ARG vs FRA - Live!

PSG Rumble on FOX!

HOME - If I can wake up early, will try to capture thoughts as they happen - Will Messi get his first WC trophy in his swan song or will Mbappé get his 2nd trophy before he turns 24?

12:19 am PST - 3 goals were scored in the 3rd place match and this Final could add to that total which is our total goals tiebreaker.  Remember, penalty shootout (PSO) goals do not count if it is tied after 120 minutes.  Fernando B (Soccerbix) gets to relax after already clinching 1st place by building more than a 14-point (value for picking correct champion) lead over those who picked FRA.

Right now, if ARG wins, KevLo takes 2nd over SoccerWife (she needs 4+ goals in Final to switch this) and Unlucky and Merman take 4th and 5th with AC in Doha out of the money in 6th.  AC in Doha needs 5 goals scored in final to get 5th (knocking Unlucky out) and 6+ goals to finish 4th.

If FRA wins, currently 2 Goals 1 World Cup, Redhat Dave, and Kona Coast Uno will finish 2nd/3rd/4th.  If 3 goals are scored in final, then Redhat Dave and Kona Coast Duo finish tied for 2nd.  If 4+ goals are scored, Kona Coast Uno takes 2nd, Redhat Dave 3rd, and 2 Goals 1 World Cup 4th.  KevLo would take 5th over SoccerWife (but if 4+ goals are scored, it reverses).

For Bonus, if ARG and FRA are scoreless and go to PSO, then if ARG wins PSO, Union FC and Cisco split the Bonus.  If FRA wins PSO after scoreless tie, then MezLove wins Bonus.  But every goal scored in final will change who is in pole position.

5' - Woke up in time to see ARG get a long strike that was saved.  ARG being aggressive which is good to see.

9' - FRA GK somehow does not punch/catch a ball that was high in the air and near the goal.  Pays the price after it bounces and then goes after it and gets hit in the stomach.

20' - ARG buzzing but if all that effort doesn't result in a goal, it'll get tougher.  Since FRA chose dark blue as their jersey, the first match they are the away team, ARG's light blue/white, FRA has worn the dark blue in all 7 matches.

21' - Penalty for ARG!  ARG's 5th PK attempt.  Messi taking it, of course, in his now record 26th WC match.

22:24 - GOAL!  Messi's leading 6th of this WC (3 on PKs).  1-0 ARG, but more importantly, moves the total goals tiebreaker to 4.  No change yet for the top 5 but for the Bonus, an ARG 1-0 win would give Firewire, Krob1, and MLS Original Stats the Bonus (3-way tie, $13.33 each).

27' - Does it mean anything?  Messi aggressively tries to outjump and crashes into FRA player for the ball.  Will Mbappé play defense as well?  The vast majority of crowd is light blue/white in the 10th match in Lusail Iconic Stadium.

36' - A FRA bad pass and a Messi great touch unlocks the offensive on a breakaway and two passes later, Angel Di Maria easily scores.  ARG 2-0 and that score line (total goals = 5) would give No Fue Penal the Bonus.  FRA can only win if the score is at least 2-2 going to PSO, meaning those who need FRA to win for the Bonus need 7 goals total.  For the top 5, for FRA to win, at least 7 goals total need to be scored (2-2 today) meaning Kona Coast Duo would win tiebreaker 2nd and SoccerWife would win 5th over KevLo, but it doesn't look good for FRA.

41' - Two subs for FRA to try to change this pace,  replacing two forwards (FRA-leading scorer Giroud and PK fouler Dembele).  This is the FINAL!  No waiting for the weak-hearted.  ARG 6-0 on shots, 50-16 on receptions between midfield and defensive lines (8-0 receptions behind the defensive line).

45' - +7 minutes.  Uncannily, this is the sixth straight match ARG has led 2-0. Maybe we should just start an ARG match 2-0 and let it play out.  Don't see a duel stat but ARG is winning a lot of the 50/50 balls.

45'+7' - 1st yellow to ARG.  Half ends at 52:40 after free kick goes out of bounds.  One thing I've enjoyed is that the refs have let the players play.  Except for a couple of matches such as the ARGvNED match (where there were 18 yellows but really just a dozen issues for fouls), soft tackles+dives have not been called, allowing players to play through fouls instead of embellishing them (knowing it likely won't be called).  Luckily, no real injuries to bad tackles but seeing matches play out 11v11 is great (5 red cards issued but just one before the 90' on WAL GK for reckless foul - two staff, one after the PSO, one late after dissent (2nd yellow), and one for taking the jersey off (2nd yellow)).

8:08 am - 2nd half begins.  ARG can't bunker down.

55' - 1st yellow to FRA.  Wearing my 1998 FRA home jersey (#12 Thierry Henry, who didn't play in that final) branded with WC 1998 marks which is cool.  Since being the only one picking FRA in the 1st HWCI WC pool in '98, FRA has been my neutral team.  They burned me in '02, a Zidane butthead burn in '06, didn't pick them last year and this year, so it's been a love-hate affair.  I would like to see Messi hold up the WC trophy though.  So not upset at this score line.

62' - No shots yet for FRA.  ARG still playing their game keeping FRA on their heels still.  Too soon for this icon?

64' - First defensive sub for ARG but not bunkering yet.  Just controlling.  

70' - ARG allowed NED to score in the 83' and ARG scored their 3rd against CRO in the 69'.  Third goal hasn't happened yet so maybe FRA still has a chance, but not creating much.

71' - First shot for FRA is skied high.

