7 – Free kick shout
Porro looked set to get into the box off Oyarzabal’s flick, but was brought down off the ball by Mac Allister. No foul, says the referee. Not sure that was the right call but there we go.
Spain looking the better side so far.
5 – First chance
Yamal plays off Olmo brilliantly to get free in the box, but his shot deflects straight at Emi Martinez.
Spain get into the box again moments later but it comes to nothing, and a quick Argentina break forces Unai Simon to race 35 yards off his line to mop up. Just about gets there before Messi and the danger is gone.
Messi looked to pull out of that when I think it was winnable.
4 – Tentative opening
Both sides have had a spell of possession to try and feel their way into the game.
KICK OFF
Over six minutes late, we’re under way in the World Cup final!
Finally, mercifully, that’s all over (for now)
The teams are in the tunnel. The flags of Spain and Argentina have been pulled across the pitch. Minutes away.
Take your own advice Tom.
And now here’s Tom Cruise
He’s doing a dramatic monologue, while holding onto his sunglasses. Nobody could have held onto them for him for a bit?
This is dross
Paulie is joined by Nicole Scherzinger and Laura Pausini to perform some absolute dirge that has absolutely killed the crowd. Absolute garbage. Why have they done this to us? Get on with it.
The World Cup now comes out in a Louis Vuitton case. “I feel like I’m having a fever dream,” my wife says. She’s not wrong. Bizarre business all round.
Paulie Gualtieri from the Sopranos now takes the mic
No, wait, it’s Robbie Williams, apparently.
Jennifer Hudson belts out the US national anthem
(Image credit: Getty Images)
The EGOT-winner is finally in place to sing the Star-Spangled Banner.
Still weird that she was once married to David Otunga.
Could be a long evening
Four of the past five men’s World Cup finals have gone to extra time, with two of them settled on penalties. France’s 4-2 triumph over Croatia in 2018 was the only exception.
With the extended half time interval, we’re probably not going to be done with the regulation 90 minutes until well past 5pm local time (10pm UK time). Extra time and penalties would be likely to take us past 11.
And just to compound matters, the closing ceremony looks to be running a bit behind schedule.
Looking to go back-to-back
Lionel Messi captained Argentina to the World Cup trophy in 2022 (Image credit: Getty Images)
Only two sides have ever won back-to-back men’s World Cups: Italy in 1934 and 1938, and Brazil in 1958 and 1962.
Argentina have the chance to join that list today have deprived France of the honour in an absolute classic of a final four years ago.
We can only dream of having a showpiece as brilliant at that one this time around…right?
What goes around…
After enjoying himself at Harry Kane’s expense, Wayne Rooney’s voice is now giving up on him as he goes through his pre-match punditry on the BBC.
30 minutes to go
Excited?
The teams are going through their warm-ups at present, but don’t worry, they’ll soon have some more musicians and stuff out on the pitch.
Extended half time coming in this one, obviously
Because apparently it’s an absolute necessity to have a half-time show, a break of around 25-30 minutes is expected in the middle of this game.
Madonna, Shakira, BTS, Justin Bieber, Burna Boy and Gustavo Dudamel and the PS22 Chorus (with Coldplay) will stick their stupid disruptive noses where they don’t belong for the benefit of nobody except FIFA’s desperate bid for cultural relevance. Sure, Gianna, that’s what Madonna, Shakira and Coldplay give you.
Micah Richard says on the BBC: “After about 10-15 minutes, I would have been getting really stiff. I would have found it really difficult.”
All worth it though we’re sure.
Where will this one be won and lost?
Lionel Messi is hoping to skipper Argentina to a second straight World Cup triumph (Image credit: Getty Images)
Throughout the knockout stages, Argentina have looked very capable in attack and have been able to summon on a huge amount of spirit and, perhaps more importantly, genuine quality in the final third.
But they have looked vulnerable in defence, particularly on their right flank – the opposition’s left side. They can be got at by swift attacks up that side in particular.
We’ve also seen certain teams and individuals get to grips better with how to keep Lionel Messi quiet, at least up to a point. Switzerland’s Granit Xhaka and England’s Elliot Anderson both left Messi looking frustrated for much of the game in the past two rounds; might that be a job for Fabian Ruiz and/or Rodri here?
Spain, meanwhile, have been superb at not allowing an obvious weak point to show anywhere on the pitch.
If there has been a criticism of them at points, it has been that they have had phases of games where they have looked rather toothless, particularly with Lamine Yamal struggling for form for much of the competition.
But their system has looked more and more convincing as the summer has gone on, and they have excelled at grinding teams down – and when all else fails, Arsenal midfielder Mikel Merino has proven to be a superb option to play up front from the bench.
For Argentina, the key may be to try and limit Rodri’s influence from midfield…but just like with Messi, that’s easier said than done.
Do ITV know England aren’t playing in this final?
We’re currently getting a video package on Thomas Tuchel. Sure.
Team news
Spain: Unai Simon, Pedro Porro, Pau Cubarsi, Aymeric Laporte, Marc Cucurella, Dani Olmo, Rodri, Fabian Ruiz, Lamine Yamal, Mikel Oyarzabal, Alex Baena.
Argentina: Emiliano Martinez, Gonzalo Montiel, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martinez, Nicolas Tagliafico, Rodrigo De Paul, Enzo Fernandez, Alexis Mac Allister, Nicolas Gonzalez, Lionel Messi, Julian Alvarez.
Closing ceremony under way
We’ve already seen IShowSpeed, now we’re onto Post Malone. We’re also going to get performances from Laura Pausini, Nicole Scherzinger and Robbie Williams, with an appearance from Tom Cruise.
Real up-to-the-minute cutting-edge stuff all round. Truly the very best world music has to offer.
