Summary

  • FT: Argentina 3-3 France - Argentina win 4-2 on penalties

  • Two goals for Messi and hat-trick for France's Mbappe; Di Maria with other Argentina goal

  1. 'Mbappe needs to feel the love'published at 09:27 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2022

    Argentina v France (15:00 GMT)

    Julien Laurens
    French football expert on BBC Radio 5 Live

    With [Kylian] Mbappe the ambition and the drive is there like all the greats. What happened at Euro 2021 with him missing the penalty against Switzerland that knocked France out. The lack of support he felt after that kind of disturbed him. But also, he wants to feel the love.

    This is where he is a little bit different to Leo [Messi] but maybe close to Cristiano [Ronaldo] in the sense that even if he is amongst the greatest players right now and he knows it, he still feels the need of people telling him how great he is and how much they love him.

  2. get involved

    Get Involved - your awardspublished at 09:22 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2022

    Tweet #bbcfootball, text 81111 (UK only – texts will be charged at your standard message rate), or text your comments via WhatsApp on 03301231826

    Dadoffay has also shared his award winners using #bbcfootball on Twitter.

    Best goal - Gavi v Costa Rica

    Best player - Mbappe

    Best team - Morocco

    Biggest surprise - Saudi Arabia

  3. 'Future happiness of Argentina riding on final'published at 09:18 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2022

    Argentina v France (15:00 GMT)

    Katy Watson
    South America correspondent in Buenos Aires

    .Image source, Rex Features

    In Buenos Aires it feels like the future happiness of the nation is riding on this World Cup final.

    Argentina is a country in deep economic crisis. Rampant inflation means so many millions struggle to get through each month - but along comes Lionel Messi and the Argentina team doing exceptionally well to get to the final and everyone here now seems to have parked their worries and instead are focussing on football.

  4. 'Excitement in Paris reaching fever pitch'published at 09:13 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2022

    Argentina v France (15:00 GMT)

    Hugh Schofield
    BBC News, Paris

    .Image source, Rex Features

    Here in Paris excitement is reaching fever pitch.

    For the record, this is France's fourth final in seven World Cups.

    Among the statistics being excitedly shared by fans is that France is unbeaten in its last 10 World Cup matches against South American sides.

    The last defeat was in 1978 - by Argentina.

  5. get involved

    Get Involved - your awardspublished at 09:08 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2022

    Tweet #bbcfootball, text 81111 (UK only – texts will be charged at your standard message rate), or text your comments via WhatsApp on 03301231826

    Scully has also shared his award winners using #bbcfootball on Twitter.

    Best goal - Rashford v Wales.

    Best player - Bellingham.

    Best team - Croatia.

    Biggest surprise - Japan.

  6. Local supportpublished at 09:04 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2022

    Argentina v France (15:00 GMT)

    Shamoon Hafez
    BBC Sport in Doha

    Argentina v FranceImage source, BBC Sport
    Argentina v FranceImage source, BBC Sport

    Good morning from Doha.

    63 matches down, just one remaining and we are just a few hours away from kick-off.

    Their fans have been a joy to be with here and with around 40,000 of their supporters travelling over from South America, stadiums have been filled by mostly their following.

    France supporters could well be outnumbered this evening at the Lusail Stadium in the north of Qatar's capital city.

    I had a walk around a local neighbourhood this morning and some a few nervous-looking Argentina fans walking around.

    With Lionel Messi shirts by far the most popular we have seen here since we arrived, there's only one team locals are supporting.

    Argentina v FranceImage source, BBC Sport
    Argentina v FranceImage source, BBC Sport
  7. Postpublished at 09:02 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2022

    Argentina v France (15:00 GMT)

    Right, back to the final.

    The game is less than six hours away now...

    Are you getting excited?

  8. Set-piece magic & Orsic's curlerpublished at 08:59 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2022

    FT: Croatia 2-1 Morocco

    There were some cracking goals in yesterday's third-fourth play-off match as Croatia beat Morocco 2-1 in normal time.

  9. Croatia clinch third placepublished at 08:54 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2022

    FT: Croatia 2-1 Morocco

    Croatia showed their class once more by clinching their third top-three finish at the World Cup with a play-off victory over history-makers Morocco yesterday.

    Josko Gvardiol gave Croatia the lead on seven minutes with a superb diving header but Achraf Dari levelled just two minutes later by nodding home from close range.

