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07/19 16:15 CDT Spain and Argentina are headed to 30 minutes of extra time in
the World Cup final
Spain and Argentina are headed to 30 minutes of extra time in the World Cup
final
By TIM REYNOLDS
AP Sports Writer
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) --- Spain and Argentina are headed to extra time in
the World Cup final following a 0-0 draw through 90 minutes of regulation on
Sunday.
Spain was absolutely dominant in terms of possession and shot attempts. Lionel
Messi and Argentina found a way to hang on --- but barely.
The teams will now play 30 minutes of extra time, split into two 15-minute
halves. If the score is still even after extra time, there will be a penalty
shootout to decide which team wins the title.
It was the ninth 0-0 score at halftime in the 23 World Cup finals, including
the 1950 Uruguay-Brazil match that wasn't an actual final but decided the
champion.
The other eight finals, besides Sunday's, that were 0-0 at the half: Italy vs.
Czechoslovakia in 1934; Uruguay vs. Brazil in 1950; Italy vs. West Germany in
1982; West Germany vs. Argentina in 1990; Brazil vs. Italy in 1994; Brazil vs.
Germany in 2002; Spain vs. Netherlands in 2010; and Germany vs. Argentina in
2014.
There were only three total shots in the first half, the lowest in the first
half of a World Cup final since records are available dating to 1966, according
to Opta.
Argentina is seeking its fourth title, Spain its second --- and could become
the first nation to simultaneously hold the World Cup crowns in both men's and
women's soccer.
Argentina made three changes from its starting 11 for the semifinal win over
England: Midfielders Rodrigo De Paul and Nico Gonzalez, along with defender
Gonzalo Montiel were in, while midfielders Leandro Paredes and Nahuel Molina,
along with forward Giuliano Simeone, were dropped. And Argentina made an
unplanned substitution late in the first half, with Nicolas Otamendi coming in
at defense for an apparently injured Lisandro Martinez.
Spain kept its starting 11 from the semifinal win over France untouched.
It was the 104th and last match of the biggest World Cup ever, a 48-team event
that played out over the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Because there were more
matches than any previous World Cup, it was no surprise that there were more
goals than all other editions --- 307 and counting entering Sunday.
The spectacle was not limited to simply soccer.
Celebrities --- from all walks of life --- were there. Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise,
Matt Damon, Will Ferrell, Cillian Murphy, Daniel Craig, Jennifer Connelly,
Jennifer Hudson, Jon Hamm, Matthew Broderick and Sarah Jessica Parker were
among the actors at the game.
The NBA had enough talent there for a full All-Star Game, with the list of
players attending including Stephen Curry, Victor Wembanyama, Shai
Gilgeous-Alexander, Bronny James, Cade Cunningham, Cooper Flagg, Devin Booker,
Donovan Mitchell, Draymond Green, Jalen Brunson, Jalen Williams, James Harden,
Jaylen Brown, Karl-Anthony Towns, Kevin Durant and Tyrese Haliburton.
Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz were among the tennis royalty watching, the
NFL had names like Eli Manning, Patrick Mahomes, Odell Beckham Jr. and Saquon
Barkley in attendance, two of the greatest U.S. skiers ever in Mikaela Shiffrin
and Lindsey Vonn were at the match --- and, of course, there were soccer
royalty with the likes of Kaka, David Beckham, Didier Drogba and Zinedine
Zidane.
Post Malone headlined the closing ceremony, which started about 90 minutes
before the final was set to begin and just a few minutes after Messi and
Argentina arrived at the stadium. The halftime show --- a first for FIFA and
part of a 27-minute break --- featured Justin Bieber, Madonna, Shakira and BTS,
along with Burna Boy, Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel, the PS 22 Chorus
with Coldplay, and even characters from Sesame Street and the Muppets.
President Donald Trump was present as well, with plans calling for him to be
part of the trophy presentation at the conclusion of the match.
"I won't pick sides," Trump told Fox Sports in an interview released Sunday
afternoon before the final. "I just think it's very hard to bet against Messi.
He's great."
Argentina was wearing its light blue and white vertically striped jerseys for
the match, while Spain was wearing predominantly red with navy sleeves. The
officiating crew was from Slovenia --- Slavko Vincic is the referee, with Toma?
Klancnik and Andra? Kovacic his assistant referees.
___
See more of AP's World Cup coverage here
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