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Football

18th Dec 2022

Ally McCoist cracked one of the World Cup’s best gags after Kylian Mbappé hat-trick

Patrick McCarry

Ally McCoist

Sharp as a tack, is Ally!

For the final of the 2022 World Cup, ITV teamed up commentator Sam Matterface with Ally McCoist and Lee Dixon for all the action.

Dixon openly mused if Kylian Mbappé taking a second penalty against Emi Martinez was a wise idea (after Harry Kane’s travails) before he made it 3-3. This was moments after declaring, “Lionel Messi has won the World Cup for Argentina,” when the No.10 scored to make it 3-2.

McCoist has been a delight to listen to on commentary duty, all tournament. His enthusiasm for football shines through and he is never shy of a smart remark, or two.

Such was the case when Mbappé bravely stepped up to stare down Emi Martinez and slot home his third goal of the match. It was only the second time in World up history that a player had scored a hat-trick in a men’s World Cup final. The first was quick to praise the Paris Saint Germain forward:

Ally McCoist cracks hat-trick gag

Kylian Mbappé cooly held his nerve to send Martinez the wrong way and make it 3-3.

As he equalled the record set by England’s Geoff Hurst in 1966, Ally McCoist was quick-fire with his commentary:

“Mbappé,” he observed, “is the first player to score a a hat-trick in a World Cup Final when every one was over the line!”

That, of course, was referring to Hurst having a goal awarded to him that the German team disputed as not having fully crossed the line after cannoning down off the crossbar.

As a proud Scotsman, Ally McCoist was never going to miss an opportunity to land a blow against the English.

After Argentina had won the penalty shoot-out, the former Rangers and Scotland striker remarked to his colleagues how ‘we are all so incredibly lucky to be here to witness’ such a thrilling World Cup final.

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