Argentina win the World Cup on penalties against France after unforgettable contest

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Argentina win the World Cup on penalties against France after unforgettable contest
Updated
Argentina won the penalty shootout 4-2
Argentina won the penalty shootout 4-2
Profimedia, StatsPerform
After blowing France away in the first half with two goals, Argentina were brought crashing down to earth by two late second-half goals by Kylian Mbappe (23). In extra time, first Lionel Messi (35) and then Mbappe scored to force a shoot-out. Argentina won 4-2 on penalties to become world champions for the third time in history.

19:13 CET: What an incredible match we've been lucky enough to witness tonight. It truly lived up to the hype of a World Cup final in every way - entertaining, absorbing, unpredictable, and outrageously dramatic. 

After 75 minutes of the match, it looked as though Argentina had it won. They were 2-0 up and France had barely threatened. Then, out of nowhere, Kylian Mbappe stole the show and scored two goals in less than two minutes to send the game to extra time.

The first period of extra time didn't offer much action but the second burst into life. First Lionel Messi scored what we all thought was the winner before France were awarded a penalty and Mbappe scored his third of the night to send the match to a shootout. 

Emiliano Martinez saved one and France missed another as Argentina won 4-2 in the shootout to claim the glory and their country's third World Cup.

It was a final that will be long remembered, not just because it solidifies Lionel Messi amongst the greatest players of all time but also because it was one of the greatest finals ever played.

Read Tamhas Woods' full match report here and see all the stats in the feed below.

Long live football.

Penalties

4. Montiel next for Argentina. He scores! 2-4 ARGENTINA WIN THE WORLD CUP!

4. Kolo Muani has to score.  He does. 2-3 Argentina.

3. Paredes is up for Argentina. He scores! It's 1-3 Argentina now. 

3. Tchouameni for France. He misses. He fires it wide of the goal. 1-2 Argentina. 

2. Dybala is next for Argentina. He scores! 1-2

2. Coman steps up for France and it's saved by Martinez! 1-1

1. Messi scores the first for Argentina. 1-1

1. Mbappe scores the first penalty for France.

Extra Time

Stats after extra time
Opta by Stats Perform

123': That's the end of extra time. It will be penalties to decide this World Cup.  

122': It's end-to-end here! First Kolo Muani is one-on-one and Martinez makes a game-saving save! Then the other Martinez at the other end heads over. WOW! 

121': Three minutes are being added on. And two changes to announce. Dybala is on for Tagliafico for Argentina. Disasi is on for Kounde for France.

119': Just incredible. Just as it looked like Messi had won the World Cup, Mbappe pops up again.

117': GOAL! Mbappe scores! He absolutely rockets the ball into the net.

116': PENALTY! Wow. The referee has given a penalty to France. Mbappe's shot was handballed by Montiel. He's booked for that too.

115': Argentina make another change. Mac Allister comes off for Pezzella.

114': Paredes has made a terrible tackle and he will be booked. Could have been a red card.

113': It looks like Varane has departed with an injury. Konate comes on in his place.

109': GOOAAAAAAAL! MESSI! Has he won the World Cup?! It had to be him. There was a chance of an offside call against Martinez in the build-up but it was on! Martinez smashed it at goal and Messi was on hand to bundle in the parried save. It just had to be him.

108': Messi gets a shot away but it is saved comfortably.

106': And they are back. 15 minutes to go in this one.

E.T. Halftime

106': Huge chance for Martinez again as he played in but shoots just wide.

105': Argentina come close by Upamecano makes. avital block to prevent Martinez's shot from troubling Lloris.

103': It feels like this period is petering out a bit. Are we destined for penalties?

101': Double change for Argentina. Alvarez and De Paul go off. Lautaro Martinez and Leandro Paredes come on.

100': France have started the period brighter, bringing the momentum from their dramatic second-half turnaround.

96': Quite a tense start to extra time as the teams realise the enormity of things. It does often happen that extra time has a distinctly different feeling to the second half. Can either side break the tension with a winning goal?

95': France are making another change. Rabiot departs after a fantastic game. He is replaced by Fofana

91': Extra time. is underway here and Molina has been replaced by Montiel for Argentina.

