The images are still floating around in everyone’s head. While there are only a handful of seconds left before the penalty shootout, Randal Kolo Muani appears alone in front of Emiliano Martinez. Ideally launched by Ibrahima Konaté, the 24-year-old striker will offer victory to France. For sure. But the Argentinian doorman made the stoppage of the World Cup by repelling the Frenchman’s shot.
In an interview with BeIN Sports, Randal Kolo Muani (5 caps, one goal) returned to this action which continues to fuel his thoughts after the final lost against Argentina (3-3, 4-2 on penalties ) on December 18. A month and a half later, the former Nantes has still not cashed his failure.
“I still look at it, I know it by heart,” he said soberly. In my head, I said to myself: “Randal, you have to shoot”. I tried to shoot at the first post, the goalkeeper made a very good save and got it out well. I lost this duel. Afterwards, I think there were other solutions, I could lob him, I could find Kylian because he was also on a good angle. But on the action, I don’t see it, because the ball comes like that (Editor’s note he describes the trajectory of the ball arriving in height from behind him). And me, I go straight like that (straight ahead) and I don’t see Kylian (to the left). It’s after, when you watch the video that you see that there are other possibilities but it’s too late, you can’t do anything anymore. I still have it in my throat and I will have it for life. »