It's time for the final to this year's Draft World Cup! The semi finals failed to provide a lot of drama, but they have seen the tournament's two best sides make the final:
It's a repeat of the 2018 Women's Draft World Cup final, as France and England lock horns. If this is anything like the last time two European superpowers met in the final, we should be in for a treat, as Germany beat France 4-3 in 2019.
France
The defending champions are looking to be the first time to successfully defend the DWC trophy. They have to be considered favourites, after a momentous run of form, including last year's DWC triumph and a crushing victory in this year's European Championship. That run included a comeback win over England in the semi finals.
They came through the group stage without breaking sweat, but were pushing all the way to penalties by Colombia. After that, they overcame Scotland before their easy win over Spain. Unsurprisingly, their main men have been Kylian Mbappé and Neymar, with the latter joint-top of the scoring charts with 5.
England
For England, this is the first time they have graced the DWC final, after collapsing to defeat against Germany two years ago. Three defeats in the second round (including to France last year) mean that the side with the best points-per-game of all have a much weaker DWC record than the other big sides. They did beat France and Spain (on penalties) on their way to winning the Confederations Cup last year to show they can beat their rivals.
Therefore it probably has to be considered a blessing that the DWC draw ended up putting England in the opposite half of the draw to France, Spain and Germany. They came through with no fuss, with easy wins over Belgium, Argentina and Ukraine. Sergio Aguero came into the team and immediately started scoring for fun, his 5 goals means he is also in the running for the Golden Boot, as is Sadio Mané.
Team news
Neither team has any selection issues. This means that France keep the side that beat Spain, whilst England bring Fernandinho and Kevin de Bruyne back into the side in place of Fabinho and Bruno Fernandes.
France
The defending champions are looking to be the first time to successfully defend the DWC trophy. They have to be considered favourites, after a momentous run of form, including last year's DWC triumph and a crushing victory in this year's European Championship. That run included a comeback win over England in the semi finals.
They came through the group stage without breaking sweat, but were pushing all the way to penalties by Colombia. After that, they overcame Scotland before their easy win over Spain. Unsurprisingly, their main men have been Kylian Mbappé and Neymar, with the latter joint-top of the scoring charts with 5.
England
For England, this is the first time they have graced the DWC final, after collapsing to defeat against Germany two years ago. Three defeats in the second round (including to France last year) mean that the side with the best points-per-game of all have a much weaker DWC record than the other big sides. They did beat France and Spain (on penalties) on their way to winning the Confederations Cup last year to show they can beat their rivals.
Therefore it probably has to be considered a blessing that the DWC draw ended up putting England in the opposite half of the draw to France, Spain and Germany. They came through with no fuss, with easy wins over Belgium, Argentina and Ukraine. Sergio Aguero came into the team and immediately started scoring for fun, his 5 goals means he is also in the running for the Golden Boot, as is Sadio Mané.
Team news
Neither team has any selection issues. This means that France keep the side that beat Spain, whilst England bring Fernandinho and Kevin de Bruyne back into the side in place of Fabinho and Bruno Fernandes.
Mbappé kicks off, and the fifth Draft World Cup final is underway!
The first shot comes from Juan Bernat, who dribbles past Trent Alexander-Arnold before drilling a shot into the side netting. But the first real moment of note comes in the 6th minute, as Mo Salah injures his shoulder and is forced off - it's the 2018 Champions League final all over again! Son Heung-Min comes on.
Son's first major involvement comes 10 minutes later, when he is just able to reach N'Golo Kanté's cross, and he heads the ball down to Mané to tuck it away! England lead!
The first shot comes from Juan Bernat, who dribbles past Trent Alexander-Arnold before drilling a shot into the side netting. But the first real moment of note comes in the 6th minute, as Mo Salah injures his shoulder and is forced off - it's the 2018 Champions League final all over again! Son Heung-Min comes on.
