World Cup

IT was disappointment for France in the World Cup final as they were beaten by Argentina 4-2 on penalties, despite a courageous comeback.Lionel Messi and Co were rampant in the opening 45 minutes as the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner and Angel Di Maria scored as the Argentine’s raced into a two goal lead.
Kylian Mbappe scored a hat-trick in the finalCredit: Getty
Kinglsey Coman missed a decisive spot-kickCredit: Getty
But when all French hope was seemingly lost Kylian Mbappe netted a brace to give Les Bleus a chance and force an additional half an hour of play.
In the 109th minute Messi scored a scrappy goal, but then just nine minutes later Mbappe got his hat-trick to send it to penalties.
Kingsley Coman and Aurelien Tchouameni missed the all-important kicks as Argentina won.
Here is how SunSport rated the France star’s performances in the dramatic game.

France Ratings
Hugo Lloris – 6
Tottenham skipper was furious at the early knock from Romero. No chance with the Messi penalty or Di Maria’s second. Flying leap to foil Messi late-on. Could not stop a pen in the shootout.
Jules Kounde – 4
Was targeted down his flank but it was his decision to leave Di Maria to Dembele and stay deep that proved costly before failing to stop second.
Raphael Varane – 5
The United defender let Upamecano take care of Alvarez to play free. Helpless when France rocked under the Argentine passion play.
Dayot Upamecano – 6
Restored to side after missing semi-final and no real mistakes yet never quite looked composed. Big moments in extra-time.
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Theo Hernandez – 6
All too aware of Messi but will feel let down by Mbappe’s unwillingness to do any of the donkeywork in support of him.
Adrien Rabiot – 4
Declared fit again after a bug but clearly he was not. Has been superb until the final but nowhere near as influential as he had been until the last eight. Booked.
Aurelien Tchouameni – 6
Calmness about his game is remarkable even when those around him seemed for a long time to have gone absent without leave. Missed a crucial penalty.
Antoine Griezmann – 5
Arguably the player of the tournament until the final yet was unable to make any real impact as France fell off their bike.
Ousmane Dembele – 3
Scrambled brain saw him trip Di Maria to hand Argentina the spot-kick lead and never recovered mentally before his early replacement.
Olivier Giroud – 4
Starved of any service in open play and committed foul before getting underneath his one set-piece chance. Clearly furious at being hooked before the break and then booked an HOUR later.
Kylian Mbappe scored an incredible hat-trick in the final
Kylian Mbappe – 9
Zero to hero. Incredible. Was he playing in the first half? Looked like he’d picked the biggest game of his career to have the worst day of his life. Then….remarkable. The first World Cup final hat-trick since Hurst in 1966.
Subs:
Randal Kolo Muani (for Dembele 41) – 6
Scored with his first touch in the semi and while he could not repeat that he gave France the thrust and dynamism they had been lacking to win that spot-kick.
Marcus Thuram (for Giroud 41) – 7
Handed the graveyard shift that had broken Mbappe’s spirit and tried to breathe life into France on the left. Booked.
Kingsley Coman (for Griezmann 71) – 7
Arrival signalled a final throw of the French dice. And it came up with a pair of sixes. Missed penalty.
Eduardo Camavinga (for Hernandez 71) – 6
Looked too late for Real Madrid youngster to change a script that had seemingly long been written, especially at left-back. Conventional wisdom was wrong.
Youssouf Fofana (for Rabiot 96) – 6
Concussion sub made sure he kept his head amid the maelstrom of extra-time passion.
Ibrahima Kounate (for Varane 112) – 5
Desperate times require desperate acts. But there was little the Liverpool defender could do.
Axel Disasi (for Kounde 120) – 5
No time to make any impact.
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Referee: Szymon Marciniak – 8
Polish whistler was perfectly on the spot to make the big penalty call. Kept his head when some players were losing theirs. Brilliant spot of the Thuram dive. More

