After assuring in a post that it was "such an honor to represent our country," he said that after a year in office the economy is "BOOMING." "Costs are coming way down," he maintained and noted that his "goal" is "affordability."

Trump accompanied that message on his Truth Social profile with several election videos:

In a series of several videos speaking in front of a lectern bearing the presidential seal, the Republican highlighted winning "all seven swing states" as well as the popular vote. "All 50 states swifted towards the Republican Party," he assured, "first time that's ever happened." He also imagined what would have happened if he lost:

"Another 20 million illegal would have crossed our borders over the past year, it would have been a disaster, your energy prices would be through the roof, inflation would be at 9, 10, 12, 15, 20%, who knows," he listed among others. "Thankfully we won."

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Trump, the Republican candidate with the most votes in history

Israel Duro

"It's really hard to believe but just think of it - one year ago we were still in the middle of a presidential campaign, can you believe that?" the president maintained in another video. "It seems like ten years have passed since that time since we've done so much, we have really done a lot."

"America's back, America's respected perhaps like never before. Our economy's roaring, our border is secure and our country is poised for greatness," he also said. "We are doing better than anyone ever thought possible and no president has ever come even close to doing what we've done in nine months."

Trump also echoed his presidential election victory at the American Business Forum in Miami, linking it to the election day this week in which Democrats were mostly victorious:

"On November 5th 2025 the American People reclaimed our Government, we restored our sovereignty... We lost a little of sovereignty last night in New York but we'll take care of it, don't worry."

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Sabrina Martin

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Agustina Blanco

"Promise made, promise kept"

The White House joined in the celebrations, as did the president both recalling the victory and focusing on actions taken since then.

"Happy anniversary to the Left's meltdown," they posted from the official account, "We're still CELEBRATING."

They also posted a list of "promises made, promises kept" in the ten months of the Trump Administration, including pledges to close the border, to carry out the "largest deportation operation in history," as well as reduce inflation, cut taxes and restore "peace through strength."

The entire cabinet joined the celebratory campaign, with the message "one year ago today." "One year ago today, the American people voted to take back their health," Health Secretary Kennedy Jr. wrote, asserting that during this time his as secretary they have been "delivering historic MAHA WINS."

For her part, Education Secretary Linda McMahon asserted that "one year ago," "the American people resoundingly chose to restore American greatness." "That starts with returning education to the states to empower students, teachers, and families — not DC bureaucrats."

"This past year, we’ve fought shoulder to shoulder for the people who feed, build, and sustain this nation," Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins posted, while her Energy peer Chris Wright argued that since then the "American spirit" had been "revived," and "energy dominance" was "indisputable."

"One year ago, @POTUS was charged with restoring our country's greatness," Secretary of State Marco Rubio maintained. "Since entering office, he's brokered eight peace deals and championed our America First values globally."

"Because of his leadership, we're no longer a laughingstock — we're the hottest country in the world," he added.

Bessent brings up the economic results

One of those who spoke at length was the Secretary of the Treasury, Scott Bessent.

The secretary asserted that from the very day of the presidential inauguration, "market pundits and so-called “experts” have continually attempted to undermine the Administration through negative rhetoric and fearmongering, pushing narratives like 'Sell America.'"

"And since that day, they have been dead wrong," he countered.

"Thanks to the One Big Beautiful Bill, tariff revenue, and lower inflation, the S&P 500 sits near all-time highs," he argued, adding that "the U.S. Treasury market’s total returns year to date are 6% (its best year since 2020 and the best of all developed bond markets this year)."

He also compared U.S. performance to that of other countries:

"The U.S. 10-year term premium is basically unchanged while term premiums in other bond markets are rising. Lower Treasury borrowing costs mean lower corporate borrowing costs, lower mortgage rates, and lower car payments for Americans. The U.S. Treasury market is the world’s deepest and most liquid market, and it shows."

Daytime air temperatures Monday are expected to be between 20 and 25 degrees Fahrenheit (about -6 and -3 degrees Celsius, respectively). At times the breeze could reach speeds of 20 to 30 miles per hour.

On that note, Monday is anticipated to be one of the coldest January 20s in Washington D.C. in recent decades. This is because, according to data collected between 1991 and 2020, the average maximum temperature for that date is 45°F, while the minimum is 30°F.

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Trump's popularity is at its highest point in his political career

Emmanuel Alejandro Rondón

The most recent similar temperature occurred during Barack Obama's inauguration in 2009 with a temperature of 28 °F.

"It's going to be very cold out there for any folks attending the inauguration," Eric Taylor, a forecaster for the National Weather Service in Sterling, Virginia, told Axios.

Meanwhile, Washington, D.C., is preparing to host at least 250,000 ticketed guests and thousands more on the National Mall for the ceremony, which takes place outdoors.

However, the cold is not limited to the nation's capital. A powerful cold snap, linked in part to the polar vortex, will cause temperatures next week to drop below the average for mid-January in several states.

According to WaPo, Biden is guarding against blaming Vice President Kamala Harris for the Democratic defeat, but is insisting privately that he could have won the election despite his very poor showing in last June's presidential debate and his sluggish performance in the polls.

Once Trump began to sweep the polls after the debate, Biden came under heavy pressure from top Democratic leaders, the party's biggest donors and the national media to withdraw his candidacy and give the Democratic Party a chance to reorganize and have a chance to beat the Republican nominee.

Finally, Biden withdrew on June 27 and, in an internal struggle of potential candidates, Vice President Harris ended up prevailing with Biden's support.

While Harris managed to have a honeymoon with the media and the polls, on Election Day she was soundly defeated by Trump and the Republicans, who achieved a majority in the House and Senate. Now Biden regrets dropping out of the presidential race.

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Biden admits pressure from Democrats influenced his decision to drop out of the race

Emmanuel Alejandro Rondón

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Pelosi told Biden privately that he doesn't stand a chance against Trump and that following through hurts the Democratic Party

Emmanuel Alejandro Rondón

According to WaPo, Biden has also acknowledged multiple mistakes, such as his poor performance in the presidential debate.

The Democratic president has also said privately that he regrets picking Merrick Garland as his attorney general.

According to Biden, Garland moved too slowly to prosecute Trump and, instead, his son, Hunter Biden, was prosecuted too aggressively by the Justice Department.

It surpasses even the 44% obtained by Republican George W. Bush in 2004. Ronald Reagan, for example, considered one of the best conservative presidents in history, earned just 37% of this group's vote in 1980 and at 34% in 1984.

There is no doubt that the Hispanic vote contributed to the resounding victory of the Republican candidate. But, in addition, it also changed the traditional voting behavior of this group in presidential elections. Latino voters showed that they definitively broke the chains that traditionally held their vote captive to the Democratic Party.

In emblematic states such as Texas, Trump reached a historic milestone by obtaining 55% of the Hispanic vote (a 28-point improvement over 2020). Bienvenido, an organization that promotes the Hispanic vote, detailed that these figures turned around traditionally Democratic strongholds in the Rio Grande Valley.

