO?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ARGCRO</a> ➡ LIVE on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JioCinema?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#JioCinema</a> &amp; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sports18?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Sports18</a> 📲📺<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Qatar2022?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Qatar2022</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FIFAWorldCup?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FIFAWorldCup</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FIFAWConJioCinema?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FIFAWConJioCinema</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FIFAWConSports18?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FIFAWConSports18</a> <a href="https://t.co/kMWpzRUQdB">pic.twitter.com/kMWpzRUQdB</a></p>
— JioCinema (@JioCinema) <a href="https://twitter.com/JioCinema/status/1602767241199509504?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p>The 2018 finalists kept knocking but with no finesse in the final third, the opening goal never arrived. While Argentine no. 10 Messi was weaving his magic on the field, his compatriot Luka Modric was taken off the pitch in the 81st minute to a rousing reception from the Croatian record, in what was perhaps his last game on the world stage.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Messi's men will now look to earn Argentina their third World Cup trophy as they take on the winners of Morocco vs France game on Sunday. This will be Argentina's sixth appearance in the World Cup finals.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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It was a match fitting for the occasion. Argentina and Croatia, the two powerhouses of modern football went toe-to-toe against each other in the first semifinal of the FIFA World Cup in front of a capacity crowd at the Lusail Stadium in Qatar.

It was a match fitting for the occasion. Argentina and Croatia, the two powerhouses of modern football went toe-to-toe against each other in the first semifinal of the FIFA World Cup in front of a capacity crowd at the Lusail Stadium in Qatar. However, it was one man and phenomenon that stole the show and it was none other than Lionel Messi. Messi scored one and assisted two goals as Argentina steamrolled the Croatian challenge 3-0 to give their talisman a chance at achieving greatness for posterity. While the scoreline may flatter, the start of the game was tentative for the South American side. Argentina went into the game by making two changes from their last match against the Netherlands. Nicolas Tagliafico and Leandro Parades came into the squad replacing suspended Marcos Acuna and Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez. Meanwhile, Croatia went into the game with the same team that beat Brazil on penalties. The midfield of Kovacic-Modric-Brozovic that ran through the Brazilian midfield of Casemiro and Paqueta was given a stiff challenge by Scaloni who made the tactical changes. Argentina played a midfield four with MacAllister, Enzo, Paredes and de Paul attempting to stop the tank of a Croatian midfield. During the first half-an-hour of the game, Croatia looked compact and the midfield three managed to gobble up most of the Argentine transitions. Against the run of time, the first save of the match came in 25th minute when Livakovic had to be on alert from a sweet strike from Enzo Fernandez from outside the penalty box. Messi starts to weave his magic wand Just when it looked like Croatia were dominating the ball, Messi rose to the challenge and started making things happen. The little master began dragging Gvardiol, arguably the best defender of the tournament from his left-centre-back position and into the midfield. This allowed Argentina to knock the ball behind the Croatian defence with Julian Alvarez galloping forward, inviting goalkeeper Livakovic to foul him and earn a penalty. Notably, prior to the penalty, Modric had pulled off a nutmeg deep in Croatian territory to start a move that flowed beautifully up until it didn't. Messi took the penalty and promptly dispatched the ball to the back of the net. It was Messi's 11th goal in 25 World Cup games and the fifth of this tournament which brought him level with Kylian Mbappe in the golden boot race. Alvarez's fleet-footed, solo goal A mere five minutes after the goal, Argentina broke through the water-tight Croatian defence once again. Alvarez was served by Messi deep from the Argentine side of the pitch from where the Manchester City player made a good 40-50 yard dash with right-back Nahuel Molina providing the decoy run. While most players would have looked for options to the right and left, Alvarez, brimming with confidence went toe-to-toe with the Croatian defenders and courtesy of some luck and two ricochets, managed to finesse the ball past goalkeeper Livakovic. WATCH | Julian Alvarez's stunning solo goal in the FIFA 2022 World Cup semifinal Trailing at half-time, Croatian coach Zlatko Dalić was forced to make two substitutes as Nikola Vlasic and Mislav Orisic came on for Sosa and Pasalic. Few minutes into the second half, Croatia were dealt another blow as their midfield maestro Brozovic felt something and was forced to make way for previous match hero Bruno Petkovic. With a two-goal lead to defend and Croatia bombing men forward, Argentine coach Scaloni went for defensive changes as he brought on Martinez for Fernandes. Till the hour mark, Croatia did not have a single shot on target, suggesting Argentina had done their part of the bargain decently well. Box-office Messi on display Perhaps, the most Messi-esque moment came in the 69th minute when Messi single-handedly beat Gvardiol in the Croatian penalty box to set up Alvarez for his second goal. Classic Messi Move 🔥 The little 🧙‍♂️ tip-toes past the #Croatia defence to set up an easy finish for Julian Alvarez 👏 Watch #ARGCRO ➡ LIVE on #JioCinema & #Sports18 📲📺#Qatar2022 #FIFAWorldCup #FIFAWConJioCinema #FIFAWConSports18 pic.twitter.com/kMWpzRUQdB — JioCinema (@JioCinema) December 13, 2022 × The 2018 finalists kept knocking but with no finesse in the final third, the opening goal never arrived. While Argentine no. 10 Messi was weaving his magic on the field, his compatriot Luka Modric was taken off the pitch in the 81st minute to a rousing reception from the Croatian record, in what was perhaps his last game on the world stage. Messi's men will now look to earn Argentina their third World Cup trophy as they take on the winners of Morocco vs France game on Sunday. This will be Argentina's sixth appearance in the World Cup finals. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

FIFA World Cup 2022: Marvellous Messi fires Argentina to WC final as Alvarez grabs two

<p>AC Milan striker Zlatan&nbsp;Ibrahimovic believes it is written in the stars that Lionel Messi will be lifting the World Cup trophy.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>“I think it's already written who will win, and you know who I mean. I think Messi will lift the trophy, it's already written,"&nbsp;Ibrahimovic told reporters during AC Mila's mid-season tour of Dubai.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Swede made the remark ahead of Argentina's semi-final clash with Croatia. If Messi wins the World Cup, it will be his second international trophy, having won the Copa America last year.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Ibrahimovic played a season with Messi during his stay at Barcelona in 2009. Together, the duo won a La Liga title, Spanish Super Cup and a Club World Cup.&nbsp;However, after he had a feud with manager Pep Guardiola, the Swede went to AC Milan.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Messi - Argentina's talisman</strong></p>

<p>Messi has been Argentina's talisman for a long time. However, during this World Cup, he has taken his abilities a notch above.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Messi has already scored four goals and assisted two in five matches. After Argentina suffered a shock defeat to Saudi Arabia in the opening game, many feared that Messi will be returning home without making it to the knockouts.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/exclusive-croatia-will-restrict-lionel-messi-from-having-the-best-game-of-his-life-in-sf-1-says-igor-stimac-542710"><strong>Read more: Exclusive: Croatia will restrict Lionel Messi from having the best game of his life in SF 1, says Igor Stimac</strong></a></p>

<p>However, the Argentine skipper regrouped his players and managed to get the best out of them. Messi's playmaking skills have been pivotal for the La Albiceleset during the crunch moments of the game.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It was Messi's brilliance during the quarterfinal&nbsp;game against the Netherlands that allowed the South American side to progress into the final four.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/argentina-to-face-croatia-in-the-first-semi-finals-of-world-cup-542513"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Argentina to face Croatia in the first Semi-Finals of World Cup</strong></a></p>

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<p>Usually cool, composed and collected on the pitch, Messi has not shied away from taking an aggressive stance whenever his team has required - the Netherlands game being a case in point.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, the road to the final is still not clear. 2018 finalists Croatia are in Messi's way. The last time these two sides met in a World Cup was in 2018 only when Messi's men were beaten 3-0 by Croatia.&nbsp;</p>

<p>With a midfield consisting of the likes of Luka Modric, Mateo Kovacic and&nbsp;Marcelo Brozovic, Argentina will have to dig deep if they are to go the distance. Croatia have time and again proved that they are not any pushovers.&nbsp;</p>

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AC Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic believes it is written in the stars that Lionel Messi will be lifting the World Cup trophy. “I think it's already written who will win, and you know who I mean.

AC Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic believes it is written in the stars that Lionel Messi will be lifting the World Cup trophy. “I think it's already written who will win, and you know who I mean. I think Messi will lift the trophy, it's already written," Ibrahimovic told reporters during AC Mila's mid-season tour of Dubai. The Swede made the remark ahead of Argentina's semi-final clash with Croatia. If Messi wins the World Cup, it will be his second international trophy, having won the Copa America last year. Ibrahimovic played a season with Messi during his stay at Barcelona in 2009. Together, the duo won a La Liga title, Spanish Super Cup and a Club World Cup. However, after he had a feud with manager Pep Guardiola, the Swede went to AC Milan. Messi - Argentina's talisman Messi has been Argentina's talisman for a long time. However, during this World Cup, he has taken his abilities a notch above. Messi has already scored four goals and assisted two in five matches. After Argentina suffered a shock defeat to Saudi Arabia in the opening game, many feared that Messi will be returning home without making it to the knockouts. Read more: Exclusive: Croatia will restrict Lionel Messi from having the best game of his life in SF 1, says Igor Stimac However, the Argentine skipper regrouped his players and managed to get the best out of them. Messi's playmaking skills have been pivotal for the La Albiceleset during the crunch moments of the game. It was Messi's brilliance during the quarterfinal game against the Netherlands that allowed the South American side to progress into the final four. WATCH | Argentina to face Croatia in the first Semi-Finals of World Cup × Usually cool, composed and collected on the pitch, Messi has not shied away from taking an aggressive stance whenever his team has required - the Netherlands game being a case in point. However, the road to the final is still not clear. 2018 finalists Croatia are in Messi's way. The last time these two sides met in a World Cup was in 2018 only when Messi's men were beaten 3-0 by Croatia. With a midfield consisting of the likes of Luka Modric, Mateo Kovacic and Marcelo Brozovic, Argentina will have to dig deep if they are to go the distance. Croatia have time and again proved that they are not any pushovers. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

