The day is finally here
Hello and welcome.
It’s December 18, Qatar’s National Day. It’s also the day when Argentina and France lock horns at Lusail Stadium to decide who win the World Cup 2022.
Follow all the updates right here in the lead-up to the final that kicks off at 6pm (15:00 GMT).
And then there were two
After 29 days and 64 matches, we have the two teams who still remain in the World Cup: Argentina and France.
Will Messi finally end his long quest for World Cup glory or will Mbappe become a two-time world champion at the age of 23?
It’s the biggest game in football, the FIFA World Cup final. Are you ready?
Argentina fans have taken over Doha
From outdoor barbecues and loud singing to Argentina flags at every lamp post and window, Al Wakrah city, southeast of Doha, has become a mini Buenos Aires at this World Cup.
According to the Argentinian embassy in Doha, at least 35,000 Albiceleste fans have made the long journey to Qatar. While some left after the first few matches, most stayed to rally around their team in the knockout stages.
History awaits France
Tonight, France can become the first team since Brazil in 1962 to retain the World Cup.
France fans in a confident mood
“We will win tonight, France will bring home the trophy. Even if they haven’t played their best football, with all the injuries that Deschamps had to find solutions to,” France fan Thomas Vaneck said.
“I know there will be some 35,000 to 40,000 Argentinian fans in the stadium, and only about 6,000 French fans, so we will be outnumbered in the stands, but the team will win on the pitch. It will be 2-0 for France. Mbappe and Griezmann will score.”
A look at the dressing rooms for the final
Kickoff is about tooo but the The vibes is too high to immaculate, ‘souq’ it in
…but the atmosphere is starting to build.
The last time these two won the World Cup
It has been 36 years since Argentina last won the World Cup. You can read about Mexico 1986 and the manner in which Diego Maradona left his indelible mark on it.
France don’t have to go that far back for their last World Cup win. The defending champions lifted the Jules Rimet in 2018, where incidentally they beat Argentina in their first knockout game. Read about France’s triumph at Russia 2018
Mbappe vs Messi – winner takes all
My prediction for the final is that it will be won by a PSG player.
Kosovar artist Alkent Pozhegu works on the last details of his mosaic, made with grain and seeds on the ground, depicting Messi and Mbappe
A nation comes together for the final
The city of Buenos Aires has organised “banderazos” – events for people to cheer on the team, dance and wave Argentina flags – at 15 points across the capital in the days before the final.
The idea? Players more than 13,300km (8,264 miles) away in Qatar should be able to hear the collective “scream” of the fans backing them.
“That passion, that communion, that thing of celebrating the goal with the person that you have beside you, even though you don’t know who they are, or what they think, or where they come from,” said Buenos Aires Mayor Horacio Rodriguez Larreta. “We’re all together behind the same passion.”
A truly wild statistic
A big night awaits Argentina fans
If the world wants to know how Argentina fans prepare for a World Cup final, it needs to come to Barwargento.
The apartment complex 35km south of Doha is home to thousands of travelling Argentinian fans, who are revelling in anticipation of what will be the biggest night of their lives.
Fans dressed up in the white-and-blue shirt of their national team are bouncing up and down while singing the full range of their football anthems. The central square is adorned with flags and banners carrying caricatures of Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona.
Barbecue grills with a variety of meats are scattered across the main square, and the food is offered to anyone who walks into the area, Argentinian or not. A dozen shuttle buses parked inside the complex will transport the boisterous fans to Lusail Stadium in a few hours.
How’s the mood in France?
“I’m sure France will win. It’s a unified, spirited team which has the potential to make it. So, for me, it’s a flamboyant team and they are going to reach the top,” said Paris resident Xavier Grand-Jacquot.
“I hope tonight there won’t be too much work so we can watch the game,” an employee at a Champs Elysees Hotel, Ali Benamore, told Reuters news agency.
French authorities have mobilised 14,000 police officers across the country and about 4,000 in the Ile-de-France region before the final.
How have you been prepping for the final?