In addition, historically Democratic Texas counties such as Starr County (which has a 97% Hispanic population) drastically changed the direction of their vote, and Trump won by 16 points.

In Florida, Trump again made history by winning 58% of the state's Hispanic vote. The win in well-known Miami-Dade County marked the GOP's first presidential victory there since 1988.

"In Pennsylvania, Trump saw a 15-point increase in his Hispanic support, with notable gains in areas like Allentown and Hazleton, traditionally Democratic strongholds with significant Hispanic populations. This shift signals a key realignment in a critical swing state," Bienvenido noted.

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Hispanic vote definitely contributed to Trump's landslide victory

Williams Perdomo

In Arizona, Republicans continued to surge, and in Santa Cruz County, a predominantly Hispanic area that Biden won by 36 points in 2020, Trump cut that margin in half.

The results are an X-ray of the importance Hispanics place on issues such as the economy, security and family values. Hispanics have been shifting sides in defense of their priorities.

"As we celebrate this historic achievement, we recognize that this is only the beginning. Hispanic Americans across the country have delivered a powerful mandate, entrusting President Trump to fix a broken economy, secure our borders, and champion opportunity for all," Bienvenido said.

On the political front, the United States began 2022 with its sights set on the midterm elections on November 8. The Democratic Party wanted to maintain its majority in Congress, but the people decided otherwise. The Democrats lost their majority in the House of Representatives. In the Senate, the Republican Party managed to balance the number of seats. Incidentally, the defeat of the Democrats in the House brought about .

Joe Biden's first State of the Union Address to the House of Representatives was also noteworthy. In it, the president emphasized Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which began a few days earlier.

Another political highlight was the return of Donald Trump, who announced his candidacy for the upcoming presidential election. He delivered his speech from his Mar-a-Lago home, which was the subject of an FBI raid in August looking for evidence of the former president's alleged involvement in the 2021 Capitol attack.

International elections, Ukraine

The midterm elections were not the only ones held throughout the world. There were also very important elections in Germany, Italy and France. In the first two cases, there was an ideological shift: the progressive politician Olaf Scholz won the German legislative elections, while Italians opted for the uncomplicated right-winged Giorgia Meloni. The French decided to reelect Emmanuel Macron.

Socialism reaped notable triumphs in Latin America. Lula da Silva and Gustavo Petro became presidents of Brazil and Colombia, respectively. In addition, Rodrigo Chaves became the new president of Costa Rica after winning in the second round.

If there was one event that had the whole world on edge, it was the Russian invasion of Ukraine. This war, which began in February, is not over yet, and an estimated 200,000 people have died, in addition to the millions of Ukrainians who had to flee their homes to escape the war. The latest development is that Russian President Vladimir Putin is willing to negotiate an end to the conflict. Also, the last leader of the USSR, Mikhail Gorbachev died in August at the age of 91.

Elizabeth II, a political crisis in the United Kingdom, corruption in the European Parliament

It was not an easy year for the United Kingdom. If there was one person who managed to unify the British people, regardless of ideology or thinking, it was Elizabeth II. The monarch died in early September at the age of 96, after seven decades on the throne, one of the longest in history. Three days before her death, the country witnessed a change of prime minister: Boris Johnson resigned and his position was taken over by Liz Truss. She spent less than two months in office.

Corruption splashed the European Parliament. Vice-president and socialist Eva Kaili, was arrested, along with other members of parliament, for her alleged involvement .

China and the scourge of communism and 'socialism of the 21st century'

Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan (August) increased tensions between the United States and China, whose president, was reelected as general secretary of the Communist Party and therefore the country's strongman. China was shaken by a great wave of protests by the draconian restrictions and measures implemented by the regime to combat the coronavirus.

North Korea conducted military operations with missile launches very close to Japan. In Nicaragua, Daniel Ortega's regime exercised relentless persecution against the Catholic Church, even calling several bishops "terrorists" and besieging them. As for the now-former Peruvian president Pedro Castillo, he was arrested for attempting a self-coup to perpetuate himself in power.

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Argentina's Cristina Fernández de Kirchner attracted attention in two specific moments of the year. The first was in September, when a man named Fernando Sabag Montiel tried to assassinate the current vice-president of Argentina, an incident that was surrounded by controversy. Three months later, she was sentenced to six years in prison after being found guilty of illicit association and fraudulent administration. However, her position (she is still the vice-president of the Southern Republic) protects her from spending time behind bars.

Abe assassination, Zawahiri elimination and attack on Salman Rushdie

On the other side of the Pacific Ocean, the former Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe was shot and killed while attending an election rally.

The Middle East also played a role. In the fight against Islamic terrorism, the CIA killed the Al Qaeda leader, Ayman al-Zawahiri, in a drone strike. On the other hand, the so-called Iranian morality police murdered Mahsa Amini, a young woman, for improperly wearing the hijab, triggering a wave of protests against the Islamist regime that resulted in more than 400 deaths.

British writer Salman Rushdie was attacked in New York as he was about to give a speech. Rushdie was taking the stage at the Chautauqua Institution, located in Chautauqua, near Lake Eire, when a man began punching and stabbing him. As a result of the attack, the writer lost his vision in one eye and mobility in one of his hands.

Inflation

This year, the country saw inflation levels that hadn't been seen in the last 40 years in the United States, reaching as high as 9.1%. This caused serious difficulties for both families and companies. Nevertheless, Biden, in one of his famously delusional outbursts, proclaimed, "The economy is strong as hell."

The economic crisis was noticeably reflected in the price of gasoline and oil and in the constant stock market crashes. In addition, the Federal Reserve raised interest rates to over 4%.

Elon Musk freed the bird

Big Tech has been a hot topic. Elon Musk shook up the industry by buying Twitter for $44 billion and claiming, "The bird is freed." It was a story that contained months of negotiations, bids, and even court proceedings.

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Another purchase that was executed was that of Activision Blizzard by Microsoft. Meta Platforms, Facebook's parent company experienced the biggest setback and lost around $700 billion in valuation. Apple also played a leading role. Earlier this year, the company founded by Steve Jobs became the first publicly traded company to surpass a market value in excess of $3 trillion.

Covid: an end to restrictions?

2022 was the year in which the U.S. registered more than one million deaths from Covid-19. The restrictions put in place to combat the virus faded out, although at the end of the year some of them were reinstated for travelers from China, where the pandemic continues to wreak havoc.

In August, the threat of a new pandemic loomed on the horizon. The United States declared a public health emergency due to monkeypox. Around 30,000 cases and 20 deaths were reported. The emergency declaration will expire in January and is not expected to be renewed due to the decrease in the number of infections.

Artemis I' and the birth of a new star

On November 16, NASA launched the rocket Artemis I to the Moon. The mission was successful on the third attempt. A few days before the end of 2021, NASA, together with the European Space Agency and the Canadian Space Agency launched the James Webb Space Telescope, which replaced Hubble and Spitzer. It is in orbit at a distance of 930,000 miles from Earth.