'It's written...': Zlatan Ibrahimovic on Lionel Messi lifting the World Cup

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<p>Controversial Spanish referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz who officiated the high-octane Argentina-Netherlands quarterfinal clash has been sent home, according to a report by COPE, a Spanish media outlet.</p>

<p>Lahoz had come under fire after he handed as many as 18 yellow cards during the match. His handling of the game triggered negative feedback from both sets of players as well as fans.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to the report, the La Liga referee has not been granted any of the remaining four games while his compatriots from the match have been given the option to participate in other matches as VAR officials.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Below is the list of released referees and ARs from <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FIFAWorldCup?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FIFAWorldCup</a> after the Quarterfinals. 2/2 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Qatar2022?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Qatar2022</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ArbitroInteBlog?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ArbitroInteBlog</a> <a href="https://t.co/Dwt6zf9jkp">pic.twitter.com/Dwt6zf9jkp</a></p>
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<p>Lahoz previously officiated in the Qatar vs Senegal and Iran vs United States matches where he gave out six and four yellow cards respectively. The Netherlands-Argentina game was the fifth World Cup match Lahoz had officiated in the World Cup finals. He officiated two games in the 2018 World Cup in Russia.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Messi harshly criticised Lahoz</strong></p>

<p>Argentina captain Lionel Messi was particularly scathing of Lahoz in his post-match statements. Messi, at the time, urged FIFA to look into the issue and not allow Lahoz to officiate another match.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I don’t want to speak about referees because they will sanction you. But people saw what happened. I think FIFA must take care of this. It cannot put a referee like that for a match of such magnitude, of such importance. The referee cannot fail to be up to the task."</p>

<p>Similarly, Argentina's penalty shootout hero Emiliano Martinez added, "He gave 10 minutes extra time for no reason. He just wanted them to score. That referee is crazy. Arrogant. You say something to him and he talks back to you. Hopefully we don't have that ref anymore...He's useless!"</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/messi-martinez-slam-referee-and-dutch-coach-after-tense-quarterfinal-win-541778" target="_blank"><strong>Read more: Messi, Martinez slam referee and Dutch coach after tense quarterfinal win</strong></a></p>

<p><strong>Other teams complain about referees as well</strong></p>

<p>Referees at the World Cup have been receiving stick ever since the knockout phase began. After Argentina, Portugal and England also complained about the decision-making of referees in the tournament.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Portuguese midfielder Bruno Fernandes lashed out at the referee after his team crashed out of the World Cup.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I don't know if they're going to give the cup to Argentina. I don't care, I'm going to say what I think, and screw them. It's very strange that a referee from a team that's still in the cup officiates us. They've clearly tilted the field against us."</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-2022-portuguese-players-blame-argentine-referee-for-world-cup-exit-541963"><strong>Read more: FIFA World Cup 2022: Portuguese players blame 'Argentine' referee for World Cup exit</strong></a></p>

<p>Similarly, England defender Harry Maguire took a shot at the referee post the quarterfinal defeat to France.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I thought the referee’s decision-making throughout the game was really poor. We always stand here, we as players, we get criticised, so it would be nice to see if he comes out and says whether he’s had a good game or not," said Maguire in a post-match TV interview.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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Controversial Spanish referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz who officiated the high-octane Argentina-Netherlands quarterfinal clash has been sent home, according to a report by COPE, a Spanish media outlet.

Controversial Spanish referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz who officiated the high-octane Argentina-Netherlands quarterfinal clash has been sent home, according to a report by COPE, a Spanish media outlet. Lahoz had come under fire after he handed as many as 18 yellow cards during the match. His handling of the game triggered negative feedback from both sets of players as well as fans. According to the report, the La Liga referee has not been granted any of the remaining four games while his compatriots from the match have been given the option to participate in other matches as VAR officials. Below is the list of released referees and ARs from #FIFAWorldCup after the Quarterfinals. 2/2 #Qatar2022 @ArbitroInteBlog pic.twitter.com/Dwt6zf9jkp — Mike (@VictoriaGooner) December 12, 2022 × Lahoz previously officiated in the Qatar vs Senegal and Iran vs United States matches where he gave out six and four yellow cards respectively. The Netherlands-Argentina game was the fifth World Cup match Lahoz had officiated in the World Cup finals. He officiated two games in the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Messi harshly criticised Lahoz Argentina captain Lionel Messi was particularly scathing of Lahoz in his post-match statements. Messi, at the time, urged FIFA to look into the issue and not allow Lahoz to officiate another match. "I don’t want to speak about referees because they will sanction you. But people saw what happened. I think FIFA must take care of this. It cannot put a referee like that for a match of such magnitude, of such importance. The referee cannot fail to be up to the task." Similarly, Argentina's penalty shootout hero Emiliano Martinez added, "He gave 10 minutes extra time for no reason. He just wanted them to score. That referee is crazy. Arrogant. You say something to him and he talks back to you. Hopefully we don't have that ref anymore...He's useless!" Read more: Messi, Martinez slam referee and Dutch coach after tense quarterfinal win Other teams complain about referees as well Referees at the World Cup have been receiving stick ever since the knockout phase began. After Argentina, Portugal and England also complained about the decision-making of referees in the tournament. Portuguese midfielder Bruno Fernandes lashed out at the referee after his team crashed out of the World Cup. "I don't know if they're going to give the cup to Argentina. I don't care, I'm going to say what I think, and screw them. It's very strange that a referee from a team that's still in the cup officiates us. They've clearly tilted the field against us." Read more: FIFA World Cup 2022: Portuguese players blame 'Argentine' referee for World Cup exit Similarly, England defender Harry Maguire took a shot at the referee post the quarterfinal defeat to France. "I thought the referee’s decision-making throughout the game was really poor. We always stand here, we as players, we get criticised, so it would be nice to see if he comes out and says whether he’s had a good game or not," said Maguire in a post-match TV interview. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Referee who handed 18 yellow cards in Argentina-Netherlands game sent home: Report

<p>It was a tense knockout game where tempers flared and quarrels ensued on the pitch. Argentine skipper Lionel Messi and goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez did not mince words in the post-match comments to settle scores against the Netherlands manager, players and referee&nbsp;Antonio Mateu Lahoz.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Messi hit out at the Netherlands manager Louis van Gaal, saying he felt disrespected by the Dutch following his pre-match statements.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I feel disrespected by Van Gaal after his pregame comments and some Dutch players spoke too much during the game," said Messi.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Messi was referring to van Gaal's&nbsp;pre-match conference where the Dutch said he had the anti-dote to the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"You will see on how I'll stop Messi on Friday, I won't tell you."</p>

<p>At the end of the match, Messi went towards the Dutch dugout and had a heated argument with van Gaal and his support staff as well.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Messi did not stop here as he took a shot at&nbsp;referee&nbsp; Lahoz who handed as many as 18 yellow cards during the course of the match, setting a new record in the process.</p>

<p>Messi wasn't too amused by the referring standards and said, "I don’t want to speak about referees because after they will sanction you. But people saw what happened. I think FIFA must take care of this."</p>

<p>"It cannot put a referee like that for a match of such magnitude, of such importance. The referee cannot fail to be up to the task."</p>

<p>Similarly, Martinez did not hold his punches back either as he advised&nbsp;van Gaal "to keep his mouth shut”.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“I heard van Gaal saying we [Netherlands] got an advantage in penalties, if we go to penalties we win. I think he needs to keep his mouth shut.”</p>

<p>As for the referee, Argentina's penalty shootout hero added,&nbsp;"Hopefully we don't have that ref anymore...He's useless!"</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">🗣️ "Hopefully we don't have that ref anymore... He's useless! Van Gaal said they have an advantage if it goes to penalties, he needs to keep his mouth shut."<br />
<br />
👀 <a href="https://twitter.com/emimartinezz1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@emimartinezz1</a> didn't hold back in his post-match interview!<br />
<br />
🎤 <a href="https://twitter.com/aarransummers?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@aarransummers</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FIFAWorldCup?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FIFAWorldCup</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Qatar2022?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Qatar2022</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ARG?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ARG</a> <a href="https://t.co/kkqJx2JxSL">pic.twitter.com/kkqJx2JxSL</a></p>
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS_EN) <a href="https://twitter.com/beINSPORTS_EN/status/1601345489416380418?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 9, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p>Argentina will face Croatia in the World Cup semi-finals following a thrilling penalty shootout victory over the Dutch side.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The match was all set to end in regulation time as Argentina had a two-goal cushion, heading into the last 10 minutes of the game.</p>

<p>However, tactical tweaks by van Gaal meant that the tall, lanky former Burnley striker Wout Weghorst managed to find the back of the net twice in quick succession. The second goal came in the 11th minute of the stoppage time.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/argentina-beat-netherlands-on-penalties-to-reach-world-cup-semis-541730"><strong>Read more:&nbsp;Argentina beat Netherlands on penalties to reach World Cup semis</strong></a></p>

<p>After no breakthrough in the extra time, the game went to penalties where Martinez stopped two Dutch spot-kicks and ensured his team's entry into the final four.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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It was a tense knockout game where tempers flared and quarrels ensued on the pitch. Argentine skipper Lionel Messi and goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez did not mince words in the post-match comments to settle scores against the Netherlands manager, players and referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz.

