Qatar 2022 World Cup Analysis

This year's World Cup has already been a spectacle, with steamrolls, upsets, dramatic goals, penalty kicks, pelvic contusions, tears of joy, tears of devastation, and mere millimeters of shoulder and football match isolating elimination and ecstasy. And that was just the preliminary round.

EACH STAGE

Then there were eight of them. After four dozen group matches and eight eliminators, Qatar 2022 now had its full complement of quarter-finalists. To jubilant roars from his ecstatic teammates, fans, and fellow countrymen, he triumphantly hoisted what is arguably the most iconic trophy in world sport skywards through a deluge of ticker-tape.

Morroco aced the tournament representing Africa in the best possible way, almost reaching the third place. Croatia on the other hand, almost reached the final till they got stopped by Argentina[s Lio Messi.

France was unstoppable as per usual, Kylian Mbappe stunned everyone not only with his football skills but with statements, he refused to be seen/photographed with fizzy drinks/alcoholic beverages in order to be a role model for kids around the world.

THE WORLD CHAMPIONS

Argentina won the World Cup for the first time since 1986 this evening in Qatar, thanks to a thrilling penalty shootout victory over France. The champions of America are now champions of the world!

One of the greatest World Cup finals in history went to penalties after France staged an incredible late comeback to force extra time, which then threw up even more drama before the shootout decided it.

Argentina's unlikely hero was Gonzalo Montiel, who slotted the winning penalty kick after Emiliano Martinez had earlier saved from Kingsley Coman and contributed to Aurelien Tchouameni's costly miss.

Argentina took the lead in the first half with a record-breaking penalty goal from Lionel Messi, before Angel Di Maria completed a stunning team move to give the dominant South Americans a deserved two-goal lead.

An out-of-sorts France offered little in reply, becoming the first team to fail to have a single shot or touch in the opposition area during the first half of a World Cup final, while Didier Deschamps hauled off Olivier Giroud and Ousmane Dembele before half time.

Indeed, it was not until the 80th minute that the defending champions had their first shot on target of the contest, and that sparked an incredible comeback.

Kylian Mbappe, who had barely had a kick to that point, slotted home from the penalty spot after Nicolas Otamendi had brought down Randal Kolo Muani inside the area, and just 97 seconds later France were sensationally level.

The Paris Saint-Germain star volleyed a stunning goal into the far corner after a swift one-two with Marcus Thuram, ultimately forcing extra time despite Messi having one final effort in the 97th minute.

Messi did score his second goal of the game in the second half of extra time, scrambling the ball over the line, but his PSG teammate Mbappe was not to be denied and amazingly equalised again from the spot seven minutes later, becoming only the second man after Geoff Hurst to do so.