If France had not reached the final, would Argentina have won the World Cup?
won't win This is the comment of one who won the World Cup for Argentina. It has been three weeks since the World Cup ended in Qatar. After celebrating with the trophy, the players returned to their respective clubs. However, some of the Argentine footballers are still immersed in the World Cup. Romanthan is reminiscing about the moments of winning the World Cup. Nicholas Taliafico is one of them.
The 30-year-old defender spent the first week back in Argentina from Qatar celebrating the trophy. Then on December 27, he got married to his long-time girlfriend Carolina Carbagni. He returned to France last week after celebrating the World Cup and getting married. Although he has not yet entered the field for League A club Leo.
Taliafico wanted to share his memories of the World Cup in Qatar before he got busy with club football. Appeared on the Twitch broadcast for this. There, at one stage of reminiscing about various matches of the World Cup, he brought forward that imaginary scenario saying 'what would have happened to Argentina if France did not reach the finals'.
The word came while talking about the Poland match in the group stage. Argentina-Poland, Mexico-Saudi Arabia met at the same time in the last match of 'C' group. After two matches, the way to the second round was open in front of four teams. Among them, Poland had 4 points, Argentina and Saudi Arabia had 3 each and Mexico had 1.
Argentina went ahead with McAllister's goal in the 46th minute of the match against Poland. In the other match, Mexico sent the ball into Saudi Arabia's net twice in 52 minutes. The equation at the time was this - if the two matches were the same until the final whistle, Mexico and Poland would be tied on points, but Poland would be ahead by one goal on goal difference. But if Argentina scores another goal, the Poles will be in danger, and may be eliminated from the first round.
At that time of the match, Poland became the target of Argentina, so that no more goals could be scored. Describing that time, Taliafico said, 'After we scored the first goal, Poland didn't want to play anymore. Then we conceded the second goal (in the 67th minute). I remember at 60 minutes one of the Poles said to me in broken Spanish, don't attack anymore. What has happened is enough for you.'
Julián Alvarez's goal gave Argentina a 2-0 lead that day. However, Mexico conceded a goal in added time against Saudi Arabia. Despite winning 2-1, the Mexicans were eliminated from the first round due to the goal difference
"Poland thought Mexico was going to win by 2 or 3 goals," Taliafico said with a smile on the subject of the equation. That's why he asked us not to attack again. If I had scored that day, Poland would have been eliminated. Everything would have changed then. Mexico played against France in the second round. And if Mexico beat France, it would be a reversal. We couldn't even be champions.'