It was a tense knockout game where tempers flared and quarrels ensued on the pitch. Argentine skipper Lionel Messi and goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez did not mince words in the post-match comments to settle scores against the Netherlands manager, players and referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz. Messi hit out at the Netherlands manager Louis van Gaal, saying he felt disrespected by the Dutch following his pre-match statements. "I feel disrespected by Van Gaal after his pregame comments and some Dutch players spoke too much during the game," said Messi. Messi was referring to van Gaal's pre-match conference where the Dutch said he had the anti-dote to the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner. "You will see on how I'll stop Messi on Friday, I won't tell you." At the end of the match, Messi went towards the Dutch dugout and had a heated argument with van Gaal and his support staff as well. Messi did not stop here as he took a shot at referee Lahoz who handed as many as 18 yellow cards during the course of the match, setting a new record in the process. Messi wasn't too amused by the referring standards and said, "I don’t want to speak about referees because after they will sanction you. But people saw what happened. I think FIFA must take care of this." "It cannot put a referee like that for a match of such magnitude, of such importance. The referee cannot fail to be up to the task." Similarly, Martinez did not hold his punches back either as he advised van Gaal "to keep his mouth shut”. “I heard van Gaal saying we [Netherlands] got an advantage in penalties, if we go to penalties we win. I think he needs to keep his mouth shut.” As for the referee, Argentina's penalty shootout hero added, "Hopefully we don't have that ref anymore...He's useless!" 🗣️ "Hopefully we don't have that ref anymore... He's useless! Van Gaal said they have an advantage if it goes to penalties, he needs to keep his mouth shut." 👀 @emimartinezz1 didn't hold back in his post-match interview! 🎤 @aarransummers#FIFAWorldCup #Qatar2022 #ARG pic.twitter.com/kkqJx2JxSL — beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS_EN) December 9, 2022 × Argentina will face Croatia in the World Cup semi-finals following a thrilling penalty shootout victory over the Dutch side. The match was all set to end in regulation time as Argentina had a two-goal cushion, heading into the last 10 minutes of the game. However, tactical tweaks by van Gaal meant that the tall, lanky former Burnley striker Wout Weghorst managed to find the back of the net twice in quick succession. The second goal came in the 11th minute of the stoppage time. Read more: Argentina beat Netherlands on penalties to reach World Cup semis After no breakthrough in the extra time, the game went to penalties where Martinez stopped two Dutch spot-kicks and ensured his team's entry into the final four. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Messi, Martinez slam referee and Dutch coach after tense quarterfinal win

<p>Lionel Messi-starrer Argentina were in a do-or-die scenario when they squared off versus Robert Lewandowski's Poland in a vital group stage encounter at the FIFA World Cup 2022 edition, in Qatar. After losing to Saudi Arabia in their tournament opener and then beating Mexico, Argentina had to win to progress ahead into the Round of 16 and they managed to do that with a&nbsp; 2-0 scoreline versus the Polish line-up. Despite the defeat, Poland have also gone through to the next round.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Argentina-Poland clash lived up to expectations, with Alexis Mac Allister and Julian Alvarez scoring a goal each. Nonetheless, Messi could've also added to his goal tally but the 35-year-old missed an opportunity to score on a penalty kick, courtesy of Poland keeper&nbsp;Wojciech Szczesny's brilliant save. The Argentina captain earned a spot kick&nbsp;after he was fouled by Polish goalkeeper but he failed to make the most of the opportunity with Sczesny showing great composure and denied Messi from scoring by reading his move and stopping the ball by using a single hand.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/argentina-outclass-poland-mexico-beat-saudi-arabia-but-miss-out-on-last-16-538920">Argentina outclass Poland; Mexico beat Saudi Arabia but miss out on last 16</a></strong></p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">High-speed shot, high-speed save ⚡<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ICYMI?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ICYMI</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/13Szczesny13?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@13Szczesny13</a> showed his 👌 reflexes to deny <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Messi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Messi</a> from the penalty spot 🧤<br />
<br />
From more of such amazing saves, keep watching <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FIFAWorldCup?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FIFAWorldCup</a>, LIVE on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JioCinema?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#JioCinema</a> &amp; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sports18?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Sports18</a> 📺📲<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Qatar2022?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Qatar2022</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FIFAWConJioCinema?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FIFAWConJioCinema</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FIFAWConSports18?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FIFAWConSports18</a> <a href="https://t.co/sryeCurTSb">pic.twitter.com/sryeCurTSb</a></p>
— JioCinema (@JioCinema) <a href="https://twitter.com/JioCinema/status/1598140508966043649?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 1, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p>Despite missing on a scoring opportunity, Messi didn't have a forgettable outing versus the Polish line-up. <strong>Here's how:</strong></p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Despite the penalty miss, Lionel Messi impressed for Argentina:<br />
<br />
98 touches<br />
1 big chance created<br />
5 key passes<br />
60/71 accurate passes<br />
4/6 successful dribbles<br />
7 shots/4 on target (1.21 total xG)<br />
8.2 Sofascore rating<br />
<br />
He is the goat. With no doubts.||📽️<a href="https://t.co/Ah09y5hRTu">pic.twitter.com/Ah09y5hRTu</a></p>
— Rio. (@RioDeLFC) <a href="https://twitter.com/RioDeLFC/status/1598098758142930945?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 30, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p>Messi will like to turn on the heat and return to scoring ways in Argentina's Round of 16 clash, where they are set to face Australia whereas Poland need to pull up their socks as they will lock horns with defending champions France in the next round. Talking about the other two teams in Group C, Mexico beat Saudi Arabia 2-1 in a riveting tie but both sides bowed out of the World Cup in Qatar.&nbsp;</p>


Lionel Messi-starrer Argentina were in a do-or-die scenario when they squared off versus Robert Lewandowski's Poland in a vital group stage encounter at the FIFA World Cup 2022 edition, in Qatar.

Lionel Messi-starrer Argentina were in a do-or-die scenario when they squared off versus Robert Lewandowski's Poland in a vital group stage encounter at the FIFA World Cup 2022 edition, in Qatar. After losing to Saudi Arabia in their tournament opener and then beating Mexico, Argentina had to win to progress ahead into the Round of 16 and they managed to do that with a 2-0 scoreline versus the Polish line-up. Despite the defeat, Poland have also gone through to the next round. The Argentina-Poland clash lived up to expectations, with Alexis Mac Allister and Julian Alvarez scoring a goal each. Nonetheless, Messi could've also added to his goal tally but the 35-year-old missed an opportunity to score on a penalty kick, courtesy of Poland keeper Wojciech Szczesny's brilliant save. The Argentina captain earned a spot kick after he was fouled by Polish goalkeeper but he failed to make the most of the opportunity with Sczesny showing great composure and denied Messi from scoring by reading his move and stopping the ball by using a single hand. Also read: Argentina outclass Poland; Mexico beat Saudi Arabia but miss out on last 16 High-speed shot, high-speed save ⚡#ICYMI, @13Szczesny13 showed his 👌 reflexes to deny #Messi from the penalty spot 🧤 From more of such amazing saves, keep watching #FIFAWorldCup, LIVE on #JioCinema & #Sports18 📺📲#Qatar2022 #FIFAWConJioCinema #FIFAWConSports18 pic.twitter.com/sryeCurTSb — JioCinema (@JioCinema) December 1, 2022 × Despite missing on a scoring opportunity, Messi didn't have a forgettable outing versus the Polish line-up. Here's how: Despite the penalty miss, Lionel Messi impressed for Argentina: 98 touches 1 big chance created 5 key passes 60/71 accurate passes 4/6 successful dribbles 7 shots/4 on target (1.21 total xG) 8.2 Sofascore rating He is the goat. With no doubts.||📽️pic.twitter.com/Ah09y5hRTu — Rio. (@RioDeLFC) November 30, 2022 × Messi will like to turn on the heat and return to scoring ways in Argentina's Round of 16 clash, where they are set to face Australia whereas Poland need to pull up their socks as they will lock horns with defending champions France in the next round. Talking about the other two teams in Group C, Mexico beat Saudi Arabia 2-1 in a riveting tie but both sides bowed out of the World Cup in Qatar.

WATCH: Messi fails to score from penalty kick due to Szczesny's splendid save in Argentina-Portugal tie

<p>The FIFA World Cup 2022 edition, in Qatar, is living up to expectations with many twists and turns. All eyes are now on Argentina as they will lock horns with Poland in both sides' last group-stage encounter. It is a must-win game for Argentina as a defeat will surely lead to their early exit. Poland, on the other hand, also need to win but even a draw will help their cause. A defeat will leave them dependent on Mexico to beat Saudi Arabia and they&nbsp;pip the North American side in terms of goal difference. Thus, a lot to play for both sides.&nbsp;</p>

<p>For Argentina, they started their campaign versus Saudi Arabia and despite a 1-0 lead, they suffered a shocking 1-2 loss. After that, Lionel Messi &amp; Co. defeated Mexico 2-0 and will like to come out with their A-game in their remaining encounter versus Robert Lewandowski's men. The Polish side, on the other hand, started with a 0-0 stalemate versus Mexicans before emerging on top of Saudi, 2-0, hence, are better placed than Argentina at the moment.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Overall, it promises to be another enthralling battle in the FIFA WC, in Qatar, as two superstars Messi and Lewandowski will square off against each other.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-wc-adidas-addresses-goal-controversy-reveals-ball-technology-confirms-ronaldo-didnt-score-vs-uruguay-538614">FIFA WC: Adidas addresses goal controversy, reveals ball technology confirms Ronaldo didn't score vs Uruguay</a></strong></p>

<p><strong>Here's everything you need to know about the clash:</strong></p>

<h2><strong>When is the Argentina vs Poland match of the FIFA World Cup 2022?</strong></h2>

<p>Argentina versus Poland fixture, from Group C, will be played at Stadium 974, Qatar.</p>

<h2><strong>What time will the match be telecast in India?</strong></h2>

<p>The face-off will commence at 12:30 AM IST on Thursday (November 30).</p>

<h2><strong>Where can we watch the match live:&nbsp;Broadcast TV and OTT Channel in India?</strong></h2>

<p>The Indian football fans can watch the&nbsp;FIFA World Cup clashes on TV on&nbsp;<strong>Sports18</strong>&nbsp;and Sports18 HD channels. Meanwhile, the live streaming&nbsp;will be available on&nbsp;<strong>Jio Cinema app</strong>&nbsp;or website.</p>


The FIFA World Cup 2022 edition, in Qatar, is living up to expectations with many twists and turns. All eyes are now on Argentina as they will lock horns with Poland in both sides' last group-stage encounter.