In October, the James Webb telescope captured high-definition images of the Pillars of Creation, and in November it captured the birth of a new star. Another space milestone achieved by NASA was impacting an asteroid with the DART probe, with the objective of deflecting it from its orbit.

'Fiona,' 'Ian,' 'Elliott,' Mauna Loa

Up to 16 tropical storms were recorded in the Atlantic Ocean. Hurricane season kicked off in early June with Alex, which affected Florida, Mexico, Cuba, Guatemala, Bermuda, and Belize. The hurricanes that caused the greatest devastation in the Atlantic area were Fiona, leaving 45 dead- and Ian, killing 158 civilians. In the Pacific, 19 typhoons were recorded.

After almost four decades of inactivity, erupted at the end of November. In Sicily (Italy), the Stromboli volcano entered an eruptive phase in early December, as did the Semeru mountain in Indonesia. Earlier this year, lava also erupted from the crater of Mount Hunga Tonga (Tonga). The Fuego Volcano (Guatemala) and the Villarrica Volcano (Chile) also erupted.

To conclude the chapter on catastrophes and meteorological phenomena, we closed the year with , which left at least 57 people dead. The most affected state was New York, with 31 fatalities. Elliott was the deadliest storm in NY history.

Abortion, censorship

Judicially, numerous cases have aroused enormous public interest due to their repercussions. The Supreme Court ruled that abortion is not a constitutional right and overturned Roe vs. Wade. The decision caused a major drop in the number of abortions, like in Texas, where the number of abortions fell by 97% from June to July.

Censorship on social media was one of the big issues of the year. The country finally recognized that Hunter Biden's computer was no Republican invention. There has also been talk about the links that companies such as Google have with the Chinese communist regime or how they have allowed themselves to be manipulated by the FBI. The latest we have learned is that Google "frequently makes links disappear," as Elon Musk condemned. Twitter's own CEO pledged to uncover the censorship that existed in the social network under the previous management.

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Student debt, migration crisis

One of Joe Biden's election promises was student debt forgiveness. The president's plan would cost more than $2,000 per taxpayer, or about $230 billion in total. Justice took action and declared it illegal.

In the last few days, Title 42 has been on the front pages of the media. Faced with uncontrolled immigration, the Biden Administration's position was to end to the plan, but once again the courts have taken a stand against the President's intentions. The Supreme Court decided to rule in favor of Title 42, which will remain in effect until at least February. Meanwhile, the southern border continues to be a chaotic and dangerous place even for immigrants themselves.

Depp vs. Heard and Will Smith's slap in the face

Much of the country followed the Johnny Depp and Amber Heard trial. The actress accused her ex-husband of alleged abuse, although finally the courts ruled in favor of Depp and Heard had to recant. As a penalty, the actress will have to compensate him with one million dollars for defamation.

This year's Oscars won't go down in history for CODA winning Best Picture or Dune for having the highest number of nominations but for Will Smith slapping Chris Rock after he mocked Jada Pinkett Smith, wife of the star of Bad Boys and Men in Black, for having alopecia.

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Avatar 2 and Bad Bunny

Hollywood released spectacular productions, such as the Avatar sequel. Lovers of James Cameron's films had to wait 13 years to see the sequel. At the moment, its success at the box office has been disappointing. Top Gun: Maverick, Doctor Strange: In the Multiverse of Madness or Black Panther: Wakanda Forever were more successful and grossed more at the box office.

From the big screen to the small screen, House of the Dragon, a Game of Thrones prequel, the fourth season of Stranger Things, the second season of The White Lotus and Merlina were the most successful series of 2022. All of them were produced by platforms such as HBO Max or Netflix.

In music, the name that stood out the most was Bad Bunny. The Puerto Rican singer became the first Hispanic to win Artist of the Year at the MTV Awards. In addition, on-demand music platforms such as Spotify or Apple Music revealed that Bad Bunny was the most listened to singer of 2022.

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Argentina and Pelé. And Brittney Griner

Argentina was crowned champion of the Qatar World Cup in one of the best finals in history. The tournament was full of surprises, such as Morocco, or major disappointments, such as Germany and Spain.

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We bid farewell to 2022 with the sad news of . The legendary soccer player, for many the best in history, passed away at the age of 82 after months of battling cancer. Thanks to his many goals and unforgettable plays, Brazil managed to go down in soccer history and O Rei won three World Cups, among many other collective and individual titles.

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Brittney Griner got more attention than she has ever gotten on the court. The basketball player was arrested in Russia for carrying cannabis oil in her luggage. She was sentenced to 9.5 years in prison, but after several months in a Russian prison, she was exchanged for the arms dealer Victor But, who had been imprisoned in the United States.

There was more news in sports. Tennis legends Roger Federer and Serena Williams ended their careers, by winning 20 and 23 Grand Slams, respectively. The Golden State Warriors won their fourth NBA Ring in seven years and the Los Angeles Rams won the Super Bowl.

Extra: VOZ MEDIA WAS BORN

Coinciding with Independence Day, Voz Media was born with the objective of becoming a reference for the Hispanic community and to defend the principles, ideas and values that have made the United States of America great.

The public presentation took place at Mercury Studios in Dallas on November 17. Both the founding president and CEO, Orlando Salazar, and the chief operating officer (COO), Pablo Kleinman, emphasized in their speeches the importance of the growing and influential Hispanic community having a media outlet that can keep up with them.

The event was attended by numerous figures from the world of communication, politics and business, who were enthusiastic about the launch of a project that they consider to be increasingly necessary.

After a brief stopover in Rome, Italy, the team arrived in the country early Tuesday morning, after 2:30 a.m. (local time). At Ezeiza International Airport, they were greeted by a red carpet, a musical band and the first crowd. From there, they went to the Argentine Soccer Association complex to rest for a few hours and, after 11:00, they got back on the bus to show the people the coveted cup.

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Change of plans due to the crowd

The original idea was for them to go for a ride around the city in the convertible bus that was prepared for the occasion. However, the number of people who turned out far exceeded all expectations: according to the latest estimates, some 5 million fans thronged the Buenos Aires commercial center around the Obelisk to try to catch a glimpse of the vehicle carrying the champions.

Thus, the possibility of them going up to a stage that was prepared in Plaza de Mayo was ruled out and they ended up flying over the city in different helicopters. While they were still in the convertible bus, the media had to stop broadcasting the route the vehicle was taking to prevent the fans from completely occupying the streets and avenues through which it was traveling.

After the penalty shootout against France, Alberto Fernandez, President of Argentina, decreed that Tuesday would be a national holiday so that the population could go out to celebrate.

As always, the excitement of the fans of the participating countries provided the magic that these international competitions always do.