Security measures outside Lusail Stadium
There is tight security in and around the Lusail Stadium.
There are riot police on horses, with helicopters in the sky keeping a close watch on proceedings.
Who is winning the Golden Boot race?
Four players enter the final with a chance to win the Golden Boot.
Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe are tied on five goals, while Alvarez and Giroud have scored four times. If it ends this way, Messi would win the trophy, because he has more assists to his name.
Qatar National Day celebrations
Everyone here at Lusail Stadium is looking at the sky. The Qatar National Day airshow is in full force.
Mbappe could join Pele’s rarified league
Line-ups are out
Argentina XI: Damian Martinez, Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Nicolas Otamendi, Marcos Acuna, Rodrigo De Paul, Enzo Fernandez, Alexis Mac Allister, Angel Di Maria, Lionel Messi and Julian Alvarez
France XI: Hugo Lloris, Jules Kounde, Dayot Upamecano, Raphael Varane, Theo Hernandez, Adrien Rabiot, Aurelien Tchouameni, Kylian Mbappe, Antoine Griezmann, Ousmane Dembele and Olivier Giroud
The stage is set
The lights have been dimmed. The noise has gone down a few notches.
All eyes are on the turf below as the closing ceremony is about to start. Performers in costumes are moving into place.
Les Bleus and La Albiceleste vie for football immortality
A journey that began with 32 of the world’s best teams has arrived at the final two as Argentina and France battle for football’s most coveted prize.
Argentina’s path here can largely be attributed to the exploits of their talisman, Lionel Messi, who has had a tournament for the ages. He is arguably the front runner for the Golden Ball award, given his joint tournament-leading five goals and three assists.
Before the competition began, one of the major narratives was if Messi could finally win the one trophy that had eluded his well-stocked war chest. We shall find out soon enough if it was truly meant to be.
As for France, they are looking to make a little history of their own by becoming the first team since Brazil’s 1958 and 1962 successes to win back-to-back World Cups after reaching the summit in Russia four years ago.
Despite suffering a raft of injuries before the tournament, Les Bleus have managed to make it here in large part to their two main scoring threats of Kylian Mbappe and Olivier Giroud. If either of these players fire today, France could very well repeat their 2018 heroics.
So who will leave their mark on history?
RELATED: Watch World Cup closing ceremony – FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022
Closing ceremony in full swing
Lots of people are on their feet with cell phones recording this spectacular ceremony.
Dancing, clapping, cheering – it’s all happening as Hayya Hayya blares around the stadium.
Closing ceremony concludes, teams ready for warm-ups
The lights are back on, and the closing ceremony performers have left the pitch.
The pitch cover has also been taken off. The players are about to step out for their warm-ups.
The real show will kick off in less than an hour.
Players warming up
It seems like some people have missed out on the amazing ceremony.
There are few empty seats around the almost 89,000-capacity arena.
But there is still time before the action starts.
Players have come out for the pre-game warm-up, and the fans are cheering loudly.
Messi makes yet more history
Lionel Messi, Argentina’s captain and talisman, is about to break the record for the most ever World Cup appearances by a male player.
Today’s final marks the 26th time the diminutive superstar has taken to the field during world football’s biggest tournament, taking him one appearance past legendary German midfielder Lothar Matthaus.
Mbappe the key for Les Bleus
The French forward has lived up to expectations so far in this tournament.
He is currently the joint top scorer with Messi on five goals.
Mbappe, who has the rare ability to decide matches on his own, will know his opposing number 10 quite well, given their proximity in the Paris Saint-Germain dressing room.
His work will be cut out for him, but he will have support from a French side that possesses plenty of depth and talent.
This is what they’re playing for
Fireworks erupt in anticipation of the main event
We are just about five minutes away now as fireworks go off at Lusail Stadium for what is a highly anticipated clash between these two powerhouses.
Kick-off
The teams have stood for their national anthems and are ready to go after what has seemed like a lengthy build-up to the proceedings.
Argentina will don their traditional blue and white colours while France will go with their trademark navy.