The FIFA World Cup 2022 edition, in Qatar, is living up to expectations with many twists and turns. All eyes are now on Argentina as they will lock horns with Poland in both sides' last group-stage encounter. It is a must-win game for Argentina as a defeat will surely lead to their early exit. Poland, on the other hand, also need to win but even a draw will help their cause. A defeat will leave them dependent on Mexico to beat Saudi Arabia and they pip the North American side in terms of goal difference. Thus, a lot to play for both sides. For Argentina, they started their campaign versus Saudi Arabia and despite a 1-0 lead, they suffered a shocking 1-2 loss. After that, Lionel Messi & Co. defeated Mexico 2-0 and will like to come out with their A-game in their remaining encounter versus Robert Lewandowski's men. The Polish side, on the other hand, started with a 0-0 stalemate versus Mexicans before emerging on top of Saudi, 2-0, hence, are better placed than Argentina at the moment. Overall, it promises to be another enthralling battle in the FIFA WC, in Qatar, as two superstars Messi and Lewandowski will square off against each other. Also read: FIFA WC: Adidas addresses goal controversy, reveals ball technology confirms Ronaldo didn't score vs Uruguay Here's everything you need to know about the clash: When is the Argentina vs Poland match of the FIFA World Cup 2022? Argentina versus Poland fixture, from Group C, will be played at Stadium 974, Qatar. What time will the match be telecast in India? The face-off will commence at 12:30 AM IST on Thursday (November 30). Where can we watch the match live: Broadcast TV and OTT Channel in India? The Indian football fans can watch the FIFA World Cup clashes on TV on Sports18 and Sports18 HD channels. Meanwhile, the live streaming will be available on Jio Cinema app or website.

Argentina vs Poland FIFA World Cup 2022 broadcast TV and OTT-live streaming: When and where to watch?

<p>The FIFA World Cup 2022 is underway in Qatar and fans are enjoying this event to the fullest. The craze and love for this game and its players see no boundaries. While a lot of fans across the world travelled to Qatar to watch the World Cup live, billions back home are also doing their bit to show their excitement. For instance, India, a country known to love cricket the most, has millions of football fans as well.&nbsp;Many reports even&nbsp;showed&nbsp;how these fans are going one step ahead and celebrating this tournament. While many Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi fans have prepared their huge cut-outs in their respective areas, one fan reportedly bought a 23-lakh rupee house just to host people for the World Cup games.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/portugal-vs-uruguay-fifa-world-cup-2022-broadcast-tv-and-ott-live-streaming-when-and-where-to-watch-538166">Portugal vs Uruguay FIFA World Cup 2022 Broadcast TV and OTT-Live Streaming: When and where to watch?</a></p>

<p>Meanwhile, in one video going viral on the internet, an Argentinean woman named Leti Estevez is seen wearing an Indian flag while in Qatar for the World Cup. In a video shared on Instagram by&nbsp;Yadil M Iqbal, a football fan from Kerala, he is seen interacting with that&nbsp;woman and asking her the reason for the same.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The video begins with&nbsp;Yadil telling&nbsp;Leti how much Indians love Argentina and its football, and especially Lionel Messi.</p>

<p>Leti Estevez also disclosed why was she wearing the Indian flag saying she was taken aback by the love shown by the Indian fans towards her team and that's a reason she was donning the tri-colour.</p>

<p><strong>Here have a look at the video -</strong></p>

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<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/ClVx-_nuMrK/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Yadil M Iqbal (@yadil_m_iqbal)</a></p>
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<p>Argentina, meanwhile, are still alive in the tournament thanks to their 2-0 win over Mexico in their second group match. Earlier, they lost to Saudi Arabia 1-2 in the group opener. Argentina will play their final group match against Poland on Thursday, December 1st.</p>


The FIFA World Cup 2022 is underway in Qatar and fans are enjoying this event to the fullest. The craze and love for this game and its players see no boundaries.

The FIFA World Cup 2022 is underway in Qatar and fans are enjoying this event to the fullest. The craze and love for this game and its players see no boundaries. While a lot of fans across the world travelled to Qatar to watch the World Cup live, billions back home are also doing their bit to show their excitement. For instance, India, a country known to love cricket the most, has millions of football fans as well. Many reports even showed how these fans are going one step ahead and celebrating this tournament. While many Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi fans have prepared their huge cut-outs in their respective areas, one fan reportedly bought a 23-lakh rupee house just to host people for the World Cup games. ALSO READ: Portugal vs Uruguay FIFA World Cup 2022 Broadcast TV and OTT-Live Streaming: When and where to watch? Meanwhile, in one video going viral on the internet, an Argentinean woman named Leti Estevez is seen wearing an Indian flag while in Qatar for the World Cup. In a video shared on Instagram by Yadil M Iqbal, a football fan from Kerala, he is seen interacting with that woman and asking her the reason for the same. The video begins with Yadil telling Leti how much Indians love Argentina and its football, and especially Lionel Messi. Leti Estevez also disclosed why was she wearing the Indian flag saying she was taken aback by the love shown by the Indian fans towards her team and that's a reason she was donning the tri-colour. Here have a look at the video - View this post on Instagram A post shared by Yadil M Iqbal (@yadil_m_iqbal) × Argentina, meanwhile, are still alive in the tournament thanks to their 2-0 win over Mexico in their second group match. Earlier, they lost to Saudi Arabia 1-2 in the group opener. Argentina will play their final group match against Poland on Thursday, December 1st.

WATCH: An Argentinean woman spotted wearing Indian flag at FIFA World Cup, wins hearts

<p>Argentina's footballing legend Lionel Messi produced a stunning performance against Mexico on Saturday night at the Lusail Stadium to help his team win the do-or-die clash 2-0. After Argentina were knocked down by Saudi Arabia in their group opener, the pressure fell back on Messi's shoulder to bail them out. And he did not disappoint.</p>

<p>A win in front of a massive crowd&nbsp;brought Argentina back into the race for knockout qualification. This win meant so much that they celebrated among the team members in the dressing room. In a video that has gone viral on the internet, we can see all Argentinean players celebrating their big win over Mexico.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-after-neymar-and-danilo-brazil-midfielder-lucas-paqueta-also-in-doubt-for-switzerland-match-537941">FIFA World Cup: After Neymar and Danilo, Brazil midfielder Lucas Paqueta also in doubt for Switzerland match</a></p>

<p>Over there, we can also see Lionel Messi dancing shirtless and singing along with his teammates while celebrating.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Here you can watch the whole video -</strong></p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">The celebrations in the Argentina dressing room 😭❤️🇦🇷<a href="https://t.co/T2ttOh3Yc8">pic.twitter.com/T2ttOh3Yc8</a></p>
— Hamza 🇦🇷 (@lapulgafreak) <a href="https://twitter.com/lapulgafreak/status/1596623703022133248?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 26, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p>During Saturday's clash against Mexico a few of the records were created, both on-field and off-field. Lionel Messi contributed through a goal and then an assist, thus becoming the only player to assist in five World Cups.&nbsp;With that goal, Messi's goal tally reached eight in&nbsp;World Cup history - equalling&nbsp;Diego Maradona to become the joint second-highest Argentina goalscorer in the competition. Both Messi and Maradona have scored 8 goals in 21 matches in FIFA World Cups.</p>

<p>Besides, during the Argentina-Mexico match, 88,966 fans attended the game inside the stadium, creating a record in itself. As per FIFA, this is the largest attendance recorded in a World Cup game in 28 years.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Now with one win and one loss to its name so far, Argentina's next match against Poland on December 1st will be a crucial game. For Argentina to reach the knockouts, they will have to beat Poland.&nbsp;</p>

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Argentina's footballing legend Lionel Messi produced a stunning performance against Mexico on Saturday night at the Lusail Stadium to help his team win the do-or-die clash 2-0.

Argentina's footballing legend Lionel Messi produced a stunning performance against Mexico on Saturday night at the Lusail Stadium to help his team win the do-or-die clash 2-0. After Argentina were knocked down by Saudi Arabia in their group opener, the pressure fell back on Messi's shoulder to bail them out. And he did not disappoint. A win in front of a massive crowd brought Argentina back into the race for knockout qualification. This win meant so much that they celebrated among the team members in the dressing room. In a video that has gone viral on the internet, we can see all Argentinean players celebrating their big win over Mexico. ALSO READ: FIFA World Cup: After Neymar and Danilo, Brazil midfielder Lucas Paqueta also in doubt for Switzerland match Over there, we can also see Lionel Messi dancing shirtless and singing along with his teammates while celebrating. Here you can watch the whole video - The celebrations in the Argentina dressing room 😭❤️🇦🇷pic.twitter.com/T2ttOh3Yc8 — Hamza 🇦🇷 (@lapulgafreak) November 26, 2022 × During Saturday's clash against Mexico a few of the records were created, both on-field and off-field. Lionel Messi contributed through a goal and then an assist, thus becoming the only player to assist in five World Cups. With that goal, Messi's goal tally reached eight in World Cup history - equalling Diego Maradona to become the joint second-highest Argentina goalscorer in the competition. Both Messi and Maradona have scored 8 goals in 21 matches in FIFA World Cups. Besides, during the Argentina-Mexico match, 88,966 fans attended the game inside the stadium, creating a record in itself. As per FIFA, this is the largest attendance recorded in a World Cup game in 28 years. Now with one win and one loss to its name so far, Argentina's next match against Poland on December 1st will be a crucial game. For Argentina to reach the knockouts, they will have to beat Poland.

