LIVE: Argentina play France in the 2022 World Cup final France and Argentina fans start arriving at the Lusail Stadium in Qatar which will be the host stadium for the 2022 World Cup final. Soccer fans will also gather in Buenos Aires and Paris to watch the World Cup final.
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HERE WE GOAT Argentina vs France – World Cup final 2022 LIVE: Stream FREE, score, TV channel – Messi scores cool penalty
Kostas Lianos
Updated: 15:26, 18 Dec 2022
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ARGENTINA are leading in the huge World Cup final against France thanks to a Lionel Messi penalty.
It’s all set up for Messi to bow out on a perfect note with the golden boot up for grabs too in Qatar… unless Kylian Mbappe has something to say about it.
The headline team news was that Olivier Giroud kept his place up front for France, with Marcus Thuram staying on the bench.
While for Argentina, ex-Man Utd star Angel Di Maria has been recalled to the starting XI after recovering from a thigh injury earlier in the tournament.
Kick-off time: 3pm GMT
Live stream: BBC iPlayer and ITV X
TV channel: BBC One and ITV
Argentina XI: Martinez; Molina, Romero, Otamendi, Tagliafico; Di Maria, De Paul, Fernandez, Mac Allister; Messi, Alvarez
France XI: Lloris; Kounde, Varane, Upamecano, T Hernandez; Griezmann, Tchouameni, Rabiot; O.Dembele, Mbappe, Giroud
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TODAY, 15:26
25 Argentina 1-0 France
Here’s what SunSport’s man on the field Martin Lipton thought about Argentina’s penalty:
What WAS he thinking?
Tension and pressure make mincemeat of brains.
This time it is Dembele’s wiring that was scrambled, with a needless and clear-cut trip on Di Maria.
Penalty. Absolutely. 100 per cent.
The decision was instant and Messi sent Lloris the wrong way.
For the first time since the start of the game, Deschamps is out of his dug-out. Scaloni, who has been on the edge of his all match, retreats into his seat.
Martin LiptonSunSport
TODAY, 15:24
22 Argentina 1-0 France
Messi is one step closer to finally winning his first ever World Cup.
The Argentina captain takes the penalty kick and sends the ball to the bottom left corner while Lloris goes the other way!
Wild celebrations from the Albiceleste players and bench as well as Messi’s family up in the booths
TODAY, 15:22
22 Argentina 1-0 France
Goal
Argentina open the scoring with Messi!
TODAY, 15:21
21 Argentina 0-0 France
Penalty for Argentina!!!
Argentina get a penalty after Di Maria broke inside the area from the left and appeared to have been fouled by Dembele from behind
TODAY, 15:20
20 Argentina 0-0 France
France get a free-kick from a promising position down the left and a good delivery comes through.
Giroud dives OVER the defenders for the header in the far post but just misses the target.
Doesn’t matter as referee Marciniak says the striker committed a foul.
Messi is ready to take it!
TODAY, 15:17
17 Argentina 0-0 France
Chance
Argentina continue to knock on France’s door with De Paul delivering a pass from the right.
Messi leaves it for Di Maria on the far post but the winger sends the ball all the way up to the cheap seats
TODAY, 15:16
17 Argentina 0-0 France
Another update from SunSport’s Martin Lipton, who is at the Lusail Stadium:
Mmm. Not sure Lloris will be hugging Romero when they get back to Hotspur Way.
French captain got a real clattering from his club-mate, a mixture of shoulder and body, which was always going to be given as a foul but left him down for a couple of minutes and looking less than impressed.
Argentina the ones knocking on the door. France have barely had a touch in the other half.
Martin LiptonSunSport
TODAY, 15:14
15 Argentina 0-0 France
Here’s how the two teams look like today:
Argentina are playing in their legendary white and blue jerseys.
Whereas France don their blue shirts for the 2022 World Cup Final.
Here’s one of the many clashes we will see between Messi and Mbappe
Credit: Getty
TODAY, 15:11
12 Argentina 0-0 France
Lloris is thankfully back up to his feet!
Back to action then, with France happy not to have possession and wait for those counter-attacking opportunities as Martin told us previously
TODAY, 15:10
10 Argentina 0-0 France
France goalkeeper and captain Lloris is down following a collision with team-mate Romero.
Physios have entered the pitch to check on the French shot-stopper
TODAY, 15:08
8 Argentina 0-0 France
Chance
Another shot for Argentina as De Paul’s powerful shot catches a deflection and just misses Lloris’ bottom left corner
TODAY, 15:07
8 Argentina 0-0 France
Let’s hear from SunSport’s man on the field Martin Lipton:
The Lusail stadium is shaped like a traditional Arabic hand-crafted bowl.
And inside it is a cauldron of noise and excitement.
Argentina calling the early shots, much to the enjoyment of the fans.
But France, we know, are happy to be reactive. Indeed, the more Argentina have the ball, the happier they will be as Deschamps eyes those counter-attacking opportunities.
Martin LiptonSunSport
TODAY, 15:06
5 Argentina 0-0 France
5 Chance
We have the first shot of the match from Argentina ace Mac Allister who fires it from the edge of the box.
But LLoris makes a comfortable save – the first shot of many to come, we hope…
TODAY, 15:05
5 Argentina 0-0 France
Argentina are dominating possession and tempo in the opening few minutes.
France are making mistakes at the back, the Argentine crowd makes the Lusail Stadium sounds like the Bombonera!
TODAY, 15:03
3 Argentina 0-0 France
Argentina start strong with De Paul chipping a ball over for Alvarez inside the area.
Lloris gets to the ball but the Man City ace is offside anyway
TODAY, 15:01
2 Argentina 0-0 France
And another reminder:
Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni appears to have opted for a 4-4-2 formation against France.
Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martinez starts between the sticks with Nahuel Molina at right-back and Nicolas Tagliafico on the other side, while Nicolas Otamendi and Tottenham’s Cristian Romero link up at centre-back.
Angel Di Maria covers the right flank with Brighton’s Alexis Mac Allister on the other side, while Enzo Fernandez and Rodrigo De Paul team up in midfield.
Manchester City’s Julian Alvarez and captain Lionel Messi spearhead the attack
TODAY, 15:00
1 Argentina 0-0 France
A quick reminder:
France manager Didier Deschamps appears to have opted for a 4-2-3-1 formation against Argentina.
Captain – and Tottenham keeper – Hugo Lloris starts in goal with Jules Kounde at right-back and Theo Hernandez on the other side, while Dayot Upamecano and Manchester United’s Raphael Varane team up at centre-back.
Aurelien Tchouameni and Adrien Rabiot link up in midfield with Antoine Griezmann playing at No10.
Ousmane Dembele will cover the right flank with star man Kylian Mbappe on the other side, while record scorer Olivier Giroud leads the attack
TODAY, 15:00
Argentina 0-0 France
Peep!
Off we go in Qatar!!!