Second Half

18:05 CET: Well, where to start? What a turnaround by France. I'm running out of adjectives to describe it but it truly came out of nowhere. The second has ended 2-2 and so we will need extra time to decide this one. Have a look at the stats below.

Momentum after regular time
Opta by Stats Perform
Full-time stats
Opta by Stats Perform

99': That's full-time. Wow. What drama we've had in the last 15 minutes. The whole game has been turned on its head. Stick around for extra time next. 

98': Acuna is booked for a cynical foul to prevent France from breaking forward.

97': Messi lines one up from the edge of the box and fires it at goal but Lloris is equal to the effort.

96': Now it's Argentina who are hanging on here. Quite an incredible end to this half.

95': The referee is booking Olivier Giroud for his protestations from the bench.

94': Mbappe fires a shot at goal but it's deflected over for a corner.

91': There will be eight minutes added to the second half. Will there be a winner in this half or will we need extra time?

87': Like a phoenix from the ashes, France has been reborn in this final. Quite a stunning turnaround by a team that looked like they were down and out. Credit to them, they're back in it. Have a look at the Momentum graphic below, you can see it hasn't been France's day at all but it doesn't matter now, it's 2-2. 

Match Momentum
Opta by StatsPerform

85': Mbappe whips a ball over to Kolo Muani but it's just out of reach. What's happening here? France are back in this game in a big way and suddenly, the momentum is theirs!

82': GOAAAL! ASTONISHING! Mbappe has scored another! Can you believe it?! From nowhere at all France are back level! I can hardly believe what I'm seeing. It's an incredible finish by Mbappe, too. Two goals in less than two minutes. Bizarre. Magical. Heroic!  

80': GOAL! Well, there is hope yet! Mbappe smashes the penalty into the bottom left corner. Game on!

79': PENALTY! Hang on a minute, France have a chance. They have been awarded a penalty for a tug on Kolo Muani.

76': About a quarter of an hour left to go in this one and France will need to do something they haven't been able to do in this match if they are to get back in it and that's hit the target. And twice, too. Honestly, they don't look like they will. It really isn't their day.

74': Looking at the Momentum graphic below, you can see that France have finally sustained a period of pressure in the match but it feels like too little, too late. By and large, Argentina have run the show.

Momentum after 70 minutes
Opta by Stats Perform

71': Mbappe gets a little bit of space and fires a shot at goal - the first for France. But it's high and wide.

France make the changes as well. Griezmann, who has been largely absent tonight, if off. as is Theo Hernandez. Camavinga and Coman come on.

68': It looks like France are preparing another double change. Kingsley Coman and Eduardo Camavinga are getting ready. They need something, anything to come off.

66': Incredibly, France have still yet to have an attempt on goal. Can you believe that? 65 minutes into a World Cup final and they haven't mustered a shot yet.

64': Angel Mi Maria is taken off after a quite brilliant display - he won the penalty and scored the second. Marcos Acuna comes on in his place.

63': Argentina break through again on the counter and Messi squares it to the effervescent Mac Allister who is just beaten to the ball by Lloris

60': Di Maria does tremendously well again on the left again to wriggle free in the box and whip a ball across to Messi. Di Maria has been one of the standout players tonight for sure.

58': Coming up to the hour mark, Argentina have this match right where they want it. They can sit back and relax as all the initiative now falls on France - what can they muster to turn this around? Deschamps has made two attacking changes already. They don't have many other cards up their sleeve. 

55': Adrien Rabiot is booked for a mistimed tackle on De Paul.

50': De Paul gets another shot away at Lloris and France should be worried now, they have still yet to trouble Martinez in the Argentine goal. 

46': Argentina kick the second half off and immediately go on the attack. France need to wake up this half.

First Half

16:58 CET: If you missed the action from the first half the story is this - Argentina have blown the French away somewhat in the first 45 minutes and hold a two-goal lead. Take a look at the stats from the first half below as well as the Momentum graphic which tells the story of the half.

