A petition calling for a replay of the 2022 World Cup final has attracted over 200,000 signatures following Argentina’s penalty shootout win over France last Sunday.
Lionel Messi finally got the job done and can now boast having won everything while playing at the highest level. However, many French nationals would not have it so and are looking to have Messi play yet another match to become a World Cup winner.
French website MesOpinions is calling for a replay with claims the Argentines were wrongfully awarded the penalty that broke the deadlock in the first half. Messi would put Argentina up 1-0 after Ousmane Dembele was adjudged to have brought Angel Di Maria down in the France penalty area. There is a strong argument to be made as replays show otherwise.
It’s also been pointed out that Kylian Mbappe was fouled during the buildup to Argentina’s second goal, which was scored by Di Maria.
LUSAIL CITY, QATAR – DECEMBER 18: Kylian Mbappe of France celebrates after scoring the team’s third goal walking past Lionel Messi of Argentina during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Final match between Argentina and France at Lusail Stadium on December 18, 2022 in Lusail City, Qatar. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)
France Fought Valiantly
France would storm back to tie things up at 2-2, with Mbappe scoring twice within 90 seconds to bring his nation back level in the second half. Messi scored a second time to hand Argentina the lead in extra time but France would draw level yet again, sending the contest to penalties.
Unfortunately, Kingsley Coman and Aurelien Tchouameni both missed in the shootout, while Argentina was perfect from the spot.
MAKE IT HAPPEN!https://t.co/XlwI8Kz1OW
— TPS (@TotalProSports) December 15, 2022
Of course, there’s no chance the World Cup final will be replayed. If such things carried any weight, France might not have even made it to the final as Morocco had reasonable gripes of their own and officially demanded a rematch from FIFA after they were ousted in the semis.