In sporting terms, it was a World Cup full of surprises, from the early elimination of Germany, Brazil and Mexico to the emergence of Morocco, whose fourth place finish captured the hearts of fans. Morocco represented Africa in the best possible way, after several years of strategic development. Coach Walid Regragui has enjoyed success wherever he has been, first leading a mid-table Moroccan club, FUS Rabat, to its only league title. The Royal Moroccan Football Federation also deserves credit for the success of the Atlas Lions. After 30 years of losing, it revitalized the country's soccer infrastructure. In 2009, the federation inaugurated its national soccer academy, which began to train soccer players that we now see having success on the world's greatest stage. The investment of the last decade has begun to pay off and the team, which is also the champion of Africa, left fans thrilled with their performance in Qatar.

Other memorable performances from the tournament were Spain's 7-0 thrashing of Costa Rica and Saudi Arabia's victory over Argentina, stories that will live on in their respective countries despite the lack of hardware to show for them. On the field, it was a World Cup that rewarded balanced teams over those that leaned too heavily towards attacking or defense.

Eight coaches were relieved of their duties following the World Cup, including Luis Enrique, formerly of Spain, and Gerardo Martino, formerly of Mexico.

The final saw two teams, Argentina and France, that were as balanced as they come. They designed their game plan according to their opponent, always generating different ways to attack. France has reached two consecutive finals. Four years ago in Russia they took the glory, and now they are the runners-up. As for Argentina, their triumph leaves many questions on the table for soccer lovers, starting with these two: Has Messi surpassed Maradona? And if so, is he the greatest player of all time?

The 2022 World Cup not only produced good competition, but it also set the tone for the implementation and modification of new technologies such as VAR and digital offside tracking. Another revelation was the new ball,

Al Rihla ("the journey" in Arabic), which has a chip inside it that allows various data to be taken and transmitted, such as shot speed and distance traveled. It was a giant leap for soccer's transition into the digital era, which all can agree must be carried out in a responsible and planned manner, improving the game without neglecting the human factor.

The three hosts of the 2026 World Cup, Mexico, the United States and Canada, are already preparing and will have to continue on the path of innovation if they want to shine at the event.

Canada returned to the World Cup in 2022 after more than three decades, and they excited fans with their play. They have a world-class player in Alphonso Davis, and the world will see how the 22-year-old improves in the coming years. The U.S. has the MLS, an improving league, and has been investing millions of dollars for decades. In the women's team, the results are indisputable. For the men, it is a project that still needs to grow. Finally, for Mexico, these next years will be integral for the Mexican Soccer Federation to set and achieve new goals. New faces have led El Tri to the brink of success. In 2026, the world will see if they are ready to take the next step.

Despite not winning a single match, Qatar were winners. The country wanted to become better known worldwide and, by hosting the most popular sporting event on the planet, succeeded. Organizing the tournament cost more than anyone could have imagined: in money time and lives. But on the night of the final, in the midst of Argentina's celebrations, with the fans' chants, the medals, the fireworks and so on, it would have been difficult for the Qataris not to feel a sense of accomplishment.

The final was not the only great moment of this edition of the World Cup. Here's a look at some of the best images, the surprises, and also the disappointments we have witnessed at the World Cup in Qatar.

Argentina: an end to a 36-year drought.

The Albiceleste had not reached the top of the World Cup podium since Mexico in 1986. They suffered defeat in the finals of Italy in 1990 and Brazil in 2014 until, on December 18, 2022, they added their third World Cup to their trophy cabinet.

The Argentine fans have experienced huge moments of tension and suffering in Qatar. For example, the quarterfinals against the Netherlands and the final itself, two matches that had to be decided on penalties. La Albiceleste no comenzó el Mundial de la mejor manera que esperaba, tras perder frente a una selección, a prior, inferior, como es Arabia Saudita. But all the suffering in the month-long tournament will have been worth it for every fan.

The Argentine fans have experienced huge moments of tension and suffering in Qatar. For example, the quarterfinals against the Netherlands and the final itself, two games that had to be decided by penalties. The Albiceleste got off to a rocky start at the start of the World Cup, first up was the loss to Saudi Arabia, defeat to a team considered vastly inferior to one with a rich history of football. Other moments included late comebacks by the Netherlands and France when the Albiceleste looked to be in total control, fans and players alike could be seen with expressions of deep concern on their faces. Nevertheless, they pulled through and all the suffering in the month that the tournament has lasted will have been worth it for each of its fans.

Lionel Messi, MVP

One of the best players in history - for some, the best - was named FIFA's Best Player of the World Cup. And deservedly so. Until the final, he was the top scorer, but the Golden Boot award was snatched away from him by Kylian Mbappé in the final.

Leo Messi began the championship by joining a small circle of players who have played in the tournament five times. It will probably be his last World Cup and what a way to conclude this part of his professional career! He now has in his trophy cabinet the one trophy he so longed for, with which he will close out a career trajectory difficult or near impossible to see again.

The dribbling he did against Croatia in the semi-final or the smile he never wiped off his face after winning the final will also remain in everyone's memory.

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A save worth a World Cup

Emiliano Dibu Martínez became one of the main protagonists of the final. The Argentine goalkeeper's intervention on Kolo Muani just seconds before the end of extra time saved the Albiceleste from defeat.

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He also played a key role in the penalty shootouts against the Netherlands in the quarterfinals and France in the final. FIFA awarded him the Golden Glove for best goalkeeper of the World Cup.

France and Mbappé

Les Bleus went to Qatar to revalidate their status as champions after winning the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Their mission fell just one goal short of being achieved. But this does not mean that France should be considered one of the disappointments.

The direct style of play and the powerful physique of the French players are a reflection of today's soccer. Thanks to these two virtues, France reached the final for the second consecutive time.

And what about Kylian Mbappé. The best player of the French national team is a clear example of a modern footballer: at the age of 24, he has already won the admiration and respect of the whole world thanks to his power, speed, and goal-scoring efficiency. He scored one of the best goals of the World Cup in Qatar and won the Golden Boot, the award for the tournament's top scorer.

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Morocco, the great revelation

With the exception of Argentina, the World Cup's trailblazer award must go to Morocco. Qatar left us the Atlas Lions as the great revelation of the World Cup who made history by becoming the first African team to qualify for the semifinals.

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They achieved a creditable fourth place after leaving behind teams such as Belgium, Spain, and Portugal, who were all contenders for at least a place in the semifinals. They came close to winning the bronze medal in the third and fourth-place matches, but Croatia was superior and defeated them.

Croatia did it again

The fans of the Ajedrezados once again enjoyed and celebrated another feat by their national team. Despite falling just short of the final for the second consecutive time, Zlatko Dalić's side produced another sensational tournament and finished third.

Their leader on the pitch, Luka Modrić, continues to prove that soccer is also played with intelligence. At 37 years of age, he has not confirmed that this will be his last World Cup, something we will see in June next year if he decides to retire from the national team, as the player himself assured. The quality he demonstrates continues to captivate the soccer world.