Momentum in the first half
Opta by StatsPerform
Half-time stats
Opta by StatsPerform

54': That's half-time in this World Cup final. It's been all Argentina it must be said. France have looked sluggish and off-the-pace, could it be that virus that has affected their squad? Whatever it is, they need to find a way back into this match soon before Argentina run away with it.

Stay tuned for the first-half stats.

53': Enzo Fernandez picks up the first yellow card of the match.

48': Seven minutes have been added on to the first half.

45': Argentina, on the other hand, have played much further forward, indicating their dominance so far in the match. You can also see from the graphic how they have set up in a 4-3-3 formation to match the French system. Scaloni chose to go toe-to-toe with France and they are winning the bout so far and by some way.

Argentina's average positions
Opta by StatsPerform

43': Looking at the French average positions, you can see that the team has been stuck in their own half mostly. They haven't been able to get forward - especially on the right, perhaps why Dembele's night is over.

France's average positions
Opta by Stats Perform

41': Quite incredibly France have made a double change. Deschamps is obviously not happy with the start and he's hooked Giroud and Dembele. Thuram and Kolo Muani come on in their places. Very bold move but probably needed as France have to change something.

36': GOAAAAALLLLLLL!!!!!! Argentina have a second! It's Di Maria! What a start to the game he's having! Mac Allister was sent through with a long ball and he raced away from the French defence, squaring it for Di Maria who had the simplest of tasks in slotting it home. France are in trouble now! 

33': Argentina have started this match will all the energy. In truth, France haven't shown up yet. France have not even had a shot at goal - Argentina have managed five and, importantly, are 1-0 up. Can France get a foothold in this match?

28': If you look below, you'll see Messi's penalty history. Curiously, he isn't the best penalty taker statistically but he didn't miss this one - perhaps the most important one.

Messi's penalty history
Opta by Stats Perform

22': GOAL! Messi - who else - slots the penalty into the bottom right corner. Is it going to be his day? So far so good for the little maestro and Argentina.

21': PENALTY! Di Maria dances through on the left side into the box and Dembele trips him up. Referee had to give it.

17': Good chance for Di Maria! After a delightful build-up, the ball is cut back to an unmarked Di Maria but he spoons his shot well over. France need to be careful, if they let Argentina have all the ball, they will create chances as we've seen already.

16': France seem quite happy to let Argentina probe away with the ball. We've seen in previous games that they don't mind letting the opposition have more of the ball as they attempt to catch them on the counter.

13': The possession has been close to evenly split in the opening stages but the action has mostly been in the French half. Argentina are the only side to get some shots away. 

10': Lloris is receiving some treatment after the wind got knocked out of him by big Cristian Romero

8': Di Maria did really well breaking down the left for Argentina there. He will be a threat tonight and his reintroduction to the side gives them a bit more attacking balance and, importantly, width.

5': Alexis Mac Allister gets the first shot away of the match. He puts his foot right through it but it is straight into Lloris' arms. Pretty cagey and pensive start otherwise as was expected.

3': From a neutral's perspective, it must be said that it is a shame to see France not in their lovely red socks. They are solid navy blue today.

1': France kick off and go looking for Mbappe with a long ball towards his flank straight away. He will be one of the dangermen tonight. Can Argentina keep him quiet?

Pre Match

15:59 CET: As expected, the stadium is packed with Argentina fans - it feels like a home game for them again. Can they tap into that huge energy or will France prove too classy? Kick-off next!

15:58 CET: The referee for the final will be Poland's Szymon Marciniak.

15:54 CET: The teams are emerging into the Lusail Iconic Stadium for the anthems. Argentina in their sky blue and white stripes, France in their rich royal blue.

15:45 CET: Welcome to our live updates for the 2022 World Cup Final. Only a quarter of an hour to go before the match kicks off and we can hardly wait for this one. There is almost nothing separating these sides and experts are torn as to who is the favourite. Will it be Messi's Argentina or Mbappe's France? It promises to be a spectacular affair.

The lineups for the game have been announced - take a look at the Team News below to find out who is starting and read our Introduction to learn more about these two sides' roads to the final.

