A year ago today, the Blues lost in the World Cup final against Argentina. At the end of a most cruel scenario.
On December 18, 2022, the French team narrowly missed its third star, beaten in Doha in the World Cup final by Argentina, after a crazy match and at the end of a nightmarish penalty shootout. (3-3, 4 tab to 2). Despite Kylian Mbappé’s hat-trick that day, Lionel Messi’s Albiceleste had the last word, rather successful as in the entire competition when it lacked a hint of amplitude in Randal Kolo Muani’s strike , for example, to snatch the supreme title in added time during extra time.
At the time, the incredible scenario of this final may have provoked numerous reactions, such as the provocative attitude of the Argentine world champions afterwards. One of the most virulent criticisms, however, did not come from France but from Brazil – certainly the biggest rival of the selection in the sky and white jersey: “ The Argentinians stole France! It’s too muchsaid the 1970 Auriver world champion, Paulo César. There is no penalty on Di Maria and the last goal is offside… »
The pain of Deschamps
These few contentious actions, among others, had certainly left a bitter taste in Didier Deschamps: “ I’ll be careful what I sayhad whispered the French coach at a press conference. He was as he was, he could have been worse, he could have been better. Yes, there are decisions that can lead to discussion. Before this match, I said that Argentina had not been unhappy. I’m not going to say the opposite after the match. But I certainly don’t want to take away their merit and their title. »
Very recently, the same Didier Deschamps confided to the Parisian his greatest disillusionment at the head of the Blues, bruised more by the dramaturgy of the Euro 2016 final – lost in overtime to Portugal – than by the Qatari disappointment. “ The degree of pain is the same but it took longer to digest. A world champion title is worth more than a European champion title. But in 2016, it was in France… I changed much more quickly after the defeat against Argentina. It must be the experience, the experience. We put things into perspective. »