    Mislav Orsic curled in a sumptuous second for Croatia via the post three minutes before half-time and struck a thumping, deflected drive into the side-netting after the break.

    Zlatko Dalic's side, runners-up to France four years ago, confirmed their status as one of the elite footballing nations with another third-place finish to go alongside that secured in their competition debut in 1998.

    Morocco leave the competition in fourth, the best result for an African nation in World Cup history.

  10. Postpublished at 08:51 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2022

    Sunday decides who takes gold and silver, Saturday saw us hand out bronze.

    Croatia, four years on from finishing runners-up to France in 2018, edged out Morocco to claim the podium spot.

    A little focus on that game now...

  11. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 08:46 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2022

    #bbcfootball, text 81111 (UK only – texts will be charged at your standard message rate), or text your comments via WhatsApp on 03301231826

    Would you be happy for Southgate to be leading the Three Lions into the Euro 2024 qualifying campaign? Would you like to have seen a change following England's World Cup quarter-final exit at the hands of France?

    Let us know your thoughts through the usual channels.

    #bbcfootball, text 81111 (UK only – texts will be charged at your standard message rate), or text your comments via WhatsApp on 03301231826

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  12. Southgate to stay in charge of England?published at 08:41 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2022

    There are reports in some papers, including the Sunday Times, that Gareth Southgate is to stay on as England boss.

    The Three Lions were knocked out at the quarter-final stage by France and Southgate said he was "conflicted" about his future, having "found large parts of the last 18 months difficult".

    According to reports, the 52-year-old has decided to carry on as England prepare for the start of the Euro 2024 qualifying campaign.

    Southgate's contract expires in December 2024.

    .Image source, .
  13. Postpublished at 08:40 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2022

    Moving away from the World Cup final temporarily.

    There has been increased speculation about the future of England boss Gareth Southgate in the last few decisions, but has he made a decision?

  14. get involved

    Get Involved - your awardspublished at 08:36 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2022

    Tweet #bbcfootball, text 81111 (UK only – texts will be charged at your standard message rate), or text your comments via WhatsApp on 03301231826

    Anon: Best goal - Aboubakar. Best player - Messi. Best team - France. Biggest surprise - Morocco.

    Please remember to include your names on message please!

  15. World leaders jet in for finalpublished at 08:32 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2022

    Argentina v France (15:00 GMT)

    You can be sure the Lusail Stadium, which hosts today's final, will be full of VIPs and politicians as the eyes of the world tune in for the match.

    French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte have arrived in Doha to cheer on Les Bleus.

    .Image source, Reuters
    .Image source, Reuters
  16. get involved

    Get Involved - your awardspublished at 08:27 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2022

    Tweet #bbcfootball, text 81111 (UK only – texts will be charged at your standard message rate), or text your comments via WhatsApp on 03301231826

    Another World Cup draws to a close today, so it is time for you to dish out some awards.

    These are the categories, you don't have to include them all:

    • Best goal
    • Best player
    • Best team
    • Biggest surprise

    Send in your winners by tweeting #bbcfootball, text 81111 (UK only – texts will be charged at your standard message rate), or text your comments via WhatsApp on 03301231826.

  17. Fireworks over Paris?published at 08:22 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2022

    Argentina v France (15:00 GMT)

    These were the scenes in Paris after France defeated Morocco in the semi-final.

    Will there be a repeat in the French capital later?

    .Image source, Rex Features
    .Image source, Rex Features
    .Image source, Reuters
  18. 'Cracking final'published at 08:19 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2022

    #bbcfootball, text 81111 (UK only – texts will be charged at your standard message rate), or text your comments via WhatsApp on 03301231826

    Noisy Neighbour: It's set up for a cracking final! Too close to call for my liking! Will just sit back and enjoy and watch two good teams with some great players going toe to toe with each other. The romantic in me wants to see Messi sail off into the sunset with the trophy.

  19. Party capitalpublished at 08:15 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2022

    Argentina v France (15:00 GMT)

    Buenos Aires is gearing up for what could be a H-U-G-E day.

    It will be 12 noon in the capital of Argentina when the World Cup final kicks-off and, should they win it, you can be sure the celebrations will carry on for days.

    Tens of thousands celebrated on the streets of Buenos Aires after the semi-final victory over Croatia.

    Will there be a repeat?

    .Image source, Reuters
    .Image source, Rex Features
    .Image source, Reuters
  20. 'Happy World Cup final day'published at 08:10 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2022

    Argentina v France (15:00 GMT)

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