Randal Kolo Muani on World Cup final chance: “I still watch it, I know it off by heart.” | OneFootball

In an interview with beIN Sports, Eintracht Frankfurt forward Randal Kolo Muani notably looks back on last year’s World Cup final, and in particular his last-minute chance that was kept out by Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez.

France had drawn level in normal time from 2-0 down after a quick-fire double from Kylian Mbappé, who added a third in extra-time after Lionel Messi had put the Albiceleste in front. With the teams level at 3-3, the match-winning chance fell to Kolo Muani – a last-minute inclusion in Didier Deschamps’ squad who scored his first goal for Les Bleus in the semi-final against Morocco.

The Aston Villa goalkeeper, though, denied the former Nantes man a place in World Cup history, before denying France again in the penalty shoot-out and leading Argentina to their third title.

Kolo Muani admits that the chance is still weighing on his mind – “I still watch it, I know it off by heart.”

The striker says he has analysed the chance and realised that a near-post finish was not the only option available to him – “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. But there were other options. I could have lobbed him, or find Kylian Mbappe [who was free on the left]. But in the moment, I didn’t see him. It’s only when you watch back that you discover the other options. It’s too late. It still sticks in my throat and it’ll be there for life..”

GFFN | Raphaël Jucobin