ARGENTINA have doubled their lead against France as they dominate in the World Cup final.
The South Americans have come firing out of the blocks in the final in Qatar, and their pressure has been rewarded with Lionel Messi’s calmly taken spot-kick.
Angel Di Maria – who was recalled to the starting line-up – scored Argentina’s second before the end of the first half.
France are aiming to become only the third team to retain the World Cup trophy, while Messi is bidding for the biggest prize in his final match for Argentina.
- 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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46 Argentina 2-0 France
No changes from either side as we kick things off in the second half.
But reminding you that France manager Deschamps made a shock double switch in the closing stages of the first half with Kolo Muani and Thuram replacing Giroud and Dembele
Argentina 2-0 France
Peep!
Off we go again in Qatar!!!
Messi vs France
Argentina captain Lionel Messi has absolutely dominated against France in the first half.
Messi scored from the penalty spot and then started a brilliant attack that ended with Angel Di Maria’s goal.
But the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner did so much more than that.
More below:
Word from the ground
Here’s what SunSport’s man on the field Martin Lipton makes of the first half from the Lusail Stadium:
French fans have gone very quiet.
Not a surprise, really. This wasn’t meant to happen.
But Deschamps’ team have looked a pale imitation of their normal selves.
They have to do something that looks a long way beyond them to get themselves back into this contest.
That means Mbappe turning up. His performance so far has been little short of an embarrassment.
The Argentine army is convinced they are 45 minutes away from glory. You can’t blame them for that.
Martin Lipton
Messi vs Mbappe
This has been built as a dream match between Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe.
But so far this has been the Messi show with the Argentina captain moving the ball everywhere.
France superstar Mbappe, on the other hand, has been non-existent and only picked the ball down the left.
More below:
Argentina vs France stats
Argentina dominated 59 per cent of possession against France in the first half.
The Albiceleste registered a total of six shots, three of which were on target.
France, on the other hand, were very disappointing and didn’t produce a single shot.
More below:
HT: Argentina 2-0 France
Argentina are 2-0 up against France following a rather smooth first half for Lionel Scaloni’s men at the Lusail Stadium.
The Albiceleste opened the scoring on 23 minutes when Lionel Messi beat Hugo Lloris from the penalty spot after Ousmane Dembele tripped Angel Di Maria from behind inside the area.
The Argentine doubled their lead after 36 minutes with some brilliant passing football.
Messi flicked it to Julian Alvarez on his right and the Manchester City ace found Alexis Mac Allister who passed to the incoming Di Maria on the left.
The Juventus star found himself in front of Lloris and beat him with a clinical shot that hit the France captain’s bottom left corner
Credit: Getty HT: Argentina 2-0 France
Peep!
That’s half-time in Qatar!!!
45+7 Argentina 2-0 France
Yellow card
We have the first booking of the match and it goes to Fernandez for a late challenge on Kolo Muani
45+5 Argentina 2-0 France
France are obviously livelier and attackers, like Kolo Muani, look to be well up for it.
But they will need to show a lot more in the second half – Mbappe has been non-existent.
Such an easy first half for Argentina, perhaps their easiest in the entire tournament
45+3 Argentina 2-0 France
Messi is playing one of the best matches of his career, but Di Maria has also been on fire down the left.
The Argentina captain keeps feeding some wonderful crosses to the Juventus star, who constantly makes them count.
No wonder he finished that wonderful play with a clinical goal…
Credit: Reuters Credit: EPA 45 Argentina 2-0 France
Seven minutes of stoppage time to go until half-time.
France have already improved with Deschamps’ double switch – the world champs look livelier and quicker. But not by much…
44 Argentina 2-0 France
France manager Deschamps seems like he didn’t want to wait for half-time to send a message to his players that need to wake up.
Plus, Les Bleus need pace – something that Thuram and Kolo Muani have.
Finally, this allows Mbappe to play in the middle and spearhead the Tricolores’ attack
43 Argentina 2-0 France
Here’s what SunSport’s Martin Lipton makes of Di Maria’s brilliant goal:
And that IS a great goal.
Outstanding team play, magnificent one-touch passing, maturity by Mac Allister to pick the right option with Kounde steaming across and calm assurance in Di Maria’s finish.
France look shellshocked and potentially broken.
Plenty of teams have come from one down to win a World Cup.
Only West Germany in 1954 have come from two behind.
Martin Lipton
40 Argentina 2-0 France
Subsitution
France manager Deschamps shakes things up just five minutes before half-time.
Thuram and Kolo Muani come on for Giroud and Dembele respectively.
Risky from the French boss…
38 Argentina 2-0 France
That goal comes down to Messi’s brilliance, the Argentina captain’s genius flick to Alvarez on his right was the difference maker.
That allowed the Man City ace to find Mac Allister in front of him, then the Brighton star played a brilliant through ball to Di Maria who beat Lloris
36 Argentina 2-0 France
What a goal by Argentina, perfect team work from Scaloni’s men! Absolute masterpiece!
Messi chips it to Alvarez on his right and the Man City ace finds Mac Allister who plays it to the incoming Di Maria on the left.
The Juventus star then beats Lloris with a clinical shot that hits the bottom left corner
36 Argentina 2-0 France
Goal!
Argentina double the lead with Di Maria!!!
35 Argentina 1-0 France
Here’s some more insight from SunSport’s Martin Lipton:
The Argentina fans are in dreamland, even though it’s only a single goal.
France simply have not got going, at all.
They look leggy.
Maybe that bug has taken more out of them than anyone knew?At some point, if France are to get back into this, Mbappe has got to come to the party. So far he seems to have forgotten his invitation.
Martin Lipton
33 Argentina 1-0 France
Messi is basically unbeatable in the first half so far, the Argentina captain always finds space to move and pass to Di Maria as well as Mac Allister on the wings.
Excellent link-up between the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner and the midfield duo of Fernandez as well as De Paul
30 Argentina 1-0 France
Argentina continue to dominate against a stricken France…
The Albiceleste are obviously boosted by their home crowd-like support while the French are struggling to find their rhythm
28 Argentina 1-0 France
Messi has sparked wild celebrations on the pitch and stands, where his family is watching from.
The Argentina captain has equalled Pele in World Cup goals as he just netted his 12th
Credit: Reuters Credit: Getty Credit: Rex 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 Lipton
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
22 Argentina 1-0 France
Goal
Argentina open the scoring with Messi!
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
