Anyway, if the build-up to the final is muted, imagine how little there is regarding the third-place play-off. A legacy from when the World Cup was devised as an alternative to the Olympics, it does feel very incongruous. In fact, last year's DWC didn't bother with one. If it had, Italy would have taken on Peru - and as it turns out Italy are still involved in the first-ever DWC third-place play-off, as they face China.
Team news
Italy have Alessandro Florenzi and Miralem Pjanic available after they missed the semi-final, and both come into the side with Cuadrado and Higuain making way. After his stunning goal last time, Marek Hamsik starts in place of Khedira as Italy field a 5-3-1-1 formation. There’s much less interest in China’s team, as they stick with the XI that tested Spain for about 50 minutes.
First up is two-goal hero for Italy, Mauro Icardi... calmly places it home for his third goal in three shootouts! (1-0)
Eran Zahavi... blazed over the bar! (1-0)
Ricardo Rodriguez, who has missed two in two shootouts... scores in the bottom-left corner! (2-0)
Fredy Guarin for China... to his right, but parried by Gianluigi Buffon! (2-0)
Miralem Pjanic, who has completed a full game for the first time since the opening match... hits it against the crossbar! (2-0)
Yannick Carrasco... belted down the middle as Buffon dives, goal! (2-1)
Claudio Marchisio... saved by Yan Junling! (2-1)
Cedric Bakambu, China’s star this match... sends Buffon the wrong way to level the score! (2-2)
Are Italy about to throw this away as they did against Brazil? Here’s Gonzalo Higuain... calmly placed home! (3-2)
That was Italy’s fifth attempt to get to match point, so now Ezequiel Lavezzi has to score for China... and he does! A great penalty to evade Buffon’s dive! (3-3)
So now we go to sudden death!
Alessandro Florenzi, the scorer of the winning penalty against Portugal... fires it past Yan! (4-3)
Up steps Junior Urso... pushed away by Buffon – Italy win 4-3!
The 2018 Draft World Cup final! It's Brazil vs. Spain!