79' - FRA player dragged down in the box.  Outran the defender.  

79:25 - Mbappé scores the PK just past the GK!  FRA 1-2.  ARG was in control, will they panic?  Well, power doesn't panic so we'll see.  

80:58 - Just like that.  2-2.  Wow.  Great one-touch strike Mbappé, his 3rd brace of tourney. Now is Golden Boot leader with 7 goals.  FRA scored on both shots in goal vMAR and have scored on both shots on goal today.

86' - Catching breath.  Total goals tiebreaker = 7 now.  If it remains tied 2-2 through to PSO, Kds911 wins Bonus if ARG wins and 2 will tie (Do Believe in Ties and EEChick1400) if FRA wins PSO.  The 3 who picked FRA and can finish 2nd-4th are jumping up and down now.  If one more goal is scored, Unlucky (now 4th if 2-2 and ARG wins) will be eliminated even if ARG wins.

90' - +8 minutes.

87' - FRA yellow for dive in the box.  Reviewed, but call stands.

90'+4' - CK 3-3.  FRA player goes down but likely outside box (not VAR reviewable) and play on with the first save by ARG.

90'+7' - ARG in survival mode but gets into the FRA area and Messi's hard strike saved.

98:36 - One last chance for ARG but ball bouncing too much.  End of 2nd half.  Whew.  If ARG wins, SoccerWife takes 2nd over KevLo but if FRA wins, SoccerWife takes 5th and eliminates KevLo.  6 still waiting for final result and tiebreaker scenarios.  

9:07 am - Start of 1st half of Extra Time.  ARG 12-7 on shots (6-3 on goal).  42-40% possession for ARG.  38 fouls so far (20-18 ARG).  ARG has the GK who excels in PSO (Copa final and vNED).  FRA players recovering from flu.  How will 30 minutes play out?

105' - Wow, FRA block saves an open look in the box.  Then a save.  ARG 5th CK. +1 minute.

106:05 - End of first half of ET.  Another ARG breakaway just goes wide left (maybe a FRA touch but ref gives goal kick).

9:25 am - Start of second half of ET.  Pool players anxious as total goals remains at 7.

107:56 - ARG goal???  Goal line tech says yes (clearly past line).  Messi!!!

109:02 - Confirmed, no offsides, goal!  Messi puts in the rebound and now leads Golden Boot (7 goals, 3 assists).  ARG 3-2.  Total goals = 8 and ARG win would give Merman 4th and AC in Doha 5th (Unlucky now eliminated).  For Bonus, a 3-way tie now (Chris 2, Empire, Kds911-3).

114' - Hard tackle by ARG for yellow results in some pushing and shoving.

115:37 - Off a CK, Mbappé shot hits the arm, penalty for FRA!  FRA late to react this good news.  Mbappé first PK was almost saved... where does he go?

117:02 - And we're tied again!  Mbappé goes left again and easily beats GK who goes right.  3-3.  Mbappé now Golden Boot leader with 8th goal, his 3rd of the match.  Just 2nd hat trick in this tourney and just 2nd hat trick in WC final history.  Total goals now 9!  For Bonus, Free Merman (if ARG wins PSO) or AC in Doha and Ronaldinho tied (if FRA wins PSO).  But 3 minutes left!

120' - +3 minutes.

120'+3 - End to end... FRA open strike saved (big time save!), then ARG open header misses.

124:05 - End of ET!  Mbappé dribbles past defenders in box but can't get the shot off.  As we stand, total goes is 9 (no PSO goals count).  The means if ARG wins PSO, Free Merman wins $40 Bonus and if FRA wins, then AC in Doha and Ronaldinho get $20 each.  But AC in Doha wants 4th place instead (ARG win, so wins either way).  It will be Soccerbix/SoccerWife/KevLo/AC in Doha/Merman if ARG wins.  It will be Soccerbix/Kona Coast Uno/Redhat Dave/2 Goals 1 World Cup/SoccerWife if FRA wins.

9:50 am - Two coin tosses, first to select which half and second to who shoots first.  FRA goes first.  FRA lost final PSO to ITA 5-3 in that Zidane headbutt match in 2006.

FRA 1-0 - Mbappé goes left again and again just past GK.

Tied 1-1 - Messi.  Cool and collected.  The two superstars are the first to shoot and both make it.  BRA not allowing Neymar to shoot first hurt them.

ARG save!  (1-1).  Emi Martinez another key save.  

ARG scores 2-1.

FRA wide left! (1-2).  ARG in control.

GK guesses right but ARG scores to lead 3-1.  FRA do-or-die next.

Down the middle, but FRA still trail 2-3.  ARG can win it next.

9:55 am - ARG goes left, GK goes right, ARG wins WC in PSO 4-2.

10 am - Darn NFL.  Switching from FOX to FS1.  Jim M (Merman), who brought 7 people to our pool, becomes our second person to win twice as he gets 5th and the Bonus (different entry - Free Merman).  Soccerbix/SoccerWife/KevLo/AC in Doha/Merman take 1st to 5th.  His wife gest 2nd.  Great day for them!  What a final.  It looked like the MARvCRO match where the last 10 minutes was just passing as players got tired, but nope, end-to-end opportunities.  

10:22 am - Very pretty medal ceremony.  

10:30 am - And FS1 feed goes down here.  On TV and on iPad.  I blame Frontier.

10:45 am - Back on TV, still issues on iPad.  But Messi finally get to hoist trophy, 50 minutes after winning the WC!