WATCH: Lionel Messi dances shirtless after inspiring Argentina to 2-0 win over Mexico

<p>A group of Argentina and Mexico fans clashed with each other in Qatar on Wednesday night ahead of their much-anticipated meeting in the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2022. The fans came to blows at the Al Bidda Park in Doha after the Mexicans came up with a derogatory chant for Lionel Messi.</p>

<p>In video footage that has gone viral on social media, Mexico fans can be heard chanting "f**k Messi" while fighting with a group of Argentina fans in Doha. The clash at Al Bidda Park, which is one of the fan zones for the ongoing World Cup in the country, also reportedly left some of the fans injured.</p>

<p><strong>Watch video:</strong></p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="es">SE ARMA LA BATALLA CAMPAL MEXICANOS CONTRA ARGENTINOS<br />
A unos cuantos días del partido de México vs Argentina 🇦🇷 los ánimos ya se comienzan a calentar... <a href="https://t.co/bI8hwOPH6B">pic.twitter.com/bI8hwOPH6B</a></p>
— Omar Niño Noticias (@OmarNNoticias) <a href="https://twitter.com/OmarNNoticias/status/1595554739575455744?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 23, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/we-are-here-to-play-football-belgiums-eden-hazard-on-germanys-protest-against-fifa-in-world-cup-537192">They'd have done better to win instead: Belgium's Eden Hazard on Germany's protest against FIFA in World Cup</a></p>

<p>Argentina recently suffered a shock 2-1 defeat against Saudi Arabia in their opening clash at the FIFA World Cup 2022 in what was one of the biggest upsets in the tournament's history. The ugly fight scenes in Doha came just days after Argentina's loss and ahead of their meeting with Mexico in the competition.</p>

<p>Argentina were the better team in the initial few minutes of the game with Messi scoring a penalty to put them ahead 1-0. However, second-half goals from Salah Al-Shehri and Salem Al-Dawsari stunned Argentina as the two-time champions failed to recover and ended up suffering their first-ever defeat against Saudi Arabia in a World Cup game.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-2022-struggling-uruguay-held-by-south-korea-in-goalless-stalemate-537202">FIFA World Cup 2022: Struggling Uruguay held by South Korea in goalless stalemate</a></p>

<p>Argentina will be up against Mexico in their next group-stage clash. While they went down against Saudi Arabia, Mexico were held to a goalless draw by Poland in their opening encounter. It will be a must-win encounter for both teams as a defeat will push them to the brink of elimination.</p>

<p>Both Argentina and Mexico will be looking to give their all in the game and return with all three points to keep their knockout hopes alive.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


A group of Argentina and Mexico fans clashed with each other in Qatar on Wednesday night ahead of their much-anticipated meeting in the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2022.

A group of Argentina and Mexico fans clashed with each other in Qatar on Wednesday night ahead of their much-anticipated meeting in the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2022. The fans came to blows at the Al Bidda Park in Doha after the Mexicans came up with a derogatory chant for Lionel Messi. In video footage that has gone viral on social media, Mexico fans can be heard chanting "f**k Messi" while fighting with a group of Argentina fans in Doha. The clash at Al Bidda Park, which is one of the fan zones for the ongoing World Cup in the country, also reportedly left some of the fans injured. Watch video: SE ARMA LA BATALLA CAMPAL MEXICANOS CONTRA ARGENTINOS A unos cuantos días del partido de México vs Argentina 🇦🇷 los ánimos ya se comienzan a calentar... pic.twitter.com/bI8hwOPH6B — Omar Niño Noticias (@OmarNNoticias) November 23, 2022 × Also Read: They'd have done better to win instead: Belgium's Eden Hazard on Germany's protest against FIFA in World Cup Argentina recently suffered a shock 2-1 defeat against Saudi Arabia in their opening clash at the FIFA World Cup 2022 in what was one of the biggest upsets in the tournament's history. The ugly fight scenes in Doha came just days after Argentina's loss and ahead of their meeting with Mexico in the competition. Argentina were the better team in the initial few minutes of the game with Messi scoring a penalty to put them ahead 1-0. However, second-half goals from Salah Al-Shehri and Salem Al-Dawsari stunned Argentina as the two-time champions failed to recover and ended up suffering their first-ever defeat against Saudi Arabia in a World Cup game. Also Read: FIFA World Cup 2022: Struggling Uruguay held by South Korea in goalless stalemate Argentina will be up against Mexico in their next group-stage clash. While they went down against Saudi Arabia, Mexico were held to a goalless draw by Poland in their opening encounter. It will be a must-win encounter for both teams as a defeat will push them to the brink of elimination. Both Argentina and Mexico will be looking to give their all in the game and return with all three points to keep their knockout hopes alive.

'F**k Messi': Argentina, Mexico fans clash in Qatar ahead of FIFA World Cup 2022 clash - WATCH

<p>Saudi Arabia defeated Argentina in FIFA World Cup's Group C match on Tuesday. Argentina,&nbsp;despite&nbsp;being third on FIFA rankings and&nbsp;also with Lionel Messi on their side, were&nbsp;completely taken off guard by 51-ranked Saudi Arabia.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This defeat against Saudi Arabia is Argentina's first defeat in 36 matches and also the first time since 2009, that it has lost a game where Messi had scored a goal. It took five minutes of sheer brilliance by the Green Falcons in the second half to win the match.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Though Messi converted the penalty in the 10th minute before Argentina was disallowed three goals&nbsp;for offside all in the first half. Saleh Al-Shehri tied the score three minutes into the second half before Salem Al-Dawsari&nbsp;scored a stunning goal to give Saudi Arabia the lead. They played outstanding defence, denying Argentina any additional chances as they easily won by 2-1.</p>

<p>This defeat of Argentina sent shock waves to football fans around the world, and people react&nbsp;to it on social media in a meme fest. Here are some of the funniest memes:</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Football is beautiful without VAR</p>
— DH (@Dikryhadian29) <a href="https://twitter.com/Dikryhadian29/status/1595008195184959488?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 22, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Argentina vs Saudi Arabia man of the match <a href="https://t.co/59mFUmKXBD">pic.twitter.com/59mFUmKXBD</a></p>
— Troll Football (@TrollFootball) <a href="https://twitter.com/TrollFootball/status/1595003135747297280?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 22, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Argentina scores a goal<br />
Var trying to find something wrong:<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FIFAWorldCup?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FIFAWorldCup</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Argentina?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Argentina</a> <a href="https://t.co/JWk5V9kpn9">pic.twitter.com/JWk5V9kpn9</a></p>
— Noah (@starwarslettuce) <a href="https://twitter.com/starwarslettuce/status/1595005783489581056?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 22, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Argentina in this game vs Saudi Arabia 🤣 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FIFAWorldCup?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FIFAWorldCup</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ARGKSA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ARGKSA</a> <a href="https://t.co/lo3ZFD8Y0Q">pic.twitter.com/lo3ZFD8Y0Q</a></p>
— Mufaro (@mufarombu) <a href="https://twitter.com/mufarombu/status/1595002298073485313?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 22, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">VAR to Argentina anytime they score a goal <a href="https://t.co/deEMnPrMxL">pic.twitter.com/deEMnPrMxL</a></p>
— TheFanOpinion🇺🇸🇳🇱 (@TheFanOpinion) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheFanOpinion/status/1595002162886897664?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 22, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">MBS to the VAR officials after Lautaro scored the 2nd <a href="https://t.co/tWV2VMhp00">pic.twitter.com/tWV2VMhp00</a></p>
— Ray🇦🇷/🇸🇦 (@commandantev10) <a href="https://twitter.com/commandantev10/status/1595002288044654593?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 22, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p>VAR or Video Assitant Referee and its decisions were the centre of all the memes and even the match which also reignited the never-ending controversy between modern football and the pre-VAR era.&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;</p>


Saudi Arabia defeated Argentina in FIFA World Cup's Group C match on Tuesday. Argentina, despite being third on FIFA rankings and also with Lionel Messi on their side, were completely taken off guard by 51-ranked Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia defeated Argentina in FIFA World Cup's Group C match on Tuesday. Argentina, despite being third on FIFA rankings and also with Lionel Messi on their side, were completely taken off guard by 51-ranked Saudi Arabia. This defeat against Saudi Arabia is Argentina's first defeat in 36 matches and also the first time since 2009, that it has lost a game where Messi had scored a goal. It took five minutes of sheer brilliance by the Green Falcons in the second half to win the match. Though Messi converted the penalty in the 10th minute before Argentina was disallowed three goals for offside all in the first half. Saleh Al-Shehri tied the score three minutes into the second half before Salem Al-Dawsari scored a stunning goal to give Saudi Arabia the lead. They played outstanding defence, denying Argentina any additional chances as they easily won by 2-1. This defeat of Argentina sent shock waves to football fans around the world, and people react to it on social media in a meme fest. Here are some of the funniest memes: Football is beautiful without VAR — DH (@Dikryhadian29) November 22, 2022 × Argentina vs Saudi Arabia man of the match pic.twitter.com/59mFUmKXBD — Troll Football (@TrollFootball) November 22, 2022 × Argentina scores a goal Var trying to find something wrong:#FIFAWorldCup #Argentina pic.twitter.com/JWk5V9kpn9 — Noah (@starwarslettuce) November 22, 2022 × Argentina in this game vs Saudi Arabia 🤣 #FIFAWorldCup #ARGKSA pic.twitter.com/lo3ZFD8Y0Q — Mufaro (@mufarombu) November 22, 2022 × VAR to Argentina anytime they score a goal pic.twitter.com/deEMnPrMxL — TheFanOpinion🇺🇸🇳🇱 (@TheFanOpinion) November 22, 2022 × MBS to the VAR officials after Lautaro scored the 2nd pic.twitter.com/tWV2VMhp00 — Ray🇦🇷/🇸🇦 (@commandantev10) November 22, 2022 × VAR or Video Assitant Referee and its decisions were the centre of all the memes and even the match which also reignited the never-ending controversy between modern football and the pre-VAR era.

