The 2022 Finalissima (Grand Final in Spanish) was the third edition of the CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions, a football match between the winners of the previous South American and European championships.
Yesterday’s match featured Italy, winners of UEFA Euro 2020 (held in 2021), and Argentina, winners of the 2021 Copa América and was played at Wembley Stadium in London, England, on 1 June 2022.
The match which was a revival of the Artemio Franchi Cup last played 29 years prior, was organised by UEFA and CONMEBOL as part of a renewed partnership between the two confederations.
Lionel Messi won man of the match as he helped Argentina beat Italy 3:0 at Wembley.
“He controlled the game from start to finish. He showed great skill to lay on the assist for Lautaro Martínez, provided key passes for his team-mates and was unlucky not to score himself. He has put in a masterclass performance for the Wembley crowd. It was a joy to watch,” said UEFA Technical Observer Panel.
Messi now has the same number of international trophies as Cristiano Ronaldo.
Lautaro Martínez, Ángel Di María and Paulo Dybala struck as South American champions Argentina dominated the game from start to finish.
Mancini described this game as the end of a cycle for the Azzurri. The cycle which peaked with Italy becoming European champions did not end as the coach would have hoped, the pace and technique of Messi, Martínez and Di María just too much for an Italy side still recovering from their World Cup qualifying disappointment.
Argentina won 3-0 but the scoreline could have been much worse. It’s the end of an era; time to tear up the plans and start again, and Mancini has already proved once that he can do that.
Wednesday night’s match marks just the third time that the winners of the European championship and the Copa America have met; Argentina won the most recent meeting back in 1993 when they bested Denmark in a penalty shootout.
No Comments
Pingback: Messi scores 5 Against Estonia in International friendly - Switch Nigeria