La Albiceleste have opted to go with their customary 4-4-2 formation while Les Bleus are sticking with their tried-and-tested 4-1-2-3 scheme.
It will be France kicking things off here at Lusail Stadium.
1 minute: Argentina 0-0 France
Teams look to be positive from the outset
So far it is apparent that both sides are looking to dig their teeth into this contest.
The passing hasn’t quite been top-shelf yet, but it is just a matter of time before the teams hit their stride.
4 mins: Argentina 0-0 France
Red-hot atmosphere on a chilly evening at Lusail Stadium
It’s impossible to hear yourself in the stadium. The noise is deafening as the Argentina supporters cheer every move made by their side.
While the atmosphere is red-hot, the weather is a little bit chilly. Many fans are putting on jumpers as they settle in for the final of the first winter World Cup.
Argentina seize the initiative with positive first 10 minutes
Argentina have started strongly and looked threatening in the opening 10 minutes.
France have made a habit throughout the tournament of weathering tough spells, so they will be far from panicked although they’ll certainly be eager to reverse the early momentum and establish a foothold in the game soon.
Argentina win first corner of the match
The momentum has shifted in Argentina’s favour in these early exchanges.
They have players circling around the box and are patiently looking for opportunities to strike.
After winning a corner on the right side, Messi sends it in, but the delivery is a bit undercooked as the ball ends up bobbling around in the box with Lloris finally able to get hold of it in the air.
11 mins: Argentina 0-0 France
France start to flex their muscles
After the ball seemed to be pinned in the Argentinian end, France have responded in kind.
They have begun to push up the numbers but need to be wary of Argentina’s lethal counterattack ability.
15 mins: Argentina 0-0 France
Argentina targets France’s right flank
It appears Kounde, France’s right back, may be in for a long night.
Argentina are targeting their attacks down his flank with Di Maria, La Albiceleste’s left winger, seeing plenty of the ball in the first 20 minutes.
Penalty!
Dembele brings down Di Maria in the box as he comes in from the left side, and Argentina win a penalty.
It will be Messi who will take it – as if it were ever in doubt?
22 mins: Argentina 0-0 France
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GOAL!
Messi strikes it low to the right to send Argentinian fans into the stratosphere.
That strike also pushes him past Mbappe to be the tournament’s leading scorer with six goals.
23 mins: Argentina 1-0 France
Argentina win right-side corner
Messi curls it at the near post, but the ball is headed away by Giroud who does well to protect the angle.
30 mins: Argentina 1-0 France
Messi breaks more World Cup records
Messi’s conversion from the penalty spot came at the exact moment he also broke the record for the most minutes of World Cup football played by a single male footballer.
He has now surpassed former Italian defender Paolo Maldini’s 2,216 minutes of World Cup action.
The 35-year-old has also become the first player to score in every round of a men’s World Cup.
GOAL!
Di Maria beats Lloris from the left side to give Argentina a 2-0 lead.
36 mins: Argentina 2-0 France
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Spectacular goal gives Argentina control
This is arguably one of the goals of the tournament.
After winning the ball just before the halfway line, Messi helps engineer a counter by releasing Mac Allister with a lovely through pass.
The Argentinian steams towards the penalty box, and times a beautifully weighted pass to Di Maria on his left side.
The winger is able to collect and slot the ball past Lloris with ease towards the far post.
The current world champions are on the canvas
France make changes
Didier Deschamps reacts from the bench, taking Giroud and Dembele off in favour of Marcus Thuram and Randal Kolo Muani.
This move switches Mbappe into a more central striking role.
With Thuram coming on, this becomes the first time a father and a son have been on the pitch in World Cup finals.
His father, Lilian Thuram, played in the 1998 World Cup final against Brazil.
43 mins: Argentina 2-0 France
Seven minutes of added time
The fourth official has signalled for seven more minutes of stoppage time.
45+1 mins: Argentina 2-0 France
Half-time: Argentina 2-0 France
Cometh the hour, cometh the man.
Argentina have provided arguably their best first-half performance of the tournament on the biggest occasion of them all.