FIFA World Cup 2022: Saudi Arabia BEAT Argentina, fans exploded in funniest meme fest

<p>The FIFA World Cup 2022 edition has started off with a bang. While a lot of off-field news are making the headlines from time to time, the action on the ground has been enthralling as well. After Monday (November 21) saw three fixtures being held -- with England thrashing Iran, Netherlands going past Senegal and USA-Wales tie ending in a 1-1 stalemate -- Argentina will square off with Saudi Arabia in Group C's first game.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Talking about Argentina, all eyes will be on Lionel Messi. Messi will enter the ground and achieve a major feat of becoming the first from his country to play as many as five separate editions of the World Cup. Argentina will be desperate to start off with a bang against a side whose best performance was a Round of 16 appearance in the 1994 edition. <strong>Here's everything to know about the Argentina vs Saudi Arabia FIFA World Cup clash:</strong></p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-lionel-messi-to-achieve-major-milestone-in-argentinas-opener-vs-saudi-arabia-536304">FIFA World Cup: Lionel Messi to achieve major milestone in Argentina's opener vs Saudi Arabia</a></strong></p>

<h2><strong>When is the Argentina vs Saudi Arabia match of the FIFA World Cup 2022?</strong></h2>

<p>The&nbsp;Argentina vs Saudi Arabia&nbsp;FIFA World Cup 2022 fixture, from Group C, will be played&nbsp;at the&nbsp;Lusail Stadium, Qatar.</p>

<h2><strong>What time will the match be telecast in India?</strong></h2>

<p>The match will commence&nbsp;at 15:30 PM IST on Tuesday afternoon (November 22).</p>

<h2><strong>Where can we watch the match live:&nbsp;Broadcast TV and OTT Channel in India?</strong></h2>

<p>In India, fans can enjoy the&nbsp;FIFA World Cup matches on TV on&nbsp;<strong>Sports18</strong>&nbsp;and Sports18 HD channels. Meanwhile, the live streaming will take place&nbsp;on the&nbsp;<strong>Jio Cinema app</strong>&nbsp;or website.</p>


The FIFA World Cup 2022 edition has started off with a bang. While a lot of off-field news are making the headlines from time to time, the action on the ground has been enthralling as well.

The FIFA World Cup 2022 edition has started off with a bang. While a lot of off-field news are making the headlines from time to time, the action on the ground has been enthralling as well. After Monday (November 21) saw three fixtures being held -- with England thrashing Iran, Netherlands going past Senegal and USA-Wales tie ending in a 1-1 stalemate -- Argentina will square off with Saudi Arabia in Group C's first game. Talking about Argentina, all eyes will be on Lionel Messi. Messi will enter the ground and achieve a major feat of becoming the first from his country to play as many as five separate editions of the World Cup. Argentina will be desperate to start off with a bang against a side whose best performance was a Round of 16 appearance in the 1994 edition. Here's everything to know about the Argentina vs Saudi Arabia FIFA World Cup clash: Also read: FIFA World Cup: Lionel Messi to achieve major milestone in Argentina's opener vs Saudi Arabia When is the Argentina vs Saudi Arabia match of the FIFA World Cup 2022? The Argentina vs Saudi Arabia FIFA World Cup 2022 fixture, from Group C, will be played at the Lusail Stadium, Qatar. What time will the match be telecast in India? The match will commence at 15:30 PM IST on Tuesday afternoon (November 22). Where can we watch the match live: Broadcast TV and OTT Channel in India? In India, fans can enjoy the FIFA World Cup matches on TV on Sports18 and Sports18 HD channels. Meanwhile, the live streaming will take place on the Jio Cinema app or website.

FIFA World Cup 2022 Broadcast TV and OTT-Live Streaming: When and where to watch Argentina vs Saudi Arabia?

<p>The wait is officially over as the world's biggest football extravaganza is all set to get underway in Qatar from Sunday (November 20) with the host nation taking on Ecuador in the opening game of the FIFA World Cup 2022. The tournament will feature some of the best players from across the globe with the world's best teams battling it out for the ultimate prize.</p>

<p>Defending champions France will be looking to successfully defend their crown while Cristiano Ronaldo would hope to bow out in stellar fashion in what will be his last World Cup for Portugal. Argentina will once again look up to Lionel Messi for inspiration while Brazil will be keen on ending their long-standing trophy drought.</p>

<p><strong>Here is a look at the top five contenders for the FIFA World Cup 2022 title:</strong></p>

<p><strong>Brazil</strong></p>

<p>Brazil are set to bring the Samba flavour to Qatar with their fascinating style of play. Tite's squad has a great mix of youth and experience with the likes of Neymar, Vinicius Jr, Thiago Silva and Alisson in their ranks. Brazil have not won the World Cup since 2002 but will start favourites this time around considering the quality of their squad.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/england-and-wales-set-to-defy-fifa-with-onelove-rainbow-armbands-in-support-of-lgbtq-rights-535640">England and Wales set to defy FIFA with 'OneLove' rainbow armbands in support of LGBTQ rights</a></p>

<p><strong>Argentina</strong></p>

<p>Lionel Messi will be hoping to sign off on a high if this proves to be his last World Cup. It will not only be his teammates who will be willing to give their all to give the Argentine legend the farewell he deserves, but millions across the world will be hoping for Messi to add the elusive World Cup to his trophy cabinet.</p>

<p>Argentina's recent form has been brilliant and they had into the World Cup as the reigning Copa America champions. They have a solid defence and an attack comprising the likes of Messi, Angel Di Maria, Lautaro Martinez and Paulo Dybala among others. They have enough firepower in their team to go the distance this time around.</p>

<p><strong>France</strong></p>

<p>Defending champions France will once again head into the tournament as overwhelming favourites this year. Didier Deschamps' men will be hoping to become the third team after Italy (1934, 1938) and Brazil (1958,1962) to win successive World Cup titles. They have the majority of the players from the 2018 World Cup-winning team still at their disposal and will be gunning for glory in Qatar.</p>

<p>Though France suffered a huge blow on the eve of the World Cup losing&nbsp;Karim Benzema out to injury,&nbsp;Deschamps still believes his team has what it takes to defend the title. In a statement, he said,&nbsp;"I am extremely sad for Karim who had made this World Cup a major objective. Despite this new blow for the French team, I have full confidence in my group. We will do everything to meet the huge challenge that awaits us."</p>

<p><strong>Netherlands</strong></p>

<p>The Netherlands didn't enjoy the best of campaigns in the 2018 World Cup but they have since managed to revamp their squad under manager Louis Van Gal and will be looking to go the distance. The Dutch have always been one of the strong teams at the World Cups over the years and it's no different this time around.</p>

<p>While they have a leader at the back in Virgil Van Dijk, who remains one of the best defenders in the world despite his struggles at Liverpool this season, their attack comprising of the likes of Cody Gakpo, Steven Bergwijn and Memphis Depay is capable of changing games on their own. With the brain of Frenkie de Jong in the midfield, the Netherlands will be hoping to shine in Qatar this year.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/portugal-captain-cristiano-ronaldo-eyes-elite-world-cup-record-amid-manchester-united-woes-535621">Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo eyes elite World Cup record amid Manchester United woes</a></p>

<p><strong>Portugal</strong></p>

<p>Portugal might not be clear favourites but can't be written off considering the amount of talent and experience in their squad. While an ageing Cristiano Ronaldo might not produce similar numbers as he was doing before, the legendary forward still has the hunger to win it all for his team.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Portugal are bursting with potential and promise with the likes of Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes and&nbsp;Joao Felix among others in their ranks. With Pepe still there at the back and the likes of Ruben Dias and Diogo Dalot adding much-needed young blood to their defence, Portugal will be fancying their chances of winning the ultimate trophy.</p>

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The wait is officially over as the world's biggest football extravaganza is all set to get underway in Qatar from Sunday (November 20) with the host nation taking on Ecuador in the opening game of the FIFA World Cup 2022.

