Sports Desk : dhakamirror.com
Lionel Messi inspired Argentina to Finalissima success with a 3-0 win over Italy at a sold-out and partisan Wembley Stadium.
Goals by Lautaro Martinez, Angel Di Maria and Paulo Dybala ensured the Copa America champions were able to celebrate more trophy delight after ending their 28-year wait for silverware last summer.
Messi made the opener and on multiple occasions thrilled the 87,112 crowd with flashes of brilliance to show there is plenty of life in the Argentina captain yet despite a difficult season in France.
This was the third edition of the ‘Cup of Champions’ with two previous matches in 1985 and 1993, the latter being won by Argentina to effectively mean they were defending their title after UEFA and CONMEBOL’s recent partnership brought the clash back to life.
Tickets for the Wembley showpiece sold out in April and judging by the noise the majority had gone to South Americans, who produced thunderous roars throughout and especially when their hero was in possession.
Messi served up Lautaro Martinez for the opener in the 28th minute and then Di Maria chipped Italy’s goalkeeper Gigi Donnarumma for the second just before halftime, as Argentina were simply a cut above in a match dubbed the “Finalissima” between the reigning champs of South America and Europe. The match was played at neutral Wembley Stadium in London in front of a crowd that was decidedly pro-Messi and pro-Argentina.
While the first half was a more even affair, it was one-way traffic in the second half as Messi and Di Maria continued to create chance after chance. Only Italian ‘keeper Donnarumma was able to thwart the repeated chances. But he couldn’t stop Paulo Dybala, who slotted home the ball in the 94th minute after a Messi run left him with the ball at his feet in the Italian box. The goal rounded out the score at 3-0.
For Italy, it was a disappointing return to Wembley 11 months after they beat England on penalties in the Euro 2020 final.
Roberto Mancini’s team have gone into a steep decline since that triumph.
They failed to qualify for the World Cup after suffering a humiliating loss to North Macedonia in their play-off semi-final.
After the World Cup failure, Mancini is transitioning to a younger generation, with the forthcoming Nations League matches against Germany, England and Hungary his real focus.
Mancini’s overhaul effectively started at half-time when Italy said farewell to 117-cap skipper Giorgio Chiellini, who was substituted in his final game before international retirement.
Argentina are now unbeaten in their last 32 matches – a run stretching back to June 2019.
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