French forward Marcus Thuram, of Inter Milan, revealed he has no memory of the 2022 Qatar World Cup final, where France lost to Argentina on penalties. In an interview, he described the intense emotion of the match at Lusail Stadium and the feeling of playing as if in Argentina.
Marcus Thuram, the 28-year-old forward for Inter Milan, shared his reflections on the 2022 Qatar World Cup final, nearly four years after the event. On December 18, 2022, at Lusail Stadium, France faced Argentina in an epic showdown that ended in penalties favoring the Albiceleste. Thuram entered the pitch in the 40th minute of the first half, replacing Olivier Giroud, with Argentina leading 2-0. He later assisted Kylian Mbappé on France's second goal, tying the score at 2-2, though he did not take part in the penalty shootout.
Thuram recalled the stadium atmosphere: “I remember walking in and seeing all the Argentina fans in the stadium. It felt like we were playing in Argentina.” He lamented the unfulfilled desire: “Our wish was to win the World Cup in front of their fans, but we know how it ended.” The most striking confession was about his memory: “The final is the only match where I have no memory.” He explained that, unlike other games he recalls in detail even from five years ago, this one is “as if it never happened.” He attributed it to the intense emotion or the outcome: “I don't know if it's because of the emotion of the match, or how it ended, but it's as if it never happened.”
This revelation is not isolated. Another Frenchman, Randal Kolo Muani, still grapples with a missed chance in extra time, when the score was 3-3. He faced Emiliano 'Dibu' Martínez in a one-on-one, but the Argentine goalkeeper saved it. Kolo Muani confessed: “I still keep watching it. I know it by heart. [...] I still have it stuck in my throat and I'll have it for life.” These statements highlight the lasting impact of the defeat on the French players, on the eve of a new World Cup.
