The day football fans have been waiting for is finally here!

Today, football history will be written as Argentina and France battle it out for the 2022 World Cup.

As we all prepare to watch it all unfold, here is a trip down memory lane – The last 5 World Cup Finals:

2002 – Germany 0-2 Brazil

The match was played at the International Stadium in Yokohama, Japan, on 30 June 2002, in front of 69,029 supporters, with an estimated 1.5 billion watching on television. It was refereed by Pierluigi Collina of Italy. After a goalless first half, Brazil took the lead through Ronaldo on the 67th minute. Ronaldo extended their lead twelve minutes later. The final score was 2–0 to Brazil. Brazil’s win was their fifth World Cup title, which remains a record

2006 – Italy 1-1 France (5-3 pen.)

The 2006 final took place on 9 July 2006 at the Olympiastadion in Berlin, Germany. Italy wond 5-3 on penaltie following a 1–1 draw at the end of extra time. The match is remembered for the Zidane headbutt incident in extra time. Italy’s Andrea Pirlo was named the Man of the Match,. Fabio Grosso scored the winning penalty after goals from Materazzi and Zidane that led to the shootout. Italy’s victory was their first world title in 24 years, and their fourth overall.

2010 Spain 1-0 Netherlands (aet)

The match was played at Soccer City in Johannesburg, South Africa, on 11 July 2010. The final took place in front of 84,490 supporters, with more than 900 million watching on television, and was refereed by Howard Webb from England. Four minutes before the end Andrés Iniesta gave Spain the lead, and the title, with a volleyed shot into the corner of the goal to secure a 1–0 win. Spain’s win was their first World Cup title, as well as the first World Cup win by a European team outside Europe.

2014 – Germany 1-0 Argentina (aet)

The match was played at the Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on 13 July 2014. The final took place in front of 74,738 supporters, as well as over a billion watching on television, and was refereed by Nicola Rizzoli from Italy. Mario Götze, who had come on as a substitute shortly before the end of normal time, received Schürrle’s cross from the left on his chest before volleying a left-footed shot into the net to secure a 1–0 victory for Germany. Germany’s win was their fourth World Cup title and the first since German reunification, as well as the first World Cup win by a European team in the Americas.

2018 – France 4-2 Croatia

The match was played at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, Russia, on 15 July 2018. It took place in front of 78,011 supporters, with more than a billion watching on television, and was refereed by Néstor Pitana of Argentina. France took the lead through an own goal by Mandžukić in the 18th minute – the first ever own goal in a World Cup final – before Perišić equalised. France were awarded a penalty through a first VAR World Cup Final decision – Griezmann scored. Pogba extended the lead in the 59th minute. Mbappé made it 4–1, becoming only the second teenager to score in a World Cup final after Pelé in 1958. Mandžukić later made it 4–2. France’s win was their second World Cup title, following their victory in 1998. The final was the highest-scoring World Cup final since 1966.

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The day football fans have been waiting for is finally here!

Today, football history will be written as Argentina and France battle it out for the 2022 World Cup.

As we all prepare to watch it all unfold, here are Malta Daily’s ‘Top 5 World Cup Final’ Moments: (in no particular order)

The stunning Carlos Alberto goal – Brazil 4-1 Italy (1970)

It is somewhat extraordinary that arguably the greatest team goal in World Cup history was scored during a final.

In the 1970 final, the last Brazil goal was scored by captain Carlos Alberto, rounding off a stunning move with a brilliant finish.

It was a moment that summed up everything that is Brazilian football.

The Zinedine Zidane headbutt – Italy 1-1 France (5-3 after penalties) (2006)

Zinedine Zidane’s glorious playing career ended in the most controversial of circumstances.

In the 2006 final, Zidane was dismissed for headbutting Italian defender Marco Materazzi.

Referee Horacio Elizondo initially missed the incident but sent Zidane off on the advice of the fourth official.

The Mario Gotze extra time winner – Germany 1-0 Argentina (2014)

It was a flash of individual brilliance that decided the tournament. After scoring the only goal of a tight, tense World Cup final in the 24th minute of extra time, Mario Gotze was the second player in the World Cup to be nicknamed “Super Mario.”

What was supposed to be Lionel Messi’s big moment, ended up being a bit of a nightmare. This was the match that would have see him assume his rightful position alongside Pele and Diego Maradona as the greatest individuals to ever play the beautiful game. (Since then, it is safe to say, he has assumed his position)

The Andres Iniesta extra time winner – Spain 1-0 Netherlands (2010)

World Cup finals are where great players can become legends. Andres Iniesta achieved precisely that in 2010.

The moment was made all the more touching by Iniesta’s t-shirt sporting a message in memory of Spanish footballer Daniel Jarque, who had tragically died just a year earlier.

The Ronaldo Mystery – France 3-0 Brazil (1998)

Shortly before the 1998 final, rumours began to circulate that the Brazilian’s star striker Ronaldo had been left out of the starting eleven.

When the teamsheet was initially issued 72 minutes before kick-off, Ronaldo was entirely absent.

In something that is still a mystery, Ronaldo was reintroduced to the team in the last minutes before the game, however failed to live up to the hype that surrounded him during that day.

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