By Karolos Grohmann
LUSAIL, Qatar, Dec 18 (Reuters) – Defending champions France and Argentina drew 3-3 after extra time to send the World Cup final into a penalty shootout on Sunday.
France’s Kylian Mbappe scored a 117th-minute penalty to complete his hat-trick and force a shootout after Lionel Messi had put Argentina back in front in the 109th minute.
The French, attempting to become the first team in 60 years to win back-to-back titles, staged a sensational two-goal comeback, with Mbappe netting twice in two minutes, including an 80th-minute penalty.
Argentina had taken the lead in the first half after Messi, making a record-breaking 26th World Cup appearance, converted a 23rd-minute penalty to equal the World Cup tally of Brazil great Pele with his 12th goal in five tournaments.
Argentina struck again before the break following a sublime four-pass counter-attack as Alexis Mac Allister’s cutback found Angel Di Maria at the far post and he finished well.
(Reporting by Karolos Grohmann, editing by Ed Osmond)
((karolos.grohmann@thomsonreuters.com; +491743343192;))
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