After 990(!) qualifying matches, and a further 63 matches in the tournament itself, the 2020 Draft World Cup has come down to this, the final:
For the third time we have a Europe vs South America final, after Germany vs Uruguay in 2017 and Spain vs Brazil in 2018. Both times the Europeans won, will this be different?
France come in as strong favourites. They've repeated their final appearance from last year, and shown that they are one of the heavyweights of DWC football. In qualifying for the European Championship they won all 10 games, including a 14-0 win over Northern Ireland. And in this tournament they've been brilliant in the knockout stages. They beat favourites England and hammered Netherlands, before a comeback saw off Italy.
However, they have one blip on their record in this year's tournament, a group stage defeat to... Argentina. A repeat of the outcome from the 2018 DWC group stage, Argentina won 2-0. This meant they won the group both teams were in, and they followed it up with wins over Chile and rivals Brazil to make the semis. There the 80/1 outsiders took on former winners Spain. They looked comfortable in defence, even after going down to 10 men, and kept the match scoreless for 120 minutes, eventually winning on penalties.
Both sides have beaten top seeds in this tournament three times so far, who will make it four? It seems to be a case of whether Argentina's defence can once again shackle France's attack. This will be easier said than done, as France have scored 10 goals in their 3 knockout games.
Team news
Argentina are without Enzo Pérez after his red card, so Iván Marcone slots in. Other than that, neither team makes a change to their successive semi final sides. As with the third-place play-off, there's the subplot of who will take the tournament's Golden Boot. France have three players on 4 goals, the most in the tournament. One more for Neymar, Kylian Mbappé or Memphis Depay will see them take that award.
France come in as strong favourites. They've repeated their final appearance from last year, and shown that they are one of the heavyweights of DWC football. In qualifying for the European Championship they won all 10 games, including a 14-0 win over Northern Ireland. And in this tournament they've been brilliant in the knockout stages. They beat favourites England and hammered Netherlands, before a comeback saw off Italy.
However, they have one blip on their record in this year's tournament, a group stage defeat to... Argentina. A repeat of the outcome from the 2018 DWC group stage, Argentina won 2-0. This meant they won the group both teams were in, and they followed it up with wins over Chile and rivals Brazil to make the semis. There the 80/1 outsiders took on former winners Spain. They looked comfortable in defence, even after going down to 10 men, and kept the match scoreless for 120 minutes, eventually winning on penalties.
Both sides have beaten top seeds in this tournament three times so far, who will make it four? It seems to be a case of whether Argentina's defence can once again shackle France's attack. This will be easier said than done, as France have scored 10 goals in their 3 knockout games.
Team news
Argentina are without Enzo Pérez after his red card, so Iván Marcone slots in. Other than that, neither team makes a change to their successive semi final sides. As with the third-place play-off, there's the subplot of who will take the tournament's Golden Boot. France have three players on 4 goals, the most in the tournament. One more for Neymar, Kylian Mbappé or Memphis Depay will see them take that award.
It's quite a lively opening to the game, with both teams having optimistic shots from range. In the 6th minute France work it wide to Mbappé, who holds it up and plays it back inside to Marco Verratti. He too elects to shoot from the edge of the box. His shot is beyond Franco Armani and curls deliciously into the top corner! Oh, what a goal! France get that crucial breakthrough straight away, and what a goal!
Argentina have actually dominated possession, with over 70% in the game's first 10 minutes. But France are effective when they do get the ball, and much of the game is spent in Argentina's half. Dimitri Payet is given a chance to show his dead ball quality with two 25 yard free kicks, but both are curled too close to Armani.
France continue to strangle Argentina, who can't add to a single early shot. In the 34th minute the Europeans work it to Neymar on the edge of the box, but his low curling shot is parried by Armani. Following the corner Mbappé gets a fierce shot away that Armani pushes over the bar, and from that corner Thiago Silva's shot clips the bar and goes over!
Soon after, France are going forward again when Verratti is challenged by Juan Fernando Quintero, and stays down holding his knee. He's got a knock, but limps on for now. In the 41st minute Payet has another free kick. This one is better, but Armani just reaches it and pushes it onto the woodwork and to safety! A great save!
A couple of minutes later France launch a rapid counter attack. Mbappé's shot is blocked, but it falls to Depay, however his effort is weak and easily held by Armani. And a minute later Argentina are caught on the break again, this time it falls to Neymar but he fires comfortably wide.
Ander Herrera has an effort from the edge of the box go just wide, and it's the last action of the half. France have been rampant. They only took the one chance, but currently it looks extremely hard for Argentina to even find a shot, let alone a goal.
This is demonstrated by the shot map for the two teams. Argentina's only effort was a Quintero effort that was blocked that indirectly lead to France's goal. Still, that's no reason for them to not bother taking any more shots.
