France fc

France had a disaster for an hour of the World Cup final, but there are reasons to be positive despite defeat. Not least, they have Kylian Mbappe.

[Ousmane Dembele](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/229744/Ousmane-Dembélé), whose foul had given Argentina a penalty for the first goal, and striker [Olivier Giroud](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/88965/Olivier-Giroud), who didn't have much of the ball before coming off and looked frustrated. His eight goals in the tournament are one of the highest for a Golden Boot winner, while he is the only player in history to have scored four goals in World Cup finals and the second to net a hat trick in one -- after [Bracket](https://www.espn.com/soccer/bracket) Going into this game with a lot of ambition and confidence, they seemed surprised by how aggressive and well organised Argentina were. Maybe going forward, Mbappe should play up front as a second striker, where he is the best against the top teams, rather than on the left wing. It shouldn't have taken so long, but the desire, the belief, was back, and that's what the team have to remember going forward. [France](/soccer/team?id=478)'s players experienced the biggest roller coaster of emotions on Sunday against [Argentina](/soccer/team?id=202) and [Lionel Messi](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/45843/Lionel-Messi). There have been some defeats in qualifying campaigns or the Nations League, but not in the same way Argentina controlled things in the first half. But it seems the pressure of the final, the presence of the legendary Messi against them and the noisy support from the Argentine fans caused the team to lose their mojo and forget what had made them so good in Qatar. Aside from the second-string XI losing 1-0 to Tunisia in the final group game, France had been composed, ruthless and efficient throughout. Then finally down in a sea of sorrow and regret after the penalty shootout as Argentina lifted the trophy. Losing a World Cup final is always tough.