Son's first major involvement comes 10 minutes later, when he is just able to reach N'Golo Kanté's cross, and he heads the ball down to Mané to tuck it away! England lead!
A couple of minutes later, and France have the chance to fight back with a corner. Virgil van Dijk heads it clear and Son picks it up. He has space in front of him, with Aguero in support. France just have their two full backs back, but Ángel Di María charges back to help out. He closes down Son as he continues his run all the way to the box, but he clatters into him and England have a penalty! The wheels are coming off for the world number 1 side!
de Bruyne steps up, looking for his first goal of the tournament... he drills it low, but wide of the post! It wasn't even close! Will England live to rue that?
de Bruyne steps up, looking for his first goal of the tournament... he drills it low, but wide of the post! It wasn't even close! Will England live to rue that?
France should be encouraged by the miss, but begin to get frustrated with the simple mistakes they continue to make. England can't create any clear chances, with good defending protecting Keylor Navas' goal.
The first yellow card of the match goes to Aymeric Laporte, after a clumsy challenge on Mbappé on the edge of the box. Neymar is the man to take it... he gets it over the wall, into the post... and into the back of the net! It's a special goal to bring us back to parity!
The first yellow card of the match goes to Aymeric Laporte, after a clumsy challenge on Mbappé on the edge of the box. Neymar is the man to take it... he gets it over the wall, into the post... and into the back of the net! It's a special goal to bring us back to parity!
Aguero has a shot from the edge of the box curl over, whilst Mbappé gets through one-on-one only to see the flag go up. It means we are no nearer to knowing who will lift the trophy as we hit half time.
The story of the half has to be the impact Son had after coming on. He was the only player to make more than one key pass (including the game's only assist), and won the missed penalty.
The story of the half has to be the impact Son had after coming on. He was the only player to make more than one key pass (including the game's only assist), and won the missed penalty.
So will we see a winner in normal time? Away we go!
France start brightly, and like the first half the first chance goes to Bernat, after Danilo Pereira's shot is blocked into his path, he fires a shot in that Alisson only just tips behind. At the other end Laporte nearly atones for the France goal with a header that hits the crossbar. Soon after, Aguero forces Navas into a save.
In the 67th minute England turn on a bit of style, with a sharp passing move resulting in de Bruyne sliding it through to his (now former) Man City teammates Aguero to run onto. Navas stays back, and it proves to be a good idea as he is able to get down and parry the Argentine's shot! France make their first chances with Ander Herrera on for Leandro Paredes, followed by Mauro Icardi for Di María.
Son is, despite playing the least football of England's team (both in this game and in the tournament) the most tired of their players. But he springs to life in the 77th minute, dribbling past Alessandro Florenzi and down the left of France's box. He flicks a pass into the centre of the box, where Aguero is waiting to tuck it into the bottom corner! Son has done it yet again... but the flag is up for offside and France survive!
France start brightly, and like the first half the first chance goes to Bernat, after Danilo Pereira's shot is blocked into his path, he fires a shot in that Alisson only just tips behind. At the other end Laporte nearly atones for the France goal with a header that hits the crossbar. Soon after, Aguero forces Navas into a save.
In the 67th minute England turn on a bit of style, with a sharp passing move resulting in de Bruyne sliding it through to his (now former) Man City teammates Aguero to run onto. Navas stays back, and it proves to be a good idea as he is able to get down and parry the Argentine's shot! France make their first chances with Ander Herrera on for Leandro Paredes, followed by Mauro Icardi for Di María.
Son is, despite playing the least football of England's team (both in this game and in the tournament) the most tired of their players. But he springs to life in the 77th minute, dribbling past Alessandro Florenzi and down the left of France's box. He flicks a pass into the centre of the box, where Aguero is waiting to tuck it into the bottom corner! Son has done it yet again... but the flag is up for offside and France survive!