France continue to strangle Argentina, who can't add to a single early shot. In the 34th minute the Europeans work it to Neymar on the edge of the box, but his low curling shot is parried by Armani. Following the corner Mbappé gets a fierce shot away that Armani pushes over the bar, and from that corner Thiago Silva's shot clips the bar and goes over!
Soon after, France are going forward again when Verratti is challenged by Juan Fernando Quintero, and stays down holding his knee. He's got a knock, but limps on for now. In the 41st minute Payet has another free kick. This one is better, but Armani just reaches it and pushes it onto the woodwork and to safety! A great save!
A couple of minutes later France launch a rapid counter attack. Mbappé's shot is blocked, but it falls to Depay, however his effort is weak and easily held by Armani. And a minute later Argentina are caught on the break again, this time it falls to Neymar but he fires comfortably wide.
Ander Herrera has an effort from the edge of the box go just wide, and it's the last action of the half. France have been rampant. They only took the one chance, but currently it looks extremely hard for Argentina to even find a shot, let alone a goal.
This is demonstrated by the shot map for the two teams. Argentina's only effort was a Quintero effort that was blocked that indirectly lead to France's goal. Still, that's no reason for them to not bother taking any more shots.
France withdraw Verratti, with Alexandr Golovin coming on. Argentina start the second half with a corner, however it's cleared by Mbappé to safety. The next corner is better, as it finds Ignacio Piatti, who guides his header beyond Keylor Navas for an equaliser! For all France's dominance, Argentina equaliser with their second shot of the game!
France quickly earn a corner of their own, and Neymar's centre finds Depay, but his header is held by Armani, who is having a very solid game. At the other end Piatti gets another header at goal, but this time Navas gets across to make a comfortable save.
In the 72nd minute France get a chance to break when Eduardo Salvio's tackle sees the ball land with Neymar. Herrera fires it across for Mbappé, who has found some space outside Frank Fabra. He whips it in, where Neymar comes in to guide it into the bottom corner! France retake the lead!
In the 72nd minute France get a chance to break when Eduardo Salvio's tackle sees the ball land with Neymar. Herrera fires it across for Mbappé, who has found some space outside Frank Fabra. He whips it in, where Neymar comes in to guide it into the bottom corner! France retake the lead!
France replace Leyvin Kurzawa, who is on a yellow card, with Juan Bernat. Argentina, meanwhile, replace striker Ignacio Scocco with Lisandro López. They have the chance to peg France back immediately when they earn a corner. However, it's cleared and Payet has tons of space to run into. He takes it upfield and plays in Mbappé at the right moment. The youngster gets into the box and drills it low past Armani for 3-1! Surely that's the title secured?
López's first sight of goal sees him head a very difficult chance over the bar. Argentina replace Fabra with Leonardo Jara, with Milton Casco, who has been their best attacking outlet, switching to the left side.
A wonderful early pass from Herrera lets Payet get in behind Argentina's defence. He holds off their defenders to get a shot away, but Armani deflects it over the bar. It's Payet's last contribution as he's replaced by CB Presnel Kimpembe, with Marquinhos moving into defensive midfield.
Argentina are unable to add to their measly four shots as the game drifts towards the end. In the final minute France get forward again. It's wide to Youcef Atal, and his deep cross finds Neymar who heads in his second of the match to wrap up the win and surely win himself the Golden Boot!
A wonderful early pass from Herrera lets Payet get in behind Argentina's defence. He holds off their defenders to get a shot away, but Armani deflects it over the bar. It's Payet's last contribution as he's replaced by CB Presnel Kimpembe, with Marquinhos moving into defensive midfield.
Argentina are unable to add to their measly four shots as the game drifts towards the end. In the final minute France get forward again. It's wide to Youcef Atal, and his deep cross finds Neymar who heads in his second of the match to wrap up the win and surely win himself the Golden Boot!
After four uneventful minutes of added time, the final whistle goes, and France are the 2020 Draft World Cup champions!
Final score: Argentina 1-4 France
Player of the match: Neymar
Final score: Argentina 1-4 France
Player of the match: Neymar
France were very worthy winners, they stood out throughout the knockout stages. Their win was not wholly dissimilar to the way the real French team won the most recent World Cup, and they even threw a 4-goal win against Argentina in as well.
As for the losers, Argentina did themselves proud in this year's DWC, particularly when you consider they failed to qualify for last year's event.
We know that Neymar has claimed the Golden Boot, but next time we'll see who wins the other awards as we do a mini tournament recap.
As for the losers, Argentina did themselves proud in this year's DWC, particularly when you consider they failed to qualify for last year's event.
We know that Neymar has claimed the Golden Boot, but next time we'll see who wins the other awards as we do a mini tournament recap.