Argentina and France will meet in the World Cup final at Qatar 2022 this Sunday. So, HITC Football has taken a look back at who has scored an own goal in the showpiece FIFA game.
Only one player has previously had the unwanted honour of turning the ball into their own net in a World Cup final. So, should an Albiceleste and/or Bleus star net an own goal at the Lusail Iconic Stadium, they would share a rare but very much unwelcome FIFA record, too.
Sunday’s tie between Argentina and France is the 21st World Cup final so far. It is also the sixth and fourth final to feature either side respectively, with La Albiceleste winning two of their prior appearances and Les Bleus in two. France also won the last final at Russia 2018.
Who has scored an own goal in a World Cup final ahead of Argentina vs France?
It was also during the last final at Russia 2018 as France beat Croatia 4-2 that the only own goal that has been scored in a World Cup final so far was recorded. Further, it was the goal to break the deadlock for Les Bleus. So, who has scored an own goal in a World Cup final?
Well, the unwanted honour France and/or Argentina players will strive to avoid on Sunday goes to Mario Mandzukic of Croatia. The striker turned the ball past his goalkeeper, Danijel Subasic, in the 18th minute at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow with the opening attempt.
Ivan Perisic (28’) would get Vatreni, who reached the semi-finals at Qatar 2022, level in the Russia 2018 final. But an Antoine Griezmann (38’) penalty before goals by Paul Pogba (59’) and Kylian Mbappe (65’) restored and improved Les Bleus’ lead to an unassailable margin.
Mandzukic (69’) would atone for his early own goal and scored Croatia’s second during the 2018 World Cup final. Yet France had already dealt enough damage to clinch a second title following their previous victory whilst the host nation at the 1998 edition of the World Cup.
Mario Mandzukic could do little to avoid scoring an own goal in the World Cup final
Croatia striker Mandzukic could do little to avoid becoming the first player to score an own goal in a World Cup final at Russia 2018 against France. The Vatreni hero rose to challenge Raphael Varane in the area from Griezmann’s free-kick but the ball glanced in off his head.
It was the 52nd own goal ever scored at a World Cup finals through 21 editions of the FIFA tournament. The figure has so far risen to 54 at Qatar 2022 ahead of Argentina and France meeting in Sunday’s final. There have been own goals in the group stage and Round of 16.
Who has turned the ball into their own net at Qatar 2022 so far?
West Ham United defender Nayef Aguerd scored the first own goal of Qatar 2022 while his Morocco team beat Canada 2-1 in Group F. The Atlas Lions already led the Maple Leafs 2-0 at Al Thumama Stadium. But he inadvertently turned Sam Adekugbe’s cross into their net.
Morocco managed to hold on and beat Canada following a 0-0 draw with Croatia and a 2-0 win over Belgium to top Group F. They then beat Spain on penalties after a 0-0 draw in the last 16 and Portugal 1-0 in the quarter-finals. But France edged them 2-0 to reach the final.
So, Morocco did not concede a single goal by an opposition player until the semi-final with the defending champions. While Enzo Fernandez of fellow finalists Argentina recorded the most recent own goal of Qatar 2022 in the Round of 16 as La Albiceleste beat Australia 2-1.
Neither own goal at Qatar 2022 so far has led to a loss ahead of the World Cup final
Like Aguerd, Fernandez also scored his own goal while Argentina led the Socceroos 2-0. He gave Australia hope for a late comeback in the 77th minute following goals by Lionel Messi (35’) and Julian Alvarez (57’). But La Albiceleste could hold on to their 2-1 lead to progress.
Emiliano Martinez stood no chance of stopping the ball flying into his net in the late stages at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium. Craig Goodwin attempted a speculative hit from range that was never going to trouble the goalkeeper. But it took a huge deflection off the midfielder.
Now, Argentina and France’s stars will hope they do not become just the third player who has scored an own goal at Qatar 2022 when they meet in the World Cup final this Sunday. No one will want to join Mandzukic alone with a very exclusive but very unwanted record.
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