And it is that man, Messi, who has helped spark it.
From taking a decisive penalty to put pressure on Les Bleus to helping initiate a counter that led to the eventual Di Maria goal, number 10 has left his mark already.
France have looked second rate so far but have the quality and ability to push through.
Question is, can they do it in the next 45 minutes?
Mbappe missing in action
Argentina dominant as toothless France flounder
Argentina absolutely dominated the reigning world champions during the opening 45 minutes.
La Albiceleste’s two goals were fair reward for their control of the ball and constant threats.
France didn’t manage a single shot at goal, and star forward Mbappe has largely gone unseen throughout. They will need to do much more in the second period if they are to get themselves back into the game.
Second half under way
The players have regrouped and are ready to go for this crucial second half.
It will be Argentina’s turn to kick things off as France look to close the two-goal gap.
46 mins: Argentina 2-0 France
De Paul has opening chance of second half
Argentina look to continue where they left off in the first half and are dominating the second so far.
As they converge on the French box, De Paul is found outside on the right.
A cross is sent in his direction, and he elects to go for a scissor kick but doesn’t have enough behind it to trouble Lloris.
50 mins: Argentina 2-0 France
Rabiot shown yellow card
For a very late tackle from behind on De Paul, Rabiot goes straight into the referee’s book.
55 mins: Argentina 2-0 France
Lloris’s slide saves France
Argentina continue their ruthless play as Messi picks out Alvarez with a through ball on the left side.
The striker then sees Mac Allister on his right, who has a clear path for goal.
Lloris spots this and rushes out. He is able to get to the ball in the nick of time with a slide to just beat Mac Allister to it.
65 mins: Argentina 2-0 France
Argentina make a substitution
Di Maria’s eventful night comes to a close as he is subbed off for Marcos Acuna.
Clearly a tactical change from Scaloni as they look to have an extra defender in place as the match enters the final 25 minutes of normal time.
65 mins: Argentina 2-0 France
Mbappe effort goes skywards
We have the first real signal of intent from the French striker.
He decides to have a shot at goal from inside the box on the left side, but the ball ends up going well over.
72 mins: Argentina 2-0 France
Penalty!
Otamendi brings down Kolo Muani inside the box, and France are awarded a penalty.
Mbappe will take the chance for Les Bleus.
79 mins: Argentina 2-0 France
Mbappe picks up the ball to take the penalty
GOAL!
Martinez guesses right as Mbappe goes left, but the striker is just too good as France make it 2-1.
80 mins: Argentina 2-1 France
The world champions answer back
Out of nowhere, Mbappe has struck two times in as many minutes to change the whole complexion of the match.
After winning the ball, Thuram finds Mbappe inside the box on the left side with a quick chip.
Mbappe, in one fell swoop, goes for a low volley, which beats Martinez.
We are just seven minutes from extra time, but is there one last twist in the tale?
84 mins: Argentina 2-2 France
Yellow card shown to Thuram for simulation
Thuram is given a yellow card for simulation, but almost everyone on the ground thought it was another French penalty as the forward went down.
Brilliant spot by the referee upon second viewing.
88 mins: Argentina 2-2 France
Eight minutes of stoppage time
With all that just happened, unsurprisingly the fourth official has signalled for eight minutes of additional time.
90+1 mins: Argentina 2-2 France
After Messi broke a number of World Cup records in the first half, another number 10 makes history of his own with two strikes in the second period.
End of normal time
After a chaotic final 20 minutes, this World Cup final extends into extra time.
End of normal time: Argentina 2-2 France
First half of extra time under way
Contrasting emotions for the fans in the stands.
Argentina fans look rather baffled with what just transpired over the last half hour, while France supporters are enjoying a second wind.
How will this match conclude, though? We should be in for a tantalising 30 minutes of play.
It is France who will start off the extra time period.
Watch ”HIGHLIGHTS: Argentina triumph over France in brilliant final | World Cup 2022”, below
HIGHLIGHTS: Argentina vs France in brilliant final | World Cup 2022
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