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Cristiano Ronaldo's tears

Crying is a natural emotion and we have seen many soccer players express it after defeat. When Portugal was eliminated in the quarterfinals, we saw one of the images of the World Cup: Cristiano Ronaldo's tears.

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The Portuguese star could not hold back his tears, knowing that this was probably his last World Cup and his last chance to win a title with his national team. I don't think he lacks ambition and enthusiasm to continue, but at 37 years of age, it seems unlikely that we will see him playing in the tournament again.

Germany, Belgium, and Spain: the biggest disappointments

Germany and Belgium failed to qualify for the round of 16 after a very disappointing group stage. Both teams barely managed to win a match and were defeated by teams such as Japan and Morocco in their respective groups.

On the other hand, there is Spain. Their start was the best that can be had by thrashing Costa Rica with a resounding 7-0. This result was the only positive that La Roja could get out of the World Cup. Terrible performances against Japan (they lost 2-1) and their elimination by Morocco in the round of 16 led to the resignation of the national coach, Luis Enrique, and what many believe will lead to a necessary generational changing of the guard.

Achraf's Cold Blooded

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Brazil needs to improve

The five-time world champions were eliminated by Croatia in a penalty shootout in the quarterfinals. The perennial favorites showed some brilliance in Qatar, but more is expected from the Canarinha.

Before the World Cup began, the generation of Neymar, Vinícius Junior, Casemiro, and the company was favored by most of the world and their elimination in the quarterfinals was one of the bigger and unforseen disappointments of the tournament.

Respect for and with Japan

The Japanese team was another of the big surprises of the World Cup. Playing a hard-fought style of play, Japan qualified for the round of 16 after finishing first in the group stage, ahead of Germany and Spain. But they not only earned the respect of soccer for the way they played, but also for knowing how to act in defeat.

Hajime Moriyasu, Japan's head coach, showed his respect and apologies to the Japanese fans by bowing in a samurai bow after being eliminated by Croatia in the Round of 16.

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This was not the only moment in which the Japanese astonished the world. Japanese spectators watching their team's victory over Germany in the group stage picked up trash from the stands after the match.

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Tribute to Pelé

One of the greatest players of all time, Pelé, is in a delicate state of health and the Brazilian players wanted to pay him a nice tribute after beating Switzerland.

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The Canarinha players wore a banner with a photo of O Rei and his name, as a symbol of support for the legend and his family.

The countdown to the 2026 World Cup begins

The United States, Mexico and Canada will host the 2026 Soccer World Cup. The tournament will return to its usual format: it will be held in the months of June and July of that year, unlike that of Qatar, which has been held between November and December to avoid high temperatures.

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It will be the twenty-third edition and the first to be held in three different countries. This World Cup will have a new novelty aspect: instead of 32 teams, there will be 48 that start in the group stage. As host countries, the United States, Mexico and Canada have their place guaranteed, without the need to play a previous phase.

The 2026 World Cup will have 16 different venues: Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia, San Francisco Bay Area, and Seattle (United States); Guadalajara, Mexico City and Monterrey (Mexico); and Toronto and Vancouver (Canada).

From that exact moment on, more than 45 million Argentines were united in a single cheer. A single clenched fist of victory. After 36 years, the Albiceleste once again reached the top of the soccer world. Automatically, the streets all over the country were dyed light blue and white with flags, pennants, T-shirts, caps being displayed proudly. Parents, children, grandparents, grandchildren, aunts, uncles, nieces, and nephews. Without distinction, the people took to the streets.

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According to Clarín newspaper, in the city of Buenos Aires more than 1,000,000 people gathered at the mall. Especially around the Obelisk, the symbol of the Argentine capital, which has been the scene of all the sporting celebrations for some time now. There were also important celebrations in Córdoba, Mendoza, Tucumán and Mar del Plata.

It was known in advance that public transport would not support such a volume at the same time, so many fans chose to walk from even remote neighborhoods to the center. The main avenues of the South American capital (for example, Santa Fe, Libertador and Corrientes) were inundated by fans, effectively turning them into pedestrian streets.

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Waiting for Messi

The blue and white colors could be seen at every moment, in every corner. Even the Colón Theater, the main stage for classical music in Argentina, sported a giant Argentine T-shirt alluding to the recent championship. A projection of Lionel Messi and the rest of the champions celebrating with the cup could also be seen at the Obelisk.

The Argentine team will arrive in Buenos Aires on Monday 19, where they will share and celebrate the long-awaited achievement with the people. In the morning, a large number of fans will meet the players at the Ministro Pistarini International Airport, and then the group is expected to head to the Casa Rosada, the country's governmental headquarters.

It is undeniable: Argentina's championship was deserved given their play since the World Cup began. Their only lapse was on the first match, when Saudi Arabia shocked the world with a 2-1 upset. From that game on, the players fought in every game as if their lives depended on it and demonstrated the competitive level that is required to be a world champion.

Lionel Messi

Of course, winning their third World Cup is the result of many years of hard work, victories, defeats, joy and suffering. There is one player who has been there through it all. Lionel Messi, who many consider to be the greatest soccer player to ever step on the field, has been chasing this title for 20 years. He knows what it's like to see his dream of a World Cup title slip away in the final. At last, Messi completes his legendary career with the sport's most coveted title, one he has dreamed of since he was a child.

FIFA have him his due and named him as the recipient of the Golden Ball for the most valuable player of the tournament. He was just one goal away from drawing even with his opponent in the final, Kylian Mbappé, to win the Golden Boot for top scorer.

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With the World Cup, he completes his enviable trophy cabinet, all the trophies he could have won during his successful career, both at a collective level with the teams he has played for and at an individual level.

Lionel Scaloni

Another star of this World Cup for Argentina was coach Lionel Scaloni. He was named to the position in 2018 after Argentina's failure at the World Cup in Russia.

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Scaloni was tasked with the mission of executing a transition for the team. Legendary players like Sergio Agüero, Javier Mascherano and Gonzalo Higuaín were retiring from their national duties, and Scaloni had to put together a team with young and inexperienced players. However, he has always maintained the passion and style of play that characterizes the Argentinian national team.

Gradually, he racked up win after win, ending the the team's 28-year title drought with a win in the 2021 Copa America. One year later, his hard work materialized with the achievement of the third World Cup title in Argentinian history.

Emiliano Martinez

FIFA awarded Argentinian goalkeeper Emiliano "Dibu" Martínez with the Golden Glove award for best goalkeeper of the tournament. Argentinian fans will always remember the miraculous foot save he made against France just seconds before the final whistle to assure the game was sent to penalties. Without this play, "La Albiceleste" would have no title to celebrate.

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However, he did not win the award for just one save. Dibu also held the French in check in the penalty shootout in the final as well as the Dutch in the quarterfinals. He had only conceded five goals in the tournament before this match.

