Pictures by Bibhash Lodh, BS News Agency.
Bibhash Lodh, BS News Agency: Argentina, despite falling behind in this year's World Cup, has created a golden chapter in football history by making an incredible comeback. In the fight for the final, they defeated Harry Kane and Bellingham to reach the final for the second time in a row. With this victory, the Albiceleste has qualified for the finals in three of the last four World Cups. Since 2014, Argentina has only missed the World Cup final once; that was in the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
They were eliminated in the second round (last sixteen) by the defending champions France.
Pictures by Bibhash Lodh, BS News Agency.
Argentina's incredible journey began in 2014, in Brazil. Under the then coach Alejandro Sabella, the Albiceleste reached the final after a 24-year drought. Although they eliminated Switzerland, Belgium and the Netherlands in the knockout stage, Messi had to lose to Germany on extra time goals to become the runners-up.
Lionel Scaloni lifted the trophy at the 2022 Qatar World Cup. The team, which was stunned by losing to Saudi Arabia in the first match, finally defeated France to win the world title. Four years later, the defending champions reached the final again in the current World Cup, retaining most of the players from that champion squad. However, Argentina could not pass the quarter-final barrier in five consecutive World Cups from 1994 to 2010.
They stood at the very last stage of winning the trophy in three of the last four editions. Leaving that long dark chapter of failure behind, Argentina is now an unstoppable force in world football.