FIFA WC final: Majestic Mbappé leads France’s revival after Messi’s magic in first half

By Online Desk

Kylian Mbappé pulled France back into the contest after Argentina took a 2-0 lead against France at half-time. The French superstar scored twice in two minutes for France to level the scores.

Mbappé converted a penalty in the 80th minute to make it 2-1. He then scored an excellent volley a minute later to make it 2-2.

This comes after Argentina took a 2-0 lead against France at half-time in the World Cup final after goals by Lionel Messi and Angel Di Maria. A win here today will give La albiceleste their third World Cup title and Messi, his first world cup crown. 

Argentina drew the first blood courtesy of Messi who scored in the 23rd minute via a penalty kick following a foul on Di Maria. Thirteen minutes later Di Maria finished off a flowing team move involving a deft flick from Messi.

Messi now has 12 World Cup goals — the same as Brazil great Pelé — and is the first player to score in the group stage and every round of the knockout stage in a single edition of the tournament. He is currently the top scorer in this year’s tournament with 6 goals.

Di Maria does it for La Albiceleste!

Messi -> Alavez -> Mac Allister -> Di Maria -> GOAL! A pitch perfect execution as Argentina are all over in France in the first half of the final!#Qatar2022

– AP pic.twitter.com/CNx0DbLiF0

— Sports Express (@Xpress_Sports) December 18, 2022

Argentina received a boost in the form of veteran playmaker Angel Di Maria who started the game after suffering an injury in the opening game against Saudi Arabia. Coach Lionel Scaloni lined up his in a 4-3-3 formation.

Meanwhile, France midfielder Adrien Rabiot returned to the starting XI in place of Youssouf Fofana and centre-back Dayot Upamecano replaced Ibrahima Konate. Deschamps lined up the defending champions in a 4-3-3 with the in-form Antoine Griezmann completing the midfield trio alongside Tchouameni and Rabiot. Skipper Hugo Lloris looks to become the only captain to win back-to-back World Cups after leading the Les Blues to glory in 2018.

Argentina won the competition in 1978 and 1986, while France won it in 1998 and as recently as 2018.

Starting Lineups:

Argentina (4-3-3): Emiliano Martínez; Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Nicolás Otamendi, Nicolas Tagliafico; Angel Di Maria, Rodrigo De Paul, Enzo Fernández, Alexis Mac Allister; Julián Álvarez, Lionel Messi.

France (4-3-3): Hugo Lloris; Jules Koundé, Raphael Varane, Dayot Upamecano, Theo Hernandez; Aurélien Tchouaméni, Antoine Griezmann, Adrien Rabiot; Ousmane Dembélé, Kylian Mbappé, Olivier Giroud.

<br /> Kylian Mbappé pulled France back into the contest after Argentina took a 2-0 lead against France at half-time. The French superstar scored twice in two minutes for France to level the scores.</p> <p>Mbappé converted a penalty in the 80th minute to make it 2-1. He then scored an excellent volley a minute later to make it 2-2.</p> <p>This comes after Argentina took a 2-0 lead against France at half-time in the World Cup final after goals by Lionel Messi and Angel Di Maria. A win here today will give La albiceleste their third World Cup title and Messi, his first world cup crown. </p> <p>Argentina drew the first blood courtesy of Messi who scored in the 23rd minute via a penalty kick following a foul on Di Maria. Thirteen minutes later Di Maria finished off a flowing team move involving a deft flick from Messi.</p> <!-- WP QUADS Content Ad Plugin v. 2.0.86.1 --> <div class="quads-location quads-ad843 " id="quads-ad843" style="float:none;margin:0px 3px 3px 3px;padding:0px 0px 0px 0px;" data-lazydelay="0"> <!-- WP QUADS - Quick AdSense Reloaded v.2.0.86.1 Content AdSense async --> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:block;" data-ad-format="auto" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7550963679842137" data-ad-slot="4374041191"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});</script> <!-- end WP QUADS --> </div> <p>Messi now has 12 World Cup goals — the same as Brazil great Pelé — and is the first player to score in the group stage and every round of the knockout stage in a single edition of the tournament. He is currently the top scorer in this year’s tournament with 6 goals.</p> <p>Di Maria does it for La Albiceleste!<br /> Messi -> Alavez -> Mac Allister -> Di Maria -> GOAL! A pitch perfect execution as Argentina are all over in France in the first half of the final!#Qatar2022<br /> – AP pic.twitter.com/CNx0DbLiF0<br /> — Sports Express (@Xpress_Sports) December 18, 2022<br /> Argentina received a boost in the form of veteran playmaker Angel Di Maria who started the game after suffering an injury in the opening game against Saudi Arabia. Coach Lionel Scaloni lined up his in a 4-3-3 formation.</p> <p>Meanwhile, France midfielder Adrien Rabiot returned to the starting XI in place of Youssouf Fofana and centre-back Dayot Upamecano replaced Ibrahima Konate. Deschamps lined up the defending champions in a 4-3-3 with the in-form Antoine Griezmann completing the midfield trio alongside Tchouameni and Rabiot. Skipper Hugo Lloris looks to become the only captain to win back-to-back World Cups after leading the Les Blues to glory in 2018.</p> <p>Argentina won the competition in 1978 and 1986, while France won it in 1998 and as recently as 2018.</p> <!-- WP QUADS Content Ad Plugin v. 2.0.86.1 --> <div class="quads-location quads-ad843 " id="quads-ad843" style="float:none;margin:0px 3px 3px 3px;padding:0px 0px 0px 0px;" data-lazydelay="0"> <!-- WP QUADS - Quick AdSense Reloaded v.2.0.86.1 Content AdSense async --> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:block;" data-ad-format="auto" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7550963679842137" data-ad-slot="4374041191"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});</script> <!-- end WP QUADS --> </div> <p>Starting Lineups:</p> <p>Argentina (4-3-3): Emiliano Martínez; Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Nicolás Otamendi, Nicolas Tagliafico; Angel Di Maria, Rodrigo De Paul, Enzo Fernández, Alexis Mac Allister; Julián Álvarez, Lionel Messi.</p> <p>France (4-3-3): Hugo Lloris; Jules Koundé, Raphael Varane, Dayot Upamecano, Theo Hernandez; Aurélien Tchouaméni, Antoine Griezmann, Adrien Rabiot; Ousmane Dembélé, Kylian Mbappé, Olivier Giroud.<br />