The fans

In Buenos Aires, Cordoba, Mar del Plata, etc.: every corner of Argentina is celebrating their team's wonderful performance. The players have their outstanding fans to thank as well.

In this World Cup, Argentinian supporters packed the stands, despite the fact that Qatar is a whole ocean and hemisphere away. And, without a doubt, every moment the Argentines experienced in those stadiums was worth it.

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“La Albiceleste” had to overcome two backbreaking comebacks from “Les Bleus” in what was undoubtedly one of the most exciting games in World Cup.

It was the thirteenth time the two teams had met in international competition. With the win, Argentina now is 7-3-3 in head-to-head matchups with France.

Argentina opened the game determined, and France seemed practically lost. This dynamic continued into the halftime break.

The scoring opened in the 23rd minute with Lionel Messi, converting a rather dubious penalty committed by Ousmane Bembelé, his former Barcelona teammate. The Argentine star has scored in every World Cup match. The penalty was drawn by veteran Ángel Di María, who was a late addition to the starting lineup. Fans were overjoyed, and the stadium erupted with cheers. After the goal, Argentina kept the momentum in their favor, and France appeared to have no answers.

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Argentina’s second goal came in the 36th minute. A left-footed strike by Ángel Di María culminated a beautiful counter-attack that was started with a beautiful flick from Messi. The assist came from Alexis Mac Allister.

The scoreboard read 2-0 in favor of Argentina when halftime arrived. French coach Didier Deschamps had change up his strategy in the second half, especially with his star player Kylian Mbappé a bit out of sorts.

Argentina continued to control the game, and then came the surprise in the 80th minute. The young French star appeared! Mbappé scored a penalty to put France within a goal. As Argentinian fans began to feel a hint of pressure, Mbappé scored the equalizer just a minute later with a right-footed volley off a gorgeous lob pass. Fans around the world were shocked as the tables had been turned.

Extra time came, and both sides gave their best, Argentina was able to keep its focus despite the comeback, while France was looking to put the dagger through their hearts.

In stoppage time, Messi put Argentina ahead again, but Mbappé came right back with another penalty to equalize. Even a Hollywood director wouldn’t have written a story like this.

In the end, the teams were even at 3-3, and the world title would be decided from the penalty spot.

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Mbappé shot the first and put it home, his third penalty in three tries in the match. Messi scored his as well to even the count. Argentinian goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez saved France’s second penalty, and the crowd went wild. For Argentina, it was Dybala's turn and he didn't miss. Tchouameni stepped up for France and put his penalty wide. With their next score, Argentina was just one save or goal from being crowned champions.

Argentina scored its fourth penalty kick (4-2) to earn their third World Cup title.

The awards ceremony took place at the Lusail Stadium. Mbappé’s performance will not be forgotten. At just 23 years old, he scored a hat-trick in the final and put home his penalty kick. He is elite player in every sense of the word and an example of mental strength and leadership. The Frenchman won the Golden Boot as the top scorer of the World Cup.

Lionel Messi finally did it: in his fifth World Cup, breaking records and winning the Golden Ball award for most valuable player. Enzo Fernández was named best young player. In addition, the Golden Glove for best goalkeeper went to Emiliano Martínez.

With that, 2022 World Cup has come to a close. We are left with a good taste in our mouths after enjoying a game that will undoubtedly be remembered forever. Congratulations Argentina!

HERE IS OUR NARRATION OF THE MATCH ON TWITTER:

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Amir Nasr-Azadani, 26, is a footballer who currently plays for FC Iranjavan Bushehr in Iran's Second Division. Years ago, he represented the country for the U-16 national team. These days, his career is in danger after speaking out in favor of those protesting on the streets of many Iranian cities for women's rights. Nasr-Azadani was accused of "waging war against God" and could be sentenceded to death.

According to Abdullah Jafari, the head of the Judicial Authority of the city of Isfahan, Nasr-Azadani was involved with a group accused of assassinating three members of Basich, a volunteer paramilitary force acting under the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Jafari claims that the player has confessed to his crime and that there is incriminating evidence.

Despite the statements of the Judicial Authority, it is suspected that the accused was targeted for supporting the protests that followed the death of young woman Mahsa Amini, who was arrested for not wearing a hijab and, hours later, was found dead after being in police custody. So far, the trial has not been scheduled to begin. However, if he is convicted for "waging war against God", the death penalty will apply.

International campaign against the conviction

Following the news of the accusation and the possible penalty, the International Federation of Professional Footballers (FIFPRO) issued a statement. "We stand in solidarity with Amir and call for the immediate removal of his punishment," the federation posted on networks.

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In addition, well-known players and personalities from around the world joined the campaign to try and save Nasr-Azadani. José Luis Chilavert, Radamel Falcao, Ronald Araujo, Marc Bartra, Diego Godín, Juan Pablo Sorín, among others, all made statements on social media.

The Croatians had control of the game early on and were able to generate more danger. Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine "Bono" Bounou almost scored an own goal after a poorly executed pass that just missed his goalpost.

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Croatia's persistence paid off in the 6th minute, when Josko Gvardiol (1-0) hit a perfect header into the back of the net off a set play on a free kick. The young Croatian defender was one of his team's great performers in this World Cup.

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The "Atlas Lions" kept their heads up, and it didn't take them but two minutes to tie the match. Achraf Dari (1-1) scored with his own header from a free kick. This resilience shows why underdog Morocco made it all the way to the third-place match.

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The atmosphere intensified as the game went on. Every time one of the teams approached the opponent's box, it caused agony for the fans. Mislav Oršić (2-1) was able put Croatia ahead with a beautifully crafted goal that Bono could not stop.

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Early in the second half, Oršić came close to extending the lead, but his shot went wide after deflecting off the back of a Moroccan defender.

While there were no more goals in the game, it was not for lack of chances. In the 74th minute, the Croatian team pleaded for a penalty for Joško Gvardiol, but the referee did not see it the same way.

Youssef En-Nesyri had the clearest chance for Morocco, but Dominik Livaković, arguably the best goalkeeper of the tournament, made a great save.

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In the last minute, En-Nesyri again had the chance to send the game into extra time, but his shot went just wide of the goal.

With the victory, Croatia finish top three at a World Cup for the second consecutive time and established themselves as one of the world's great soccer powers.

Despite the loss, Morocco's tournament was far from a letdown. In one of this year's great stories, they managed to become the first African team to finish in the top four of a World Cup and earned the respect of the soccer world.

The Qatar World Cup has been politically charged from the beginning: from various European nations, such as Germany and Denmark speaking out about human rights violations in the host country, as well as the controversy surrounding the Iranian national team for supporting the protests in their country against Ali Khamenei’s regime.

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It seems that Gianni Infantino, FIFA president, does not want any more political spats and objected to Zelensky using the World Cup final as a platform to talk about the conflict in his country. The same organization banned Russia from participating in any of its competitions, both at club and national level, until further notice.

