Key posts
Di Maria, not Messi attacking early
17 mins: Angel Di Maria might be the freshest player on this pitch after injuries have kept him out since the game against Poland.
Messi has been closely watched so is passing more than dribbling but I’m sure that will change as soon as he finds some room to move.
Argentina’s Lionel Messi, right, France’s Dayot Upamecano, background left, and France’s Aurelien Tchouameni challenge for the ball.Credit:AP
France have had few attacks so and needs to keep a closer eye on Di Maria on the left wing.
Argentina 0, France 0
Bodies flying everywhere
10 mins: France keeper Hugo Lloris is prone on the ground after a collision with his Tottenham teammate Cristian Romero after his punched away a cross from Argentina.
Lloris took a nasty blow to his ribs, stomach in the collision but you would hope he will come up OK.
He is now standing and preparing to continue.
Argentina 0, France 0.
Game on
Two minutes: Play is underway with both nations in their main jerseys with Argentina sporting its blue and white stripes along with white shorts and socks.
France is in their dark blue strip with dark blue shorts and socks.
Rodrigo De Paul from Argentina has already picked up a warning for his aggressive tackling.
ARG 0, FRA 0
The two teams are walking out
Messi is chasing his first World Cup while France and Mbappe want to become the first nation in 60 years to win back-to-back World Cups.
We will have the anthems and then kickoff at 2am AEDT.
France’s Kylian Mbappe.Credit:AP
A fan’s Messi tattoo at the World Cup final.Credit:AP
Messi v Mbappe in Qatar
Southgate to stay with England
Gareth Southgate has decided to stay on and lead England into the 2024 European Championship, the Football Association has announced.
The 52-year-old led England to the quarter-finals in Qatar and to the final of the last Euros, but said he was “conflicted” about carrying on.
Southgate was appointed manager during turbulent times in 2016 after Sam Allardyce’s tenure ended after just one match in charge.
Reuters
Gareth Southgate.Credit:Getty Images
Poll: Who is your superstar?
Di Maria to start for Argentina as Rabiot, Upamecano return for France
Lionel Messi will lead an Argentina team containing Angel Di Maria, who starts for the first time since sustaining a foot injury against Poland in the final round of group games.
Di Maria takes the place of Leandro Paredes in midfield as Argentina again rolls out a 4-4-2 formation, with Messi one of the two forwards. Nicolas Tagliafico is preferred to Marcos Acuña at left back.
Argentina winger Angel Di Maria.Credit:AP
Kylian Mbappé starts up front for France alongside Olivier Giroud, who has overcome a minor knee injury. Dayot Upamecano and Adrien Rabiot come in for Ibrahima Konaté and Youssouf Fofana, respectively.
AP
Argentina: Emiliano Martinez; Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Nicolas Otamendi, Nicolas Tagliafico; Angel Di Maria, Rodrigo De Paul, Enzo Fernández, Alexis Mac Allister; Julian Alvarez, Lionel Messi.
France: Hugo Lloris; Jules Kounde, Raphael Varane, Dayot Upamecano, Theo Hernandez; Aurelien Tchouameni, Antoine Griezmann, Adrien Rabiot; Ousmane Dembele, Kylian Mbappe, Olivier Giroud.
The teams have been named
No ‘booby prize’ as Croatia beats Morocco 2-1 to take third place
Al Rayyan, Qatar: Luka Modric high-fived and embraced his Croatian teammates after what was likely the midfield great’s last appearance at the World Cup.
Some of the Morocco players sank to their knees in dismay, while others went in search of the referee to complain.
So much for this being a meaningless game.
Croatia’s Luka Modric shows off his bronze medal.Credit:AP
Croatia ended up taking third place at the World Cup after a 2-1 win over Morocco at Khalifa International Stadium on Saturday.
“It is as if we have won the gold,” said Croatia coach Zlatko Dalić, whose team lost in the final four years ago.
AP
