Lionel Messi’s fourth World Cup ended in bitter, frustrating and all-too-familiar defeat on Saturday, with Argentina tumbling out of the tournament with a 4-2 loss to a suddenly impressive France.
Messi departs after a frustrating tournament in which Argentina only barely escaped a humiliating elimination in the group stage. But it ended as all his major tournaments with Argentina’s senior national team: without a trophy, and while carrying the burden of a team defeat on his slight shoulders. At 31, he may choose to make this his last World Cup.
For a few minutes in the second half, it almost seemed as if Argentina’s troubled trip at this World Cup might be extended. Angel Di Maria scored a gorgeous long-range goal just before halftime, and then Gabriel Mercado turned in a low shot by Messi three minutes into the second half for a 2-1 lead.
But France was simply too good. The teenage forward Kylian Mbappé won a penalty in the first half with a three-quarter-field run, and then scored two goals of his own four minutes apart to stick in the knife on Argentina.
#FRA WIN! #FRAARG // #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/zejq1TCOxw
— FIFA World Cup 🆠(@FIFAWorldCup) June 30, 2018
#FRA #FRA #FRA
— FIFA World Cup 🆠(@FIFAWorldCup) June 30, 2018
We have our first quarter-finalists! #FRAARG pic.twitter.com/zcc3nDcc0l
Share This Post