Both sides' key midfielders - de Bruyne and Marco Verratti - have had poor games, summed up when the former is dispossessed, leading to a chance for the latter which is put well wide. As we go into the final minutes Aguero's hopes of winning the Golden Boot are ended as he is replaced by Harry Kane.
Neither team can find a breakthrough, and we finish the 90 minutes with the score still 1-1... extra time!
Of the two sides, England have done a better job of defending; they're really denied France clear chances in the centre of the box, whilst their own efforts have been in prime goalscoring positions. But they only have half an hour to avoid the lottery of penalties.
Neither team can find a breakthrough, and we finish the 90 minutes with the score still 1-1... extra time!
Of the two sides, England have done a better job of defending; they're really denied France clear chances in the centre of the box, whilst their own efforts have been in prime goalscoring positions. But they only have half an hour to avoid the lottery of penalties.
One subplot is that there have been a lot of yellows since that first one for Laporte; van Dijk, Mané, Presnel Kimpembe, Pereira Neymar and Mbappé are all cautioned, and Son picks one up as soon as play resumes.
Again, France start well, and Neymar should do a lot better with a header from 8 yards, but it puts it wide. It's the only highlight of the first period of extra time. For the second period, France replace their full backs, with Álvaro and Mattia de Sciglio coming on. England, for their part, replace Kanté with Fernandes.
Other than a couple of blocked shots on the edge of the box, there are no chances of note in this final period, and this means that for the first time the final of the Draft World Cup goes to penalties!
Verratti to start... confidently stroking it past Alisson!
Kane for England... calmly into the bottom corner! (FRA 1-1 ENG)
Mbappé... sends Alisson the wrong way!
Fernandes... beats a static Navas! (2-2)
Icardi... goes high and fires it into the roof of the net!
de Bruyne, can he score this time? ... he certainly can, scored emphatically! (3-3)
Herrera... right in the bottom corner!
Alexander-Arnold... he goes low, but Navas reaches it and saves!!! (4-3)
So it becomes match point France, and Neymar is the man to take it... and he scores!!! FRANCE HAVE WON THE 2021 DRAFT WORLD CUP!
Final score: France 1-1 England (France win 5-3 on penalties)
Player of the match: Son Heung-Min (ENG)
Again, France start well, and Neymar should do a lot better with a header from 8 yards, but it puts it wide. It's the only highlight of the first period of extra time. For the second period, France replace their full backs, with Álvaro and Mattia de Sciglio coming on. England, for their part, replace Kanté with Fernandes.
Other than a couple of blocked shots on the edge of the box, there are no chances of note in this final period, and this means that for the first time the final of the Draft World Cup goes to penalties!
Verratti to start... confidently stroking it past Alisson!
Kane for England... calmly into the bottom corner! (FRA 1-1 ENG)
Mbappé... sends Alisson the wrong way!
Fernandes... beats a static Navas! (2-2)
Icardi... goes high and fires it into the roof of the net!
de Bruyne, can he score this time? ... he certainly can, scored emphatically! (3-3)
Herrera... right in the bottom corner!
Alexander-Arnold... he goes low, but Navas reaches it and saves!!! (4-3)
So it becomes match point France, and Neymar is the man to take it... and he scores!!! FRANCE HAVE WON THE 2021 DRAFT WORLD CUP!
Final score: France 1-1 England (France win 5-3 on penalties)
Player of the match: Son Heung-Min (ENG)
Oh England. Penalties again. And not just in the shootout, but in normal time too - surely they would have won it had de Bruyne put his 19th-minute kick away. They also had a narrow offside denying them a late winner.
Even without those two, England did enough to warrant another goal, but just didn't take their chances.
Even without those two, England did enough to warrant another goal, but just didn't take their chances.
But not that France will care, as they become the first team to retain the DWC, and just the second to win it twice:
It's a fitting end to a really really good DWC, with drama all the way (except the semi finals). Next time we'll wrap up the tournament by handing out the awards!