In the last episode of the World Cup edition of De Tribune, Peter Vandenbempt and Tom Boudeweel also close their tournament. “Not the very best” World Cup still had a spectacular ending: “In terms of experience, in terms of quality of top players, in terms of crazy scenario, this is by far the best World Cup final I’ve seen”, the commentators of the final judge in unison.
Leading role for the national coaches
“Everyone is talking about that blistering final, but that wasn’t the first 80 minutes. Who would have thought that the match would explode like this”, radioman Tom Boudeweel gave the impetus to discuss the crazy final in De WK-Tribune.
“In the end, Deschamps’ substitution helped. You just have to do it, take off 2 attackers after 40 minutes and bring 2 young slingers into the team.”
The way in which Deschamps has coached his team again in the game is punishment. Cheers, Didier!
Peter Vandenbempt, who commented on TV, agrees: “The way in which Deschamps – although the effect had some delay – still coached his team in the game, has been punished again.”
“If you look at the last quarter century, France has played 6 grand finals, 5 of them with Didier Deschamps, while he was seen as a bit of a loser.”
“For example, Eric Cantona once demoted him to water carrier in a metaphorical article about football players compared to wine sommeliers.”
“The way he dealt with all those setbacks here. I know a national coach who has been working with the same group for 6 years, who complains because he thought a week of preparation was too short. What should Deschamps, who saw up to 8 titles drop out, say? Cheers to Didier!”
I thought Di Maria was the tactical move. Argentina could always count on him.
The national coach who was in the other dugout also received congratulations for his tactical choices: “Scaloni opted for an attacking team against all odds.”
“I thought Di Maria was the tactical move,” says Boudeweel. “Argentina could always count on him.”
Vandenbempt agrees again: “For him, this was not just a football match, if you see those emotions bubbling up. He wanted to shine and then such a match can bring that out in someone.”
“He was posted on the left by Scaloni, because he didn’t have a direct opponent. On the right, they closed every passage for Mbappé, with Molina and De Paul in double cover.”
“And Argentina’s midfield benefited from the defeat against Saudi Arabia. The first 35 minutes of the whole squad were impressive”
“Best World Cup Final Ever”
Everything led to a historic final, also for our commentators: “In terms of experience, in terms of quality of top players, in terms of crazy scenario, this is by far the best World Cup final I’ve seen,” says Vandenbempt.
“She even comes close to the top 3 of the toughest matches that I have already commented on. Also precisely because it is the final of a World Cup.”
The greats have risen.
“The greats have risen. One 3 goals, the other 2. Penalties. Twice you thought: Argentina world champion, twice the French come back.”
The sense of responsibility of the young Mbappé
And so Vandenbempt and Boudeweel ended up with the two protagonists of the tournament: “Actually, Mbappé was not in the game”, the first concludes.
“But how he still takes his responsibility for a boy of 23 by taking 3 penalties against a specialist and kicking them in every time is clever.”
“Knowing that he was still ahead of Jut against Switzerland at the European Championship a year and a half ago, because he had missed the decisive penalty kick and the French were out.”
“Mbappé may have received the top scorer’s trophy, but he would have preferred to hit everyone with it. He certainly didn’t want a hug from Macron.”
“What a poser Macron was. He just kept pulling everyone against him, like a sloppy uncle at a wedding party, who just doesn’t want to let go and wants to blow everything in your ear while he’s already had way too much to drink.”
“Also that Messi has to put on that robe: that’s a moment when I hope the electricity goes out. That made no sense. You also saw Messi thinking: what is all this here.”
Opponents of this World Cup see their worst nightmare come true: Messi who is world champion will forever be linked to Qatar.
And so there is also a reflection on the bitter aftertaste that the World Cup entails.
“People who thought that this World Cup should never have taken place in Qatar, I agree – have seen their worst nightmare come true: this World Cup, this final and then Messi who is world champion will forever be linked to Qatar . This World Cup will never be forgotten.”
“Not the very best World Cup, but still rich in stories”
The World Cup has already been labeled as “not the very best”: “Because of the lack of top posters and because of the concrete football that seemed to get away from the frivolous game”, says Tom Boudeweel.
“The reason you watch a World Cup is to see top players at work in Germany, Spain, Brazil or Portugal. The fact that the moment footballers such as Modric and Messi shine again despite their age may also say something.”
“Yet we also received a lot at the same time. Stories and discoveries”, Vandenbempt continues.
“The Moroccans who turned out to be able to play football very well, the Japanese who took steps, Saudi Arabia who played attractively. It was remarkable that in many groups the denouement remained exciting until the last day of play.”
“And if you have such a match as an apotheosis. With so many emotions in the extra time, which is normal to look at the clock. With 2 goals and chances in the final seconds. Anyone could still become world champion. All in all, it is therefore certain no setback.”
Messi the greatest? “Let the discussion continue”
Messi world champion = Messi the greatest? “For me, the discussion can go on, otherwise the fun is over,” says Vandenbempt.
But I did wonder: where would Cristiano Ronaldo have been?
“But I did wonder where Cristiano Ronaldo would have been? Would he have looked? Would he have supported the French? Would he have eaten up his cash?”
“The contrast between the two greatest of the past 15 years was enormous. One crying through the back door to the exit and the other now on top of the world.”