Team News

After some speculation that Karim Benzema might make a miraculous return from injury in time for the final, the Ballon d'Or winner seemed to pour cold water over those rumours and will not be participating.

The good news for France is that they welcome back Adrien Rabiot and Dayot Upamecano to their starting lineup after both players missed the semi-final.

Aurelien Tchouameni and Theo Hernandez, who picked up knocks to their hip and knee respectively, also start for France.

Angel Di Maria will start for Argentina for the first time since the group stage in what looks like an attacking move to mirror France's formation.

Marcos Acuna and Gonzalo Montiel are back from suspension after the two full backs missed the semi-final but neither start.

TEAMS:

Argentina: Emiliano Martinez, Cristian Romero, Nicolas Otamendi, Nahuel Molina, Nicolas Tagliafico, Rodrigo De Paul, Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernandez, Angel Di Maria, Lionel Messi (captain), Julian Alvarez

France: Hugo Lloris (captain), Jules Kounde, Raphael Varane, Dayot Upamecano, Theo Hernandez, Antoine Griezmann, Aurelien Tchouameni, Adrien Rabiot, Ousmane Dembele, Olivier Giroud, Kylian Mbappe

See how they shape up here.

Introduction

It all started on the 20th of November when hosts Qatar opened the tournament with a loss to Ecuador. Since then, it feels like a lifetime of twists and turns have occurred in this incredible tournament.

We've seen some of the greatest upsets in living footballing memory in Qatar, we've seen unlikely sides rise, we've seen giants fall, and we've had lots of gut-wrenchingly dramatic matches. It's all part of the greatest sporting spectacle on earth and the final chapter is about to be written today as Argentina take on France to decide who will be the new world champion.

Argentina's road to the final started with the ignominy of an opening group stage loss to unfancied Saudi Arabia. Before they could even settle into the tournament, crisis had already descended upon them. That wasn't supposed to happen. This was supposed to be Lionel Messi's last dance - his heroic waltz to a first World Cup title. 

After that initial blip, they quickly steadied the ship and went on to beat both Mexico and Poland to top Group C. They were starting to hit their straps but it took some tinkering of the formula by coach Lionel Scaloni to find the right balance in which Messi could both be relieved of defensive duties completely and thrive in a creative sense. 

They beat Australia in the round of 16 but still weren't quite at their peak. Then, against the Netherlands in the quarter-finals, a late Dutch surge forced the game into extra time and then penalties. Argentina won the shootout but had played well enough to win in 90 minutes.

That took them to the semi-final earlier this week again Croatia. Finally, the South Americans seem to reach their potential. They made light work of the Croatians in beating them 3-0. They arrive in today's final as a team whose form has crescendoed throughout the tournament. Is there another gear yet to find? Well, we will find out soon.

France have had a different journey to the final altogether. Despite suffering a slew of pre-tournament injuries which seemed to alter Didier Deschamps' plans completely, they hit the ground running almost immediately with a convincing 4-1 victory over Australia. 

That was followed by a tense but vital win against Denmark to secure progression out of Group D. In their last group match, Deschamps rang the changes and a C-team of reserve players was beaten by Tunisia but by that stage, it didn't matter. 

Their round-of-16 opponent, Poland, offered no real contest for the French. The quarterfinal with England was to be their first big challenge. It was a tight game between two of the best sides in world football but France passed that test with flying colours. Further injuries and illnesses mounted before their semi-final against an inspired Morocco but the French once again proved too wily, too cunning and, most of all, too good for the North Africans. 

This France side has a fascinating habit of reinventing itself when they lose players to injuries. Whether that is the endless Indian summer of Olivier Giroud (36) or the reshaping of Antoine Griezmann (31) as a midfielder - for every question, they seem to have had an answer so far.

But today's question is decidedly bigger - can they stop Messi on his quest for greatness?

Can France stop Argentina from winning a third world championship and instead win their own third, and second consecutive, title? Stay tuned to find out! 

Follow all the action from the final with us on Flashscore.com. We will be providing live updates on this page throughout the match and you can also follow the game using our audio commentary feature (starting at 15:55 CET) here.

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