December 18, 2022 marked the end of the 2022 edition of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar which rallied 32 national teams from across every continent with South America ending on top of the world.
Qatar holds the record of the most expensive FIFA world cup Jamboree, worth $300 billion with an overall attendance of over 760,000 people. They succeeded to out-perform South Africa (12 years later), as South Africa’s organization in 2010, stood out for these years, before Qatar’s.
In terms of hospitality and luxury, Qatar has raised the bar so high and their organization will undeniably give the next hosts (USA, Canada, and Mexico) in 2026, a big bucket to fill.
It’s been exactly one month since we watched the first game between the hosts – Qatar and Ecuador. This game ended 2:0 in favor of the South American side, to the detriment of Qatar, who were making their debut in the tournament, courtesy of their automatic qualification as hosts.
In the same group, The Netherlands faced off against African Cup of Nations champions, Senegal. Aliou Cissé’s side lost 2:0 to Louis Van Gaal’s side. Qatar and Ecuador would exit the group, making room for Senegal and Holland to proceed to the next stage.
World Cup favorites, Argentina, however faced the shock of their lives when group underdogs Saudi Arabia they were surprised them as Saudi Arabia came from behind to beat Argentina, and would fail to make it out of the group stages despite being on high hopes. Argentina and Poland would make it out of the group as Mexico and Saudi Arabia were sent packing.
Germany and Spain were trapped in a ‘group of death’ alongside Japan and Costa Rica. Japan was in the form of their life as they shocked the world by beating Spain and Germany to advance to the knockout stages. Germany who had a terrible World Cup experience in 2018 were looking to make amends, however Spain and Japan would progress to the knockout stages as Germany and Costa Rica went home. Spain would be eliminated by a mille by Africa’s best team so far at the 2022 World Cup, Morocco, while Japan was sent to the trenches by World Cup 2018 finalists, Croatia.
Defending champion, France, were against history. “Les Bleus” went past the group stages, being the first defending champions to do so in over 20 years. Though they lost to Tunisia on the last day, they sampled Australia and Denmark to advance to the next stages. They advanced with Australia who would be eliminated by Argentina 2:1 in the Round of 16. Meanwhile, Denmark faced a disappointing exit as they made way with Tunisia.
Morocco came into the competition looking fit and ready and backed their prospects by emerging top of their group to the detriment of Belgium, Croatia and Canada. While Canada got their first goals in the competition and the only team to score against Morocco in the group stages, they however left the group with Belgium’s golden generation, who were labelled “old” by Kevin De Bruyne! Roberto Martinez who’d been in charge of the Belgian side would resign immediately after the team’s disappointing exit.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal and Son Hiung Min’s South Korea advanced to the knockout stages while Ghana and Uruguay exited the competition.
Cameroon and Serbia made way for Brazil and Switzerland in an entertaining group. Brazil who were tipped one of the favorites were extinct by Croatia in the Quarter Finals,in a penalty shootout, while Swtizerland were white-washed by Portugal in the knockout stages by 6:1, though Morocco would exit Portugal to become the only African side to reach the semis of the competition!
The semifinals would harbor Argentina versus Croatia and France versus Morocco. After sending home teams like Germany, Spain, and Portugal, Morocco would finally succumb to France in the semifinals, while Argentina axed 2018 finalists, Croatia to make it to their second finals in eight years!
THE FINALS – “THE MESSI VS MBAPPE SHOW”
PSG Teammates: Messi and Mbappé, went into the finals of the 2022 world cup with high hopes, with both leveled on goals (5 each)
Messi and Argentina were FIFA’S favorites to lift the competition before it even begun, and Argentina didn’t disappoint. Since that loss against Saudi Arabia on day one of their title chase, they became completely a different side with much intent and aspiration.
They shauned and outplayed France in the first half of the finals with Messi putting “La Albicelete” 1:0 from the spot after Dembelé’s weak foul on Dimaria in the French box.
Messi’s brilliant pass to Julian Alvarez outwide, set up Mac Allister who was quick enough to put the ball on a platter for a selfless Di Mariá, who didn’t fail to make it 2:0 for Argentina who went into the break in that respect.
France who’d made two surprising changes in the first Half, were outplayed all round, didn’t manage any shots on target till the 80th minute where they pulled the biggest comebacks of the competition, scoring two Late goals through Mbappe, to take it to extra time!
Messi and Argentina thought they’d won it in extra time when the little man got his 7th of the competition after a brilliant save from Hugo Lloris. Mbappe again scored from the penalty spot to draw Les Bleus level, but a late Save from Emilinao Martinez to keep out Polomuani was the difference as both sides headed into penalties!
Argentina proved their readiness with E. Martinez in goal who save Koman’s penalty and watched Tchuamini’s penalty go all wide, to give Argentina their third World Cup trophy in thirty-six and a half years!
Despite Mbappé ‘s resistance and resilience, Argentina’s teamwork paid-off and it’s but right to say they deserved their win! Even though Mbappé won the golden boot, Lionel Messi emerged Player of the tournament, while E.Martinez unarguably won goalkeeper of the tournament.
As it stands, Qatar organized not only the most expensive tournament but the most interesting so far… no wonder FIFA President Gianni Infantino said “The best tournament ever”.
2022 World Cup winners Argentina walked home with $42 million, while runners-up France grapped $30 million. The most in the competition’s history. In 2018, France walked home with $38 million, while Croatia received $28 million.
The upcoming 2026 World Cup will be the largest competition in the history of FIFA’s tournament, as it will host up to 48 teams and FIFA looks to make $11 billion as opposed to $7 billion this term.