The wait is officially over as the world's biggest football extravaganza is all set to get underway in Qatar from Sunday (November 20) with the host nation taking on Ecuador in the opening game of the FIFA World Cup 2022. The tournament will feature some of the best players from across the globe with the world's best teams battling it out for the ultimate prize. Defending champions France will be looking to successfully defend their crown while Cristiano Ronaldo would hope to bow out in stellar fashion in what will be his last World Cup for Portugal. Argentina will once again look up to Lionel Messi for inspiration while Brazil will be keen on ending their long-standing trophy drought. Here is a look at the top five contenders for the FIFA World Cup 2022 title: Brazil Brazil are set to bring the Samba flavour to Qatar with their fascinating style of play. Tite's squad has a great mix of youth and experience with the likes of Neymar, Vinicius Jr, Thiago Silva and Alisson in their ranks. Brazil have not won the World Cup since 2002 but will start favourites this time around considering the quality of their squad. Also Read: England and Wales set to defy FIFA with 'OneLove' rainbow armbands in support of LGBTQ rights Argentina Lionel Messi will be hoping to sign off on a high if this proves to be his last World Cup. It will not only be his teammates who will be willing to give their all to give the Argentine legend the farewell he deserves, but millions across the world will be hoping for Messi to add the elusive World Cup to his trophy cabinet. Argentina's recent form has been brilliant and they had into the World Cup as the reigning Copa America champions. They have a solid defence and an attack comprising the likes of Messi, Angel Di Maria, Lautaro Martinez and Paulo Dybala among others. They have enough firepower in their team to go the distance this time around. France Defending champions France will once again head into the tournament as overwhelming favourites this year. Didier Deschamps' men will be hoping to become the third team after Italy (1934, 1938) and Brazil (1958,1962) to win successive World Cup titles. They have the majority of the players from the 2018 World Cup-winning team still at their disposal and will be gunning for glory in Qatar. Though France suffered a huge blow on the eve of the World Cup losing Karim Benzema out to injury, Deschamps still believes his team has what it takes to defend the title. In a statement, he said, "I am extremely sad for Karim who had made this World Cup a major objective. Despite this new blow for the French team, I have full confidence in my group. We will do everything to meet the huge challenge that awaits us." Netherlands The Netherlands didn't enjoy the best of campaigns in the 2018 World Cup but they have since managed to revamp their squad under manager Louis Van Gal and will be looking to go the distance. The Dutch have always been one of the strong teams at the World Cups over the years and it's no different this time around. While they have a leader at the back in Virgil Van Dijk, who remains one of the best defenders in the world despite his struggles at Liverpool this season, their attack comprising of the likes of Cody Gakpo, Steven Bergwijn and Memphis Depay is capable of changing games on their own. With the brain of Frenkie de Jong in the midfield, the Netherlands will be hoping to shine in Qatar this year. Also Read: Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo eyes elite World Cup record amid Manchester United woes Portugal Portugal might not be clear favourites but can't be written off considering the amount of talent and experience in their squad. While an ageing Cristiano Ronaldo might not produce similar numbers as he was doing before, the legendary forward still has the hunger to win it all for his team. Portugal are bursting with potential and promise with the likes of Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes and Joao Felix among others in their ranks. With Pepe still there at the back and the likes of Ruben Dias and Diogo Dalot adding much-needed young blood to their defence, Portugal will be fancying their chances of winning the ultimate trophy. ×

Brazil to France: Top five contenders for the FIFA World Cup 2022 title

<p>The FIFA World Cup 2022 edition is set to get underway on November 20 in Qatar. Ahead of the World Cup, a lot of updates from Qatar have made the headlines. On Thursday (November 17), a new development has come forward that Lionel Messi and his Argentina team mates have said no to five-star luxury and will lodge at student halls at the Qatar University, Doha. They have done so to enjoy the traditional beef barbecues during the showpiece event in the Middle East.</p>

<p>While players from other teams checked-in in city's expensive hotels, Messi and his teammates have headed straight to the student halls of the Qatar University, as per a report in Daily Mail. It is to be noted that the decision was taken after the Argentine football officials came to a conclusion that living in student halls will enable them to organise mouth-watering asados, traditional barbecues, etc. In addition, a&nbsp;special asado chef will be available for the players&nbsp;to ensure that beef and other preferred meals are cooked as it would be in Argentina.</p>

<p><strong>'We want to make them feel at home while they are in Qatar'</strong></p>

<p>In this regard, a source from the Argentina Football Association told Mail Online, "We visited the campus several times and chose it because not only does it have great facilities but it also has open air space for asados. This is very important to the players and Argentines in general, it’s part of our culture. We want to make them feel at home while they are in Qatar and the best way to do this is to make sure that they get a taste of home while focusing on the football."</p>

<p>He added: "You could say other teams have opted to stay in more luxurious accommodation but our team is the best in the world which also deserves the best beef. Our focus is to win the World Cup, not the quality of the hotel we are staying in."</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wait-what-female-fans-in-qatar-might-find-themselves-in-jail-if-not-dressed-properly-during-fifa-world-cup-534824">Wait, what? Female fans in Qatar might find themselves in jail if not dressed properly during FIFA World Cup</a></strong></p>

<p>Argentina will begin their campaign in the forthcoming Qatar World Cup versus Saudi Arabia on November 22 (Tuesday). They are placed in Group C along with Saudi Arabia, Mexico and Poland.&nbsp;</p>

<h2 id="argentina-world-cup-squad-0">Argentina World Cup 2022 Final Squad</h2>

<p>Emiliano Martinez, Franco Armani,&nbsp;Nahuel Molina,&nbsp;Gonzalo Montiel,&nbsp;German Pezzella,&nbsp;Nicolas Otamendi,&nbsp;Cristian Romero,&nbsp;Lisandro Martinez,&nbsp;Nicolas Tagliafico, Marcos Acuna, Juan Foyth,&nbsp;Guido Rodriguez, Rodrigo De Paul, Exequiel Palacios,&nbsp;Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernandez, Alejandro Gomez,&nbsp;Leandro Paredes,&nbsp;Lionel Messi (c),&nbsp; Nicolas Gonzalez, Lautaro Martinez, Paulo Dybala, Julian Alvarez, Joaquin Correa, Angel Di Maria</p>


The FIFA World Cup 2022 edition is set to get underway on November 20 in Qatar. Ahead of the World Cup, a lot of updates from Qatar have made the headlines. On Thursday (November 17), a new development has come forward that Lionel Messi and his Argentina team mates have said no to five-star luxury and will lodge at student halls at the Qatar University, Doha.

The FIFA World Cup 2022 edition is set to get underway on November 20 in Qatar. Ahead of the World Cup, a lot of updates from Qatar have made the headlines. On Thursday (November 17), a new development has come forward that Lionel Messi and his Argentina team mates have said no to five-star luxury and will lodge at student halls at the Qatar University, Doha. They have done so to enjoy the traditional beef barbecues during the showpiece event in the Middle East. While players from other teams checked-in in city's expensive hotels, Messi and his teammates have headed straight to the student halls of the Qatar University, as per a report in Daily Mail. It is to be noted that the decision was taken after the Argentine football officials came to a conclusion that living in student halls will enable them to organise mouth-watering asados, traditional barbecues, etc. In addition, a special asado chef will be available for the players to ensure that beef and other preferred meals are cooked as it would be in Argentina. 'We want to make them feel at home while they are in Qatar' In this regard, a source from the Argentina Football Association told Mail Online, "We visited the campus several times and chose it because not only does it have great facilities but it also has open air space for asados. This is very important to the players and Argentines in general, it’s part of our culture. We want to make them feel at home while they are in Qatar and the best way to do this is to make sure that they get a taste of home while focusing on the football." He added: "You could say other teams have opted to stay in more luxurious accommodation but our team is the best in the world which also deserves the best beef. Our focus is to win the World Cup, not the quality of the hotel we are staying in." Also read: Wait, what? Female fans in Qatar might find themselves in jail if not dressed properly during FIFA World Cup Argentina will begin their campaign in the forthcoming Qatar World Cup versus Saudi Arabia on November 22 (Tuesday). They are placed in Group C along with Saudi Arabia, Mexico and Poland. Argentina World Cup 2022 Final Squad Emiliano Martinez, Franco Armani, Nahuel Molina, Gonzalo Montiel, German Pezzella, Nicolas Otamendi, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martinez, Nicolas Tagliafico, Marcos Acuna, Juan Foyth, Guido Rodriguez, Rodrigo De Paul, Exequiel Palacios, Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernandez, Alejandro Gomez, Leandro Paredes, Lionel Messi (c), Nicolas Gonzalez, Lautaro Martinez, Paulo Dybala, Julian Alvarez, Joaquin Correa, Angel Di Maria

FIFA WC: Messi & Co. say no to five-star luxury for student halls to relish traditional beef barbecues

<p>Argentina will head into the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2022 as one of the major title contenders considering the quality and experience in their ranks. While Lionel Messi will be looking to bow out with the elusive trophy in what is certain to be his last World Cup, Argentina also have the likes of Angel Di Maria, Lautaro Martinez and Paulo Dybala, and Lisandro Martinez among others in their squad making them one of the favourites.</p>

<p>Messi will once again spearhead Argentina's charge at the World Cup and will be hoping to clinch his second major international trophy after winning the Copa America last year to bag his maiden international title. While Argentina will head into the competition as one of the favourites, Messi believes the likes of France and Brazil will be top contenders for the title.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/there-are-consequences-erik-ten-hag-confirms-cristiano-ronaldo-refused-to-come-on-as-a-sub-against-spurs-527429">'There are consequences': Erik Ten Hag confirms Cristiano Ronaldo refused to come on as a sub against Spurs</a></p>

<p>Messi was recently asked to name his favourites for the showpiece event in Qatar. While he believes the likes of England and Spain will also be favourites, the Argentinian put his money on Brazil and defending champions France.</p>

<p>"There are big teams like Brazil, Germany, France, England, Spain, and I'm sure I'm forgetting some. But if I have to keep one or two, today I think Brazil and France are the two big candidates for this World Cup," said the Argentina maestro.</p>

<p>Explaining why he believes France and Brazil are top title contenders, Messi said both teams have a clear style of play and have the same coach for a long time now. Interestingly, Argentina defeated Brazil in the final of Copa America last year to win the trophy.</p>

<p>"They've had the same group (of players) for a long time, working well. France, aside from the last Euros when they were eliminated (in the last 16) and did badly, they have some impressive players. They have a clear idea and the same coach (Didier Deschamps). Brazil is similar (with Tite in charge)," Messi added.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/kevin-pietersen-calls-man-utd-manager-erik-ten-hag-a-clown-for-disprespecting-cristiano-ronaldo-527594">Kevin Pietersen calls Man Utd manager Erik Ten Hag a 'clown' for 'disrespecting' Cristiano Ronaldo</a></p>

<p>Both Brazil and France have the strongest squads on paper and will arguably start as favourites in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2022. While Brazil are in Group G with Serbia, Switzerland and Cameroon, defending champions France are part of Group D with Australia, Tunisia and Denmark.<br />
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Argentina will head into the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2022 as one of the major title contenders considering the quality and experience in their ranks. While Lionel Messi will be looking to bow out with the elusive trophy in what is certain to be his last World Cup, Argentina also have the likes of Angel Di Maria, Lautaro Martinez and Paulo Dybala, and Lisandro Martinez among others in their squad making them one of the favourites.