Zelensky, who has spoken out on multiple platforms since the beginning of the Russian invasion on February 24, seeks to keep the war on the front burner and continues to press for financial and military support from NATO and other Western countries (a key factor for its survival so far). "We thought FIFA wanted to use its platform for the common good," a source close to the Ukrainian president told CNN.

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"La Albiceleste" and "Les Bleus" have both overcome a difficult path to reach the World Cup final, each with its own style and philosophy. France struggled in their semifinal matchup but was able to take down the tournament's Cinderella, Morocco. Argentina, on the other hand, soundly defeated the reigning runners-up Croatia, avoiding a repeat of the 2018 World Cup final.

Date and time of the final

Sunday 12/18/2022 10:00 EST:

Argentina vs. France

Argentina looking to break losing streak

Thirty-six years ago, Diego Armando Maradona and Jorge Valdano led "La Albiceleste" to a World Cup title in Mexico. While this was the last time that Argentina lifted the trophy, they reached the final in both 1990 and in 2014, losing to Germany on both occasions.

Argentina has won five of the six matches it has played in Qatar. Their only slip-up came in their opening match, when Saudi Arabia pulled off the first big upset of the World Cup, defeating them 2-1. It was a disappointing start for Argentina, but it served as a wakeup call. Since that setback, they have emerged victorious in every match, including in round of 16 when they defeated the Netherlands via penalty shootout.

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Lionel Scaloni's team is led by the experience of veterans such as Lionel Messi and Ángel Di María, but it is complemented with the energy and effort of younger players such as Enzo Fernández and Julián Álvarez. They are looking to flip the narrative for Argentina in this game, as the country has actually lost more World Cup finals than it has won.

France champions again?

"Les Bleus" will have the chance to become only the third team to win back to back World Cups. The only teams to do it were Italy (1934 and 1938) and Brazil (1958 and 1962).

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France's record in Qatar is similar to Argentina's. They have also been defeated only once, also by a heavy underdog (Tunisia), though it came in the final match of the group stage. It is also worth noting that, unlike Argentina, Didier Deschamps' team had already booked its place in the round of 16 at the time of the loss. The rest of France's matches have resulted in victories.

Deschamps' team has a clear objective in each match: dominate the ball and get out on the run. The speed and physicality of the French team allow them to overpower their opponents, and they use this athleticism to their advantage.

Mbappé vs. Messi

The brightest lights will fall upon two of the biggest stars in the game. During the rest of the year, they are teammates for Paris Saint-Germain, but their friendship will have to be put aside on Sunday. They know each other's strengths and weaknesses on the field and can advise their teammates on how to contain their opponent's star. Both are in the running for the Golden Ball award, for the tournament's best player, as well as the Golden Boot, for the top scorer.

Messi is staring down the only empty box on his long list of career achievements: winning the World Cup with Argentina in what will surely be his last. It would put a cap on the near-perfect career of who many consider to be the greatest footballer of all time. In Qatar, Messi joined the exclusive club of players who have played in five World Cups and, at the age of 35, has performed just as well if not better than anyone in their fifth tournament.

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Messi's adversary, Mbappé, continues to shock the soccer world. At just 23 years of age, he is only one win away from his second World Cup. If his career continues on the same trajectory, he is destined to be one of the greatest players in soccer history.

History of France vs. Argentina

The two teams have met 12 times, with the advantage going to Argentina. "La Albiceleste" have won six times, while France has won just three. The other three matches ended in draws.

They have faced each other three times in the World Cup, twice ending in a victory for the Argentinians and once for the French. The first time they met in the tournament was in the first ever World Cup (Uruguay, 1930), which resulted in a 1-0 victory for Argentina.

In the 1978 World Cup held in Argentina, the hosts won 2-1 and in 2018, it was France who won 4-3 in one of the most exciting World Cup matches in recent memory.

Eleventh final between Europeans and South Americans

This match will be the eleventh time that Europe and South America will meet in a World Cup final. The previous 10 have resulted in seven victories for South America and three to Europe.

The most recent occurrence was at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. when Germany defeated Argentina 1-0 with an extra-time goal from Mario Götze.

Highest scoring team and player

France (13 goals) is currently tied with England as the top-scoring team at the Qatar World Cup. Argentina (12) would need a two goal cushion in Sunday's match to secure the team scoring lead outright.

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On the other hand, Mbappé and Messi are the top scorers of the tournament so far with five goals each. Olivier Giroud, France's all-time leading scorer at World Cups, and Julian Alvarez, one of the tournament's breakout players, who have both scored four.

The match was exciting from the kickoff, with Morocco dominating in the opening minutes and the French team waiting in the wings to counterattack. Luckily for “Les Bleus,” they converted the first chance they saw.

In the 5th minute of the match, Antoine Griezmann crossed to Kylian Mbappé who shot against the leg of one of the Moroccan defenders. The ball was deflected to Theo Hernandez (1-0) and he put home the goal with an acrobatic finish. The game quickly became an uphill battle for Morocco.

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From the start, the match was very different from Argentina's victory over Croatia in the other semifinal yesterday. After conceding the first goal, the “Atlas Lions” did not give up knowing there was plenty of time left to mount a comeback. In the 10th minute, the Moroccans nearly pulled even. Hugo Lloris made a great save after a shot from outside the box by Azzedine Ounahi, one of the breakout players of the tournament.

Seven minutes later, Olivier Giroud nearly had the second goal for “Les Bleus,” but his powerful shot hit the left post of the goal defended by Yassine Bounou.

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Giroud had another opportunity in the 36th minute. He was completely alone in the box, but his shot went wide. Morocco’s Jawad El Yamiq added to the excitement at the end of the first half when his acrobatic bicycle kick rattled off the post.

In the second half, both teams showed signs of fatigue. Marcus Thuram had the chance to extend the lead with a header that went just wide of the Moroccan goal.

The dagger came in the 79th minute. French forward Randal Kolo Muani (2-0) scored the second and final goal of the match, guiding the ball in after a great sequence by Mbappé.

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Morocco had the chance to get on the scoreboard and add tension and excitement to the final moments of the match, but Jules Koundé was able to keep out a threatening Moroccan shot.

France to the final!

It was a great match for the reigning world champions, who will defend their title against Argentina this Sunday at the Lusail Stadium. Didier Deschamps’ team has shown throughout the tournament why it opened the World Cup as one of the favorites.

Morocco came within a whisker of achieving what the soccer world could never have imagined a month ago. Despite their defeat, Moroccan fans will always remember the great feat achieved by this team at the 2022 World Cup. The “Atlas Lions” will face Croatia in the third place match.

Argentina has played in 18 World Cups and this will be its sixth time making it to the finals. It was the first runner-up in the 1930 World Cup, losing to the home team, Uruguay. It took 48 years for Argentina to return to glory. In 1978, at home, they beat the Netherlands 2-1 with Mario Alberto Kempes as their star player.