LIONEL MESSI ended his World Cup career on the highest of highs as he led Argentina to a historic final win over France.Until today the 35-year-old had won every trophy available to him except the World Cup.
Messi led Argentina to World Cup gloryCredit: Getty
Argentina won on penaltiesCredit: Reuters
But following a stellar performance, he finally got his hands on that iconic Jules Rimet trophy.
It was an incredible effort from a resilient Argentina side, especially considering THAT opening game defeat to Saudi Arabia.
On a historic day for football in Argentina, SunSport’s Martin Lipton rates the performance.
Emi Martinez
Aston Villa keeper looked nervous before the game but had the evening of his life with that astonishing extra-time save from Kolo Muani and then shoot-out gamesmanship. 8
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Nahuel Molina
Kept a tight rein on Mbappe, forcing the france superstar to move to the middle. Slightly harder job with Thuram. Still the winner.  7
Cristian Romero
Spurs hardman left one on club skipper Lloris and also Hernandez but relishes these sort of affairs and absolutely loved every minute of this one. 7
Nicolas Otamendi
His brain-fade moment turned a victory cruise into a desperate fight for survival and opened the door for one of the greatest games of all time. 6
Nicolas Tagliafico
Wanted to get forward but delivered all he had to do defensively against both right-sided French options until he faded. 6
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Rodrigo de Paul
Argentina’s midfielder enforcer did exactly what it said on the tin. Nothing fancy, nothing eye-catching but created the platform his side needed. 7
Enzo Fernandez
Buzzed around in trademark style to slow France down whenever they tried to impose a rhythm on the game. Booked.  7 
Alexis Mac Allister
Brighton man had first shot of the final and brilliant run to set up Di  Maria. The Seagull has landed. 7
Lionel Messi
All the disappointments and frustrations can be forgotten. The little man has followed in Maradona’s footsteps. Always available, nerveless under pressure and there to score crucial goals and his spot-kick. 9
Julian Alvarez
City youngster has had better games in Qatar but he will not care too much now. Still been an outstanding month. 7
Angel Di Maria 
Surprise selection on the left of the attacking trident won the penalty with his directness and then slotted home after that lightning break. He left the field sure of victory before everything changed. 9
Subs:
Marcos Acuna (for Di Maria, 64)
Very much a “we hold what we have” change as Argentina ensured there was no way back for France. Didn’t quite work out that way. Booked. 5
Gonzalo Montiel (for Molina, 91)
Defensive change on the left in a bid to nullify the resurgent Mbappe in extra-time. Booked for conceding late penalty than scored to win it 6.
Leandro Paredes (for De Paul, 101)
Scaloni needed to make a change in a bid to wrest back control. Lucky he was only booked for shocker on Camavinga. 6
Lautaro Martinez (for Alvarez, 101)
Extra-time swap up front although Inter man could not get either shooting past Upamecano. 5
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German Pezzella (for Mac Allister 116)
Had not touched the ball before Argentina conceded France’s second penalty. 5
Paulo Dybala (for Tagliafico 120)
Barely time to touch the ball before the shoot-out drama. 5 More

LIONEL MESSI and Kylian Mbappe were having their own battle during the World Cup final.The two number tens both netted in the match as Messi scored twice and Mbappe grabbed himself a hat-trick, but it was their celebrations that grabbed attention.

Lionel Messi fist-pumped at Kylian Mbappe after scoringCredit: Not known, clear with picture desk
After Messi scored the opener of the game from the spot, he was seen having a fist pump towards his PSG team-mate as he made his way back for the restart.
Angel Di Maria then made it two for Argentina with his fine goal before Mbappe hit back.
The French forward fired home a penalty of his own before scoring a wonderful equaliser.
After the initial celebrations with his team-mates – along with French President Emmanual Macron in the stands – Mbappe wanted to return the favour to Messi.
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As he made his way back to the centre, he then threw a fist pump towards Messi, who was standing ready to take kick off.
The interaction caught the attention of fans on social media as one tweeted: “Seems it’s not just Argentina v France but Messi v Mbappe as well”.
A second commented: “Messi first, then Mbappe did not stay silent.
A third added: “Ouch. That hurts”.
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A fourth said: “What a rivalry! The PSG locker room gonna be even more intense now”.
While a fifth insisted that the gesture was for the players on the bench: “It was for the bench, not Mbappe or Messi”.

Both players then scored in extra time to set up a dramatic penalty shootout in which they both scored from the spot.
Messi had the last laugh, though as Argentina came out on top in the shootout to win the World Cup. More

