Argentina took the 2022 final, the tournament that pits the UEFA champion against the South American champion in a single match, a match played this Wednesday night at Wembley Stadium and which celebrated its third edition after those won by France in 1985 and the Argentina itself in 1993.
The albiceleste had fewer problems than expected to prevail, although Italy was missing important players such as Chiesa, Insigne or Verratti. The albiceleste sentenced already in the first part with goals from Lautaro Martínez in minute 29 to a pass from Messi and Di María with great assistance from Lautaro in the added. The 0-3 came already in the extension of the second half in a lost ball by Messi and an unappealable shot by Dybala, just out.
For Italy, beating Argentina was a way to cleanse their honor after not qualifying for the World Cup in Qatar, the second consecutive World Cup they have lost, a disgrace for calcium. It was also Chiellini's farewell, in what coach Roberto Mancini described as the end of the century. The match was so bad for Italy that the coach replaced the veteran defender at half-time, depriving Chiellini of the applause of the crowd in a well-deserved tribute.
Argentina, led by Leo Messi, and who had his best man in Di María, also sought to pay tribute to Diego Maradona, who died on November 25, 2020. Lionel Scaloni's albiceleste had finally vindicated himself last summer after winning the Copa América in Brazil after 28 years and seven lost finals.
At Wembley Scaloni left out Paulo Dybala and played the start with Lo Celso. It was at all times a powerful team that managed the tempo of the match at will against an Italy that disappointed. I hardly created any danger in the whole match and was soft on defense.
In the second half, Donnarumma avoided further punishment and denied Messi, his PSG teammate, the goal up to three times. Messi did not play an excellent game, but he went from less to more. He was seen to be well attuned with Di María and Lautaro. Argentina will be a priori one of the favorites for the World Cup.
Italy also had no presence in the second half despite the many changes of Mancini. When the game was dying and Argentina insistently attacked the albiceleste found the 0-3 that rounded off their good game after a drive by Messi and an opportunistic shot by Dybala. If Italy were looking to vindicate themselves, the night only deepened their problems.
