West Ham United goalkeeper Alphonse Areola ended as a 2022 FIFA World Cup runner-up as France were beaten in a thrilling final by Argentina on Sunday.
Kylian Mbappé became just the second man after Sir Geoff Hurst to score a World Cup final hat-trick, netting twice in the space of a minute in the second half to draw France level at 2-2, then again late in extra-time to take the game to penalties.
Lionel Messi scored twice for the South Americans – once in the first half and again in the second half of extra-time – and both forwards then netted again in the shootout, but it was Argentina who came out on top 4-2 from the spot.
While Areola, an unused substitute, was denied a second straight World Cup winner’s medal, Argentina’s victory was masterminded by manager and former West Ham full-back Lionel Scaloni.
The 44-year-old, who started the Hammers’ 2006 FA Cup final defeat by Liverpool – incidentally, also on penalties – guided Argentina to their third World Cup triumph and first since the late Diego Maradona led his country to glory in 1986.
On Saturday, current Irons centre-back Nayef Aguerd’s Morocco were edged into fourth place 2-1 by a Croatia side who introduced attacking midfielder Nikola Vlašić, who is on loan at Italian Serie A side Torino. Aguerd was not involved in the game, but played four times for the Atlas Lions as they became the first African nation to reach the semi-finals of a World Cup.
Five Hammers took part in the tournament in all, with Declan Rice’s England reaching the quarter-finals before being beaten 2-1 by France, Lucas Paquetá’s Brazil being eliminated by Croatia in the last-eight, and Thilo Kehrer’s Germany being eliminated at the group stage.
West Ham United would like to congratulate Lionel Scaloni and current West Ham midfielder Manuel Lanzini on their success in Qatar.