THE world’s greatest-ever player finally did it, triumphing in the best game of football this planet has ever seen. Or is ever likely to see.Lionel Messi yesterday put a beaming smile on every football fan around the world — young and old — regardless of what club or country they support.
Argentina won the World Cup in the most dramatic finalCredit: Getty
Gonzalo Montiel made no mistake from 12 yardsCredit: Reuters
Messi fell to his knees when victory was confirmedCredit: Reuters
Kylian Mbappe came out on the losing side despite his hat-trickCredit: Reuters
Emiliano Martinez celebrated after saving Kingsley Coman’s penaltyCredit: PA
Messi gave the iconic trophy a kiss before getting his hands on itCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
Mbappe held his nerve from the spot for his hat-trick… to send the game to a shootout at the deathCredit: AP
Because as the little man took to the  stage to meet the Emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, to receive his prize, only someone with a heart of stone would not have felt a flicker of emotion and joy.
In a land made rich through oil, Messi finally got his hands on that precious lump of gold that a billion dollars could never buy.
Grinning like a schoolkid, Messi rubbed his hands with glee like he was about to have the meal of his life before the presentation he  always dreamed of actually took place.
He caressed the top of the trophy like  a newborn baby’s head. He did some  dad dancing across the stage to meet his jubilant team before holding aloft the World Cup to kick-start one of the greatest-ever nights back in Buenos Aires.
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The only people on this planet not feeling the love were a few million  French — including Kylian Mbappe.  The brilliant striker had every right to look a bit p****d off after scoring a hat-trick in a World Cup final… and losing.
But Mbappe already has one winners’ medal from four years ago and his time will come again. But it will not for Messi.
The Paris Saint-Germain superstar, like Diego Maradona in 1986, dragged Argentina through this World Cup.
And do not forget, Maradona’s team chucked away a two-goal lead in the final against West Germany before winning 3-2.
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But this game was far more dramatic and complex. Fifa boss Gianni Infantino announced on Saturday that this was the best World Cup ever, yet those sentiments were not shared by everyone.
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But despite obvious issues over the location of this tournament, after this breathless,  roller-coaster which Messi and his mates took us all on, Infantino is probably right.
Equally, both managers — Lionel Scaloni and Didier Deschamps — played a part in allowing their teams to go for the jugular.

Their clever substitutions kept changing  the direction of the game.
And what a result for Scaloni, who has been under all sorts of pressure to deliver.
West Ham fans, who watched him play in a brief loan spell in 2006, will now probably claim they have won the World Cup again.
Ultimately, Argentina held their bottle  in the spot-kicks better than the French as Kingsley Coman and Aurelien  Tchouameni missed penalties and Argentina’s Gonzalo Montiel scored the winner in the shootout.
Argentina were the better team but you have to feel sorry for France — although maybe not too much — for their bloody-minded determination to stop history taking its path and sending the World Cup back to South America for the first time since 2002.

How important this victory is for the  continent which has been so overshadowed by the big bucks of Europe.
Also, what an absolute shame that, despite all the money wasted by the Premier League, we will never have the chance to see Messi sprinkle his stardust over games.
But that is what Messi has done over these last few weeks. Twisting and turning. Causing havoc with his left boot. Making good players look a bit ordinary.
And he did it again yesterday.
Messi showed nerves of steel, staring out Tottenham keeper Hugo Lloris, before planting a fine penalty into the corner  after Ousmane Dembele delivered a clumsy  challenge on Angel Di Maria.
And Messi and his team were in  footballing Heaven when the superstar played his part in a brilliant, six-pass move every bit as good as the famous Carlos Alberto goal for Brazil in the 1970 World Cup.
Messi used the outside of his left boot  for an outrageous pass to Julian Alvarez  and he released Alexis Mac Allister, who continued a run from the back.
The Brighton man’s cross found Di Maria and while it was not the cleanest of  strikes, it was enough to beat Lloris.
Deschamps, panicking, made his changes in the 41st minute. The awful Dembele and Olivier Giroud made way for Marcus Thuram and Randal Kolo Muani.
Uninspiring, France did not even manage  an effort on goal until the 67th minute when Kolo Muani headed wide.
Incredibly, despite all their injuries before the tournament and the virus which hit  players in the last week, Les Bleus finally started swinging punches
Lionel Messi scored from the penalty spot to open the scoringCredit: Getty
Messi made his mark as he broke a host of World Cup recordsCredit: Getty
Angel Di Maria finished over Hugo Lloris for 2-0Credit: AP
Argentina were in cruise control at half-timeCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
Kylian Mbappe’s superb volley made it 2-2Credit: Getty
Kylian Mbappe turned the game on its head singlehandedlyCredit: Getty
Olivier Giroud was furious to be subbed off in the first halfCredit: PA
Tensions were running high towards the end of the 90Credit: Getty
Messi stung Lloris’ palms deep into injury timeCredit: Getty
Lionel Messi thought he had won the World Cup when his finish crossed the lineCredit: PA
Kylian Mbappe send the game to a shootout by completing his hat-trickCredit: AP
They pulled one back through Mbappe’s penalty in the 80th minute when Kolo  Muani was dragged down by Nicolas  Otamendi, who also stuck out a knee.
And, just 97 seconds later, unbelievably, Mbappe scored a stunning, right-footed  volley following an exchange of passes with  Thuram. Remarkably, it all came after Messi lost the ball to Coman.
It seemed Messi had scored the winner in extra time when he scrambled the ball over the line after  Lautaro Martinez’s shot was saved by Lloris.
Yet there was one, final, kick in the  groin for Argentina…
Mbappe scored from the spot again after his shot was handled by Gonzalo Montiel and both teams — losing all sense of nerves — could have won it at the end.
Aston Villa keeper Martinez should forever be remembered for his brilliant save to deny Kolo Muani.
But this day belonged to  talisman  Messi, who set Argentina on their way with the first spot-kick.
It is incredible to think  the magnificent  No 10 lost his opening game against  Saudi Arabia. It is even more remarkable when you consider Messi briefly retired from international football in 2016 because he felt under-appreciated in Argentina.
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Until now, certainly at World Cups, he  has always lived in the shadow of Maradona, the flawed genius.
Messi is different. He is simply a genius.
Martinez guessed correctly and denied ComanCredit: AP
Sergio Aguero joined in the celebrations as he played the drumCredit: PA
Messi hugged his sons after clinching the trophyCredit: Getty
Martinez consoled Mbappe amid the celebrationsCredit: AP
Argentina were roared on to victory by their phenomenal supportCredit: Getty More