Argentina will head into the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2022 as one of the major title contenders considering the quality and experience in their ranks. While Lionel Messi will be looking to bow out with the elusive trophy in what is certain to be his last World Cup, Argentina also have the likes of Angel Di Maria, Lautaro Martinez and Paulo Dybala, and Lisandro Martinez among others in their squad making them one of the favourites. Messi will once again spearhead Argentina's charge at the World Cup and will be hoping to clinch his second major international trophy after winning the Copa America last year to bag his maiden international title. While Argentina will head into the competition as one of the favourites, Messi believes the likes of France and Brazil will be top contenders for the title. Also Read: 'There are consequences': Erik Ten Hag confirms Cristiano Ronaldo refused to come on as a sub against Spurs Messi was recently asked to name his favourites for the showpiece event in Qatar. While he believes the likes of England and Spain will also be favourites, the Argentinian put his money on Brazil and defending champions France. "There are big teams like Brazil, Germany, France, England, Spain, and I'm sure I'm forgetting some. But if I have to keep one or two, today I think Brazil and France are the two big candidates for this World Cup," said the Argentina maestro. Explaining why he believes France and Brazil are top title contenders, Messi said both teams have a clear style of play and have the same coach for a long time now. Interestingly, Argentina defeated Brazil in the final of Copa America last year to win the trophy. "They've had the same group (of players) for a long time, working well. France, aside from the last Euros when they were eliminated (in the last 16) and did badly, they have some impressive players. They have a clear idea and the same coach (Didier Deschamps). Brazil is similar (with Tite in charge)," Messi added. Also Read: Kevin Pietersen calls Man Utd manager Erik Ten Hag a 'clown' for 'disrespecting' Cristiano Ronaldo Both Brazil and France have the strongest squads on paper and will arguably start as favourites in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2022. While Brazil are in Group G with Serbia, Switzerland and Cameroon, defending champions France are part of Group D with Australia, Tunisia and Denmark.

Argentina captain Lionel Messi picks his title favourites for FIFA World Cup 2022

<p>The FIFA World Cup is set to kick off next month, on November 20, in Qatar. It is to be noted that&nbsp;Qatar will be the first Arab state to host the World Cup and, hence, the excitement of the football fans knows no boundaries. Ahead of the mega event's commencement, Argentina captain Lionel Messi picked his favourites and has not named his own side.</p>

<p>Messi, who&nbsp;has announced that he will be playing his World Cup, will be eager to take his side to the coveted title in Qatar. However, when asked to pick his favourites, the 35-year-old has named Neymar-starrer Brazil and France as the two of the strongest contenders.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We always say the same great teams... but, if I have to choose, Brazil and France are the two great candidates to win the World Cup. They've had the same group (of players) for a long time, working well," Messi said during an interview with DirectTV Sports.</p>

<section><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/lionel-messi-to-cristiano-ronaldo-football-superstars-with-most-ballon-dor-awards-526509">Lionel Messi to Cristiano Ronaldo: Football superstars with most Ballon d'Or awards</a></strong>

<p>"France, aside from the last Euros when they were eliminated (in the last 16) and did badly, they have some impressive players. They have a clear idea and the same coach (Didier Deschamps). Brazil is a bit the same (under Tite)," he added.</p>

<p>Talking about Argentina, the Messi-starrer have also been in good form in the recent past. They are heading into the marquee tournament with an unbeaten streak of 35 games (since 2019). In fact, they are just two more matches away to surpass Italy's tally&nbsp;to remain unbeaten for the most number of matches.</p>

<p>In last year, Messi-led Argentina had won the Copa America, beating Brazil to clinch the continental trophy. Hence, Messi &amp; Co. also have the winning momentum under their belt and will look to go the distance this time around in the World Cup. In last edition of the World Cup, Argentina had lost to eventual winners France, 4-3, to bow out in the Round of 16.</p>
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The FIFA World Cup is set to kick off next month, on November 20, in Qatar. It is to be noted that Qatar will be the first Arab state to host the World Cup and, hence, the excitement of the football fans knows no boundaries.

The FIFA World Cup is set to kick off next month, on November 20, in Qatar. It is to be noted that Qatar will be the first Arab state to host the World Cup and, hence, the excitement of the football fans knows no boundaries. Ahead of the mega event's commencement, Argentina captain Lionel Messi picked his favourites and has not named his own side. Messi, who has announced that he will be playing his World Cup, will be eager to take his side to the coveted title in Qatar. However, when asked to pick his favourites, the 35-year-old has named Neymar-starrer Brazil and France as the two of the strongest contenders. "We always say the same great teams... but, if I have to choose, Brazil and France are the two great candidates to win the World Cup. They've had the same group (of players) for a long time, working well," Messi said during an interview with DirectTV Sports. ALSO READ | Lionel Messi to Cristiano Ronaldo: Football superstars with most Ballon d'Or awards "France, aside from the last Euros when they were eliminated (in the last 16) and did badly, they have some impressive players. They have a clear idea and the same coach (Didier Deschamps). Brazil is a bit the same (under Tite)," he added. Talking about Argentina, the Messi-starrer have also been in good form in the recent past. They are heading into the marquee tournament with an unbeaten streak of 35 games (since 2019). In fact, they are just two more matches away to surpass Italy's tally to remain unbeaten for the most number of matches. In last year, Messi-led Argentina had won the Copa America, beating Brazil to clinch the continental trophy. Hence, Messi & Co. also have the winning momentum under their belt and will look to go the distance this time around in the World Cup. In last edition of the World Cup, Argentina had lost to eventual winners France, 4-3, to bow out in the Round of 16.

FIFA World Cup: Not Argentina! Lionel Messi names his favourites for showpiece event in Qatar

<p>Argentine forward Gonzalo Higuain said his "dream is over" after he brought the curtain down on his trophy-laden career following Inter Miami's 3-0 defeat to New York City FC in the Major League Soccer playoffs.</p>

<p>Higuain, who announced his decision to retire earlier this month, was unable to sign off with a trophy after failing to inspire Miami to victory at Citi Field.</p>

<p>Following the final whistle, a tearful Higuain stood hunched over in silence for several minutes.</p>

<p>"I felt like what I had loved the most as a job had ended. It was half my life, my career, 17-and-a-half years," Higuain told reporters on Monday.</p>

<p>"Images from my entire career came to my mind. What I lived, what I worked, what I experienced and I'm leaving very happy because I gave it all until today. That's the most important thing...</p>

<p>"The dream is over and another life begins."</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/real-madrids-karim-benzema-wins-ballon-dor-2022-here-is-complete-list-of-winners-from-awards-ceremony-526324">Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema wins Ballon d’Or 2022: Here is complete list of winners from awards ceremony</a></p>

<p>Higuain began his career at River Plate before making a name for himself at Real Madrid, Napoli and Juventus, moving to Inter Miami in 2020. He scored over 300 goals in his club career and 31 times for Argentina.</p>

<p>The 34-year-old, who won three LaLiga titles with Madrid and three Serie A crowns during his time at Juventus, said that his biggest achievement was being known as a "good person" throughout his career.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/man-unitedn-striker-mason-greenwood-remanded-in-custody-on-attempted-rape-charge-526217">Man United striker Mason Greenwood remanded in custody on attempted rape charge</a></p>

<p>He added that he was interested in working in the "mental coaching" side of the sport.</p>

<p>"It is the most important part of the game," Higuain said. "You can have all the skill and all the talent but if you aren't right mentally, it doesn't count for much."</p>


Argentine forward Gonzalo Higuain said his "dream is over" after he brought the curtain down on his trophy-laden career following Inter Miami's 3-0 defeat to New York City FC in the Major League Soccer playoffs.

Argentine forward Gonzalo Higuain said his "dream is over" after he brought the curtain down on his trophy-laden career following Inter Miami's 3-0 defeat to New York City FC in the Major League Soccer playoffs. Higuain, who announced his decision to retire earlier this month, was unable to sign off with a trophy after failing to inspire Miami to victory at Citi Field. Following the final whistle, a tearful Higuain stood hunched over in silence for several minutes. "I felt like what I had loved the most as a job had ended. It was half my life, my career, 17-and-a-half years," Higuain told reporters on Monday. "Images from my entire career came to my mind. What I lived, what I worked, what I experienced and I'm leaving very happy because I gave it all until today. That's the most important thing... "The dream is over and another life begins." Also Read: Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema wins Ballon d’Or 2022: Here is complete list of winners from awards ceremony Higuain began his career at River Plate before making a name for himself at Real Madrid, Napoli and Juventus, moving to Inter Miami in 2020. He scored over 300 goals in his club career and 31 times for Argentina. The 34-year-old, who won three LaLiga titles with Madrid and three Serie A crowns during his time at Juventus, said that his biggest achievement was being known as a "good person" throughout his career. Also Read: Man United striker Mason Greenwood remanded in custody on attempted rape charge He added that he was interested in working in the "mental coaching" side of the sport. "It is the most important part of the game," Higuain said. "You can have all the skill and all the talent but if you aren't right mentally, it doesn't count for much."

Gonzalo Higuain's 'dream is over' as Argentine brings curtain down on football career