Phillip Albert commented on the World Cup final between Argentina and France. A meeting at “absolutely amazing suspense till the end“. The former Red Devil lived several hundred matches as a consultant. This one will remain in his memory. “On an emotional level, I also have to bring out Belgium-Japan in 2018. But here it is a final. What we experienced tonight, we have to pinch ourselves because we were there. We are not likely to have such an intense and suspenseful final anytime soon.“.
“The Argentinians had negotiated this meeting rather well, the French not too much“, rewinds Albert at the microphone of Vincent Langendries. “Deschamps did not hesitate. Removing two players in the fortieth in the World Cup final, there are not many coaches who can afford it. He did. There were changes in the second half that helped a lot. And then ten minutes of madness with this return of the French in the meeting. This led us to dantesque extensions. It could have gone either way. Messi restore the advantage. Mbappe equalizes. There is Mbappé’s hat-trick, which comes out the loser in this final. Personally, it must be very difficult for him. And then there is this penalty shootout where the Argentines are masters in the matter. And it is ultimately Messi who lifts the trophy. It’s the icing on the cake of a career that started 17 or 18 years ago.“.
In this completely crazy match “there were several turns”, according to our consultant. “There have been contentious phases on both sides. The fact that France come back to the score after this error of judgment ofOtamendi, it could have been very expensive. Luckily for him, Argentina won on penalties. But the way Argentina got France back on track defensively was still quite worrying.”.
Lionel Messi was voted player of the tournament, a title that is indisputable. “There is no photo. He shone and was decisive in every encounter. What he has done in this tournament at 35 is incredible“.
Kylian Mbappe also left his mark on this tournament even if he “had ups and downs.” “He finished top scorer with that fantastic hat-trick in the final. But he suffered in some matches. But he is a player who, even when he is average, manages to pull off something exceptional on the offensive level. He proved it again by having strong nerves during two penalties. And his equalizing goal is simply exceptional. He is extraordinary and he will still win a lot of trophies“, he concludes.