LIONEL MESSI fired Argentina into the lead in extra time of the World Cup final… but only just.The Albiceleste found themselves forced into a further 30 minutes after being pegged back by two late Kylian Mbappe goals during a thrilling final.

Lionel Messi squeezes his rebound over the lineCredit: Getty
Argentina celebrate what they thought would be the winnerCredit: Reuters
They dusted themselves down to regain their lead on 108 minutes, and fittingly it was their talisman Messi.
The 35-year-old had already sent millions of fans around the world into raptures by netting a penalty in the first half.
They included his wife Antonela, who was pictured going wild after his first goal.
Messi repeated the trick in extra time, despite nearly being denied by Dayot Upamecano.
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Lautaro Martinez was played through, but saw his shot pawed away by Hugo Lloris.
The rebound fell perfectly to Messi, however, who untidily hacked the ball towards goal.
It just about crossed the line before being hoofed away by the desperate Upamecano.
The linesman initially raised his flag only to swiftly lower it as replays showed Martinez had in fact been onside in the build-up.
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Argentina stars and fans alike were sent into dreamland by the goal… but there was to be another twist in the tale…
With just a few minutes left on the clock a shot by Mbappe struck his former PSG team-mate Leandro Paredes’ arm – with the referee instantly pointing to the spot.
The 23-year-old made no mistake from 12 yards – levelling at 3-3 to send the rollercoaster of a match to a penalty shoot-out.
But Argentina would eventually prevail – with Emi Martinez’s shoot-out antics helping them to a 4-2 win on penalties.

Kylian Mbappe wheels away after making it 3-3Credit: Getty More

KYLIAN MBAPPE was inconsolable on the France bench as he watched Lionel Messi lift the World Cup trophy.The French superstar became the first player since Sir Geoff Hurst to score a hat-trick in the biggest game in football with a stunning treble against Argentina.
Kylian Mbappe pipped Lionel Messi to the World Cup Golden Boot with an outstanding hat-trickCredit: Reuters
But Mbappe was left dejected as Messi went on to win after a penalty shootoutCredit: Reuters
Kylian Mbappe wins the Golden Boot after losing the final
He then netted his penalty in a dramatic shootout – only to see rival keeper Emiliano Martinez save twice to condemn the reining champions to defeat after a 3-3 draw.
Mbappe, 23, went into the showpiece in Qatar level with Paris Saint-Germain, and Argentina talisman, Lionel Messi, on five goals in the tournament.
Messi himself had netted twice in the breathtaking final – making it seven goals a piece – when Mbappe was presented an opportunity to level things up in the 118th minute.
And he held his nerve under the highest of pressure to clinch the Golden Boot, and keep his nation’s dreams alive.
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This came following an incredible final which ended 3-3 after extra-time with both players at the heart of the action.
Messi had started the scoring off, putting Argentina ahead from the penalty spot and in the process moved one in front of Mbappe in the race to become top scorer.
Lionel Messi scored his seventh goal of the tournament in extra-timeCredit: Reuters
Kylian Mbappe was the star of the World Cup final
Angel Di Maria doubled their lead soon after and the South American champions looked on course to win trophy.
But France clawed themselves back thanks to Mbappe with two goals in an exhilarating two minute spell.
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Firstly, he scored a penalty of his own to get his side back into the game before restoring parity moments later with a fine volley.
As a result, he went back in front of Messi in the Golden Boot race.
But Messi looked to have won the World Cup and beat his team-mate to the added prize when he scrambled home 14 minutes into extra-time.
However, Mbappe wasn’t finished there, scoring another spot-kick in the 118th minute to not only take the game to penalties but to earn himself the Golden Boot prize.
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Mbappe and Messi would both score again from 12-yards in the shootout.
But it was Mbappe who was left heartbroken as Messi fulfilled his destiny and achieved World Cup glory at his final attempt. More