Eight years later, in 1986 in Mexico, Argentina took home its second World Cup victory with Diego Armando Maradona (and one of his goals so controversial that, to this day, many consider it a handball) defeating the German national team. The Albiceleste returned to the final four years later, in Italy, and Maradona was still at the top of his game, competing in the finals against Germany, but that time Argentina's opponents took the victory.

Now, winning the World Cup is in Argentina's hands and could very well happen on Sunday against their opponents in the final. Lionel Messi would be crowned one of the greatest footballers of all time (not that he isn't already) but winning the World Cup would be the icing on the cake. He could even emulate Maradona and Kempes as the Argentine captains who lifted the World Cup in Argentina 1978 and Mexico 1986, and go down in history with King Pelé.

1986: Argentina's last World Cup victory

When Argentina won its last World Cup in 1986, the world was totally different from what we know today. Technology had not yet reached the field, the cleats or the ball. That same technology has made VAR possible and the rules of soccer have evolved. Everything from the weight and configuration of the ball has been adapted so that athletes can perform at their very best.

Today's soccer stars had either not been born yet or were very young: Cristiano Ronaldo was one year old, while Lionel Messi had yet to enter the world, not to mention the extraordinary Kylian Mbappé.

Not only that, but it was a tremendous year for the world of sports. For example, in the United States, the NBA legend Michael Jordan was at his peak while playing his second season with the Chicago Bulls.

Steaua Bucharest beat Barcelona in The European Cup, now known as the Champions League. In Mexican sports, besides hosting the World Cup, the country was making history. It had players finding great success at an international level such as Hugo Sánchez for Real Madrid; Fernando Valenzuela for the Dodgers in the MLB; and Julio César Chávez went undefeated in more than 50 fights.

Will history repeat itself and Argentina win its third World Cup or will it once again become runner-up in the top international soccer event? We will have to wait until Sunday to see what happens. In this sport that so many of us love, anything goes. If we have learned anything in this World Cup, it is that those we thought were invincible were defeated and those we thought were weak have given us unimaginable surprises.

Leo Messi made history and became the top World Cup scorer in Argentinian history, as well as equaling Lothar Matthäus for most games played in this tournament (25). Barring a setback, Messi will have the chance to win the only title he has yet to win.

In the first half, both teams came out very conservative, knowing that any lapses in concentration could turn into goals for their opponents. Fans had to wait until the 25th minute to see the first clear chance. The best goalkeeper of the tournament so far, Croatia's Dominik Livaković, made a good save after a shot from Enzo Fernández.

The minutes passed and both teams continued with the same determination, neither able to crack into the opponent's area. Finally, in the 32nd minute when, Julián Álvarez came up with the ball in front of Livaković after a stellar counterattack. The goalkeeper could not avoid a collision and the referee called for a penalty. Messi took care of business from the penalty spot (1-0), putting Argentina ahead with an unstoppable shot in the upper corner.

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Just five minutes later came the second blow for the Croatians. Julián Álvarez (2-0) brought the ball all the way up from his own half and, after meandering through several defenders (with the help of some fortunate bounces), beat Livaković to add comfort to the Argentinian lead.

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With just minutes left in the first half, Livaković made a brilliant save from Alexis Mac Allister's header to prevent the game from getting truly out of hand.

Argentina to the final!

In the second half, Croatia was able to turn the tables a bit, overpowering Argentina and keeping their opponents' chances at bay. Even still, they hardly came close to Emiliano Martinez's goal, and it was Argentina who eventually took back control of the game.

The dagger came in the 68th minute. Leo Messi turned back the hands of time and made a solo move that is only possible for a soccer legend like him. Upon arrival to the box, he dumped the ball off to Julián Álvarez (3-0), who put it home for the third and final goal of the match.

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Argentina's match was brilliant, and they await the winner of tomorrow's match between Morocco and France. Croatia's World Cup performance was sensational, as they once again surprised the world and are among the four best teams of the tournament after losing in the final in 2018.

Croatia, Argentina, Morocco and France are the four semifinalists of this World Cup. Two matches will be played on Tuesday and Wednesday between two teams that already have World Cup stars over their crests - having won a World Cup - and two aspiring teams that dream of bringing the cup home for the very first time.

Morocco is the big surprise of this World Cup. They have conceded just one goal in five matches - against Canada in the group stage - and have scored at least one goal against Croatia, Belgium, Spain and Portugal - the latter three having already been eliminated.

On the other hand, Croatia has slid into the top four teams at a World Cup for the second time in a row - they were finalists in Russia in 2018 - and the Luka Modrić-led team has established itself as one of the best teams on the planet.

Argentina and France already know what it's like to celebrate winning a World Cup. La Albiceleste wants to put an end to its World Cup losing streak, having not won the title since Mexico 1986 -they were finalists in Italy 1990 and Brazil 2014-. France is looking to revalidate its status as reigning champion and add its third star - adding to those won in France 1998 and Russia in 2018.

Date and time of the semifinals

- Tuesday 13/12 13:00 CT:

Argentina - Croatia

- Wednesday 12/14 13:00 CT:

France - Morocco

France dominated the first half from start to finish. The reigning world champions had the best scoring chances, and the back line was relentless. England hardly had broke through the opponent's area because of the coordinated effort from the French defenders.

Olivier Giroud had the first chance of the match with a header that went straight to English goalkeeper Jordan Pickford. In the 16th minute, Real Madrid midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni (1-0) opened the scoring with a powerful shot from outside the box, unstoppable for the "Three Lions" goalkeeper.

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England felt they deserved a penalty after Dayot Upamecano brought down Harry Kane, but the referee ruled that the foul took place outside the penalty area after checking the video review.

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Harry Kane had the best chance for his side in the first half but was unable to beat French goalie Hugo Lloris. Kylian Mbappé had the chance to put France up by two goals after a beautiful passing display between Antoine Griezmann, Ousmane Dembélé and Mbappé himself. His shot, however, went high.

In the second half, England increased the pace of the game and began to create more threatening chances. Lloris made one of the best saves of the tournament after turning away a Jude Bellingham shot from outside the box.

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The equalizer came in the 54th minute. A penalty was awarded when Tchouaméni brought down Bukayo Saka in the box. Harry Kane (1-1) converted the penalty with ease.

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In the 60th minute, Saka had a chance to put his team ahead, but his shot was blocked by Lloris. Harry Maguire and Saka each had additional chances, but they could not convert.

Just as England were dominating the game, France scored their second goal. France's all-time leading scorer, Olivier Giroud, (2-1) scored the second goal with an impeccable header from a great cross by Griezmann.

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In the 81st minute, the referee again awarded England a penalty after Theo Hernandez pushed Mason Mount. This time, however, Harry Kane skyed the shot over the goal and failed to equalize.

In the final minute, Marcus Rashford nearly sent the game into extra time with a set piece from just outside the box, but his shot flew narrowly wide of the goal.

With the win, France is set to face the tournament's Cinderella, Morocco, in the semifinals.