Slides up and down. Crying and screaming Chants, lots of emotion. Hugs wrong and right. Transformed the last penalty, the sensations were mixed on the grass of the Lusail stadium. The winners, euphoric. The defeated, dejected. Argentina wins a World Cup again and it does so after surviving an exciting, vibrant final that needed extra time and also penalties. “Despite everything that has been seen during this tournament, we faced the final with great calmness. But I’ve said it before, if there’s no suffering, it’s not worth it. And we had to suffer a little more than the rest of the days.” This is how Nicolás Tagliafico, Argentine defender, exclaimed on his country’s public television. “I dedicate this victory to all the people who have supported our national team for years. We hope that what we have done will serve as an example so that we can stay on top in the future. When we’re together, we’re much better.”
Paulo Dybala, Roma striker and in charge of converting one of the penalties in the decisive shootout, also spoke. “This match will go down in history forever. It’s been incredible. Now we really want to celebrate it with our people, at home».
He was joined by Dibu Martínez, goalkeeper and one of the protagonists of the night. “We had it under control and two crappy shots tied the game. We said back in the day that our destiny was to suffer and so it has been. We make it 3-2, another penalty and they mark us. We almost got two in a row, but thanks to God I was able to get my foot out.” “We were born to suffer and I’m sure we will suffer all our lives,” added Rodrigo de Paul.
Lionel Scaloni, the selector, took longer to have his say. “We have not yet realized what has happened. We must enjoy every moment. We are used to getting hit but it finally ended well. We reacted and managed to stay firm. It’s a unique moment.”
