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“It Will Stay for Life” – France’s FIFA WC Star Divulges on His Last-Min Missed Chance Against Lionel Messi’s Argentina

Published 02/03/2023, 6:00 AM EST

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via Imago

It’s been over a month since the world witnessed the stupendous final between France and Argentina. And now the France World Cup star, Randal Kolo Muani, has opened up about his last-minute missed chance that led to Lionel Messi lifting his first World Cup.

via Imago

It was a final that had soccer fans at the edge of their seats. With Lionel Messi leading the charge with a penalty goal and Argentina with a comfortable 2-0 lead, it was Kylian Mbappe with two late goals, sending the match into extra-time. In extra time Messi scored again to give Argentina the lead but soon after was denied by Kylian Mbappe, who scored another beautiful penalty.

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With the score 3-3, it all came down to 24-year-old Kolo Muani who, in the 123rd minute of the extra time, was one-on-one with Argentina keeper Emiliano Martinez. A beautiful save from Martinez denied Muani’s goal chance, sending the match to penalties in which Argentina eventually picked up the victory.

Muani looks back at missed chance against Lionel Messi’s Argentina

Recently, in an interview with BeIn Sports, Muani divulged this unforgettable moment “I still watch it, I know it off by heart,” Muani said of the miss. “In my head, I said to myself – Randal, you have to shoot now. I tried to shoot towards the near post but the goalkeeper made a very good save,” he added.

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Looking back, Muani says he could have done better with his chance by passing it to Kylian Mbappe, who was free on the left side. “But there were other options. I could have lobbed him, or find Kylian Mbappe,” Kolo Muani added. “But in the moment, I didn’t see him. It’s only when you watch back that you discover the other options.”

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Muani candidly shared how he still carries the weight of missing that one pivotal chance. “I still have it in my throat, it will stay for life,” he said. Understandably, Muani struggles to move past this event since he had converted, France would likely have been proclaimed World Champions for the second time in a row.

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What are your thoughts on the missed chance from Kolo Muani? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by:

Saransh Chauhan

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Saransh Chauhan is a Soccer Writer at EssentiallySports. He has an open-minded set of interests, from soccer and video games to anime and music. As an avid gamer, he enjoys playing all genres of video games.
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Edited by:

Sreeda U M