Argentina lifted their third World Cup trophy on Sunday after the final in Qatar. Here’s what you need to know on their road to the title:
HOW DID ARGENTINA QUALIFY FOR THE Round of 16?
* The top two from each World Cup group qualify for the last 16. The round of 16, which began on December 3, features one-off matches, which can go as far as extra time and penalties to determine the winners.
* Argentina bounced back from their shock loss to Saudi Arabia with back-to-back wins over Mexico and Poland to finish as Group C winners.
HOW DID ARGENTINA REACH THE QUARTER-FINALS?
* Lionel Messi and Julian Alvarez scored in Argentina’s 2-1 win over Australia in the round of 16.
HOW DID ARGENTINA REACH THE SEMI-FINALS?
* Argentina beat the Netherlands 4-3 in a quarter-final penalty shoot-out after goals from Nahuel Molina and Messi were canceled out by a brace from Dutch substitute Wout Weghorst.
HOW DID ARGENTINA REACH THE FINAL?
* Argentina beat Croatia 3-0 in the semi-final, with Messi coolly kicking in the 34th minute to open the scoring before Alvarez found the net either side of the half.
WHO BEAT ARGENTINA IN THE FINAL?
* Argentina beat defending champions France 4-2 on penalties after a spectacular 3-3 draw when striker Kylian Mbappe scored a hat-trick in the 118th minute to nullify two Messi goals and a strike from Angel Di Maria.
* In the penalty shootout, Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez saved Kingsley Coman’s effort and Aurelien Tchouameni fired wide to give Argentina their first world title since 1986, and third overall.
HOW DID ARGENTINA QUALIFY FOR THE Round of 16?
* The top two from each World Cup group qualify for the last 16. The round of 16, which began on December 3, features one-off matches, which can go as far as extra time and penalties to determine the winners.
* Argentina bounced back from their shock loss to Saudi Arabia with back-to-back wins over Mexico and Poland to finish as Group C winners.
HOW DID ARGENTINA REACH THE QUARTER-FINALS?
* Lionel Messi and Julian Alvarez scored in Argentina’s 2-1 win over Australia in the round of 16.
HOW DID ARGENTINA REACH THE SEMI-FINALS?
* Argentina beat the Netherlands 4-3 in a quarter-final penalty shoot-out after goals from Nahuel Molina and Messi were canceled out by a brace from Dutch substitute Wout Weghorst.
HOW DID ARGENTINA REACH THE FINAL?
* Argentina beat Croatia 3-0 in the semi-final, with Messi coolly kicking in the 34th minute to open the scoring before Alvarez found the net either side of the half.
WHO BEAT ARGENTINA IN THE FINAL?
* Argentina beat defending champions France 4-2 on penalties after a spectacular 3-3 draw when striker Kylian Mbappe scored a hat-trick in the 118th minute to nullify two Messi goals and a strike from Angel Di Maria.
* In the penalty shootout, Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez saved Kingsley Coman’s effort and Aurelien Tchouameni fired wide to give Argentina their first world title since 1986, and third overall.
