Was this the greatest World Cup final ever... or what?

No team deserved to lose.... and what a performance by Mbappe and Les Blues... but its was Messi's moment. Argentina's date with destiny!

The winner was football.

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MasterofNone · 26-30, M

Reminds me of that Friends episode where Ross and Chandler were arm wrestling and they were at it for very long. Mona, Ross's girlfriend was like they were very strong but Joey said "or they are equally weak".

That's what I thought this was. There were three penalties. And then the minutes between 35 and 80 were played as if they were playing on their backyard. So many valuable minutes wasted. And then they decide the winner through penalties. That's not a great game.

chilloutab2 · 46-50, M

@MasterofNone You have a point... this was not the 1986 final, which I think was played at a higher skill level overall and was very gripping too. Or the 1998 final, which also had better quality football, though one-sided.... but this one was right up there in terms of drama.
And there were flashes of skill and brilliance as well... Di Maria's goal was one of the best team goals I remember seeing in a WC final since 1982... it was a great team goal, fluid and beautiful.
Mbappe's second was a beauty too... a couple of swift passes and then that volley.
WC finals have seldom brought out the best in teams.. there is too much to lose to play freely. Under the circumstances, this one was a great match!

MasterofNone · 26-30, M

@chilloutab2 Oh the field goals were great, yes no doubt about that. First few minutes and the last few moments were the best I've ever seen. I just hated the attitude of the players between Di Maria s goal and France's first goal. While the overall match was great, those minutes were the worst I've ever seen in a world cup final (since 2006). Argentina playing as if they have won the game. Di Maria was taken off to be replaced by a left back with so many minutes already remaining. Griezmann and Giroud were taken off so early. France played as if they didn't have the urgency or desire to win or at least try. It was just Mbappe who did what he does.

chilloutab2 · 46-50, M

@MasterofNone I agree there were patches where it didn't rise to any great heights... I put that down to the gravity of the occasion. I think the French were shell-shocked for the most part... but Mbappe brought the fight back into them.
Taking Giroud and Griezman off was a bizarre decision IMHO... I think Deschamps missed a trick there... they needed the two f them on. The substitutes may not have done them good... Also, both are season penalty takers. With them not around in the shootout, the inexperience showed. France missed 2 penalties... Giroud and Griezman may have done better.