The teams are in the building
Lamine Yamal waves to the fans who have been able to make it into MetLife Stadium (Image credit: Getty Images)
The US president’s presence at this game has meant those massive queues, with both TSA and the Secret Service handling security and causing waits of at least two hours to get into the stadium. Seems like a great setup all round.
But the teams are in the stadium, at least. Spain have taken a little wander around the pitch to check out the surface.
Just over an hour and a quarter to go, with the closing ceremony to come before kick-off.
The referee
Slavko Vincic will take charge of the World Cup final (Image credit: Alamy)
46-year-old Slovenian Slavko Vincic has been handed the highest honour a referee can earn: taking charge of a World Cup final.
He said: “So, first of all, a shock. Then happiness. I was shaking, so it’s an incredible honour to get the World Cup final.
“It’s something that… it’s only a dream for a referee, for a young referee when they start. So, I’m very proud, very proud of myself, my team.
“It’s very difficult to put everything into words, but I’m very proud to represent my country, Slovenia, in the biggest sporting event in the world. So, yeah, I’m very proud. My team is very proud and we will do our best.”
This is Vincic’s fourth game of the tournament: he also oversaw Brazil vs Morocco and Jordan vs Algeria in the group stage, as well as Mexico vs Ecuador in the round of 32.
Vincic also refereed the 2022 Europa League final, where Eintracht Frankfurt beat Rangers on penalties, and the 2024 Champions League final, where Real Madrid beat Borussia Dortmund.
The race for the Golden Boot
Kylian Mbappe scored twice against England in the third-place play-off (Image credit: Jordan Bank – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
As well as the World Cup trophy, Lionel Messi could have his eye on this year’s golden boot.
He’s going to have to get at least two goals and maybe an assist to win it this year, though.
Kylian Mbappe’s brace against England took him to 10 goals this summer, with Messi currently on 8.
Unless he went off inside 57 minutes, even two goals from Messi would not be enough on their own to earn him the Golden Boot ahead of Mbappe.
That’s because the first tiebreaker is assists – and both Messi and Mbappe have four of them.
If both goals and assists finish honours even, then it comes down to goals per minute – and again, Mbappe would hold the advantage, largely thanks to Argentina having played two lots of extra time at this tournament.
So…Messi needs two goals and an assist, or a hat-trick, to get the Golden Boot this year.
Either way, we are guaranteed to have the highest-scoring Golden Boot winner since Gerd Muller hit ten in 1970.
Incidentally, Mbappe is now also ahead of Messi for all-time goals scored at World Cups, too: the Frenchman is on 22, with Messi on 21.
Argentina’s route to the final
Argentina will be trying to defend their trophy (Image credit: Getty Images)
Argentina have had a much more dramatic time of it, on the whole.
The group stage was a breeze for them, with Algeria, Austria, and Jordan all seen off with minimal fuss, largely thanks to a series of inspired Lionel Messi displays.
Since then, though? It’s got a bit ridiculous.
Cape Verde came from behind both in normal time and in extra time in a sensational game in the round of 32, with an own goal eventually giving Argentina a 3-2 victory.
Egypt went two goals up and looked set to make it through the round of 16 with Lionel Messi also missing a penalty, but roared back in the final 11 minutes to claim another 3-2 win.
Lionel Scaloni’s side were second-best for much of their quarter-final meeting with Switzerland, offering very little after going ahead early on through an Alexis Mac Allister header off Messi’s corner. But a red card for Swiss Breel Embolo just after his side had equalised turned the game, with Argentina scoring twice in extra time to win 3-1.
And there was yet more resilience required against England in the semi-finals after Anthony Gordon’s goal ten minutes into the second half saw them fall behind – only for Thomas Tuchel’s absolutely cowardly and pathetic substitutions to allow Argentina to keep applying the pressure and come back to claim a 2-1 win in the final five minutes plus stoppage time.
Spain’s route to the final
Spain saw off France in the semis (Image credit: Getty Images)
Spain were tipped to do well this summer, of course, having been by far the best side and deserved winners at the Euros two years ago.
Luis de la Fuente’s side kicked off with one of the most memorable games of the tournament as they were held to a goalless draw by debutants Cape Verde – and that game may well have contributed to Spain going under the radar a bit over the following few weeks.
Aside from their 4-0 win over Saudi Arabia in their second group game, Spain have built their run on being largely unspectacular but extremely well-drilled and extremely competent.
Spain made sure of topping the group with a 1-0 win over Uruguay before beating Austria 3-0 in the round of 32 and claiming a last-minute victory over Portugal in the round of 16.
Belgium remain the only side to have scored against Spain at this World Cup – well done, Charles De Ketelaere but once again it was Mikel Merino who settled the tie late on in a 2-1 victory in the quarter-finals.
France were widely expected to beat Spain in the semi-finals, but Mikel Oyarzabal’s third game of the tournament put them ahead before Pedro Perro made it 2-0 in a game Spain had complete control over throughout.
The scene
New Jersey awaits the World Cup final (Image credit: Getty Images)
MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey is our venue for this one.
This is the first time either side will have played at this stadium this summer.
There’s maaaaassive queues for the media to get in today, which has not been the case at other games at this tournament – and by that we mean two hours if you’re lucky, potentially up to four. Secret Service security checks, apparently. Can’t imagine why.
Hopefully the fans in attendance won’t have anything like those issues.
Welcome!
Did you leave your football socks out for Soccer Claus last night? Meat and potato pie and an $11 beer under the World Cup tree?
The big day is upon us: the World Cup final.
Introducing first, in the blue corner: the reigning, defending, undisputed football champions of the world: Argentina.
And in the red corner, the challengers: former one-time World Cup winners and reigning European champions, Spain.
Massive game ahead. As big as it gets.
