Kylian Mbappe's World Cup final was turned on its head in a matter of moments - after his frustration appeared to be getting the better of him.
Mbappe cut an isolated figure for much of the game at the Lusail Stadium after Argentina raced into a 2-0 lead and looked to be cruising to World Cup glory. Shortly before the hour mark, frustration started to build amongst Mbappe and his teammates with Rodrigo De Paul at the receiving end.
Adrien Rabiot was first booked for scything down the Argentina midfielder before, moments later, Mbappe kicked out at his heels after the ball was long gone. Mbappe escaped further punishment whilst De Paul was left in a heap, but co-commentator Jermaine Jenas highlighted that France's superstar had "lost his head" as his World Cup final unravelled.
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“It’s Mbappe, I think he’s lost his head a little bit here," Jenas said on BBC. "Just getting frustrated, kicks out at De Paul.
“He acknowledges it though, hold his hand up. You can understand the frustration, he’s not had a kick.”
At that stage, Mbappe's World Cup final was turning into a nightmare but thinks rapidly turned around. He scored an 81st minute penalty to bring France back into the game then fired in a stunning volley just a minute later to draw the game level.
Not only did it force extra-time, it also put Mbappe ahead of Lionel Messi - who had opened the scoring from the penalty spot for Argentina - in the race for the Golden Boot. Any frustration felt earlier in the game was quickly removed as Mbappe's confidence grew in an instant and France chased a winner.
France's first-half performance even drew criticism from their own manager, Didier Deschamps, in a rare half-time interview with French TV. Deschamps told TF1: "We utterly failed to show up in the 1st half.
"We expected (their intensity), we neither had the correct attitude nor the correct response. It will take a lot to worry them & come back. They are really playing a World Cup final."
Fortunately for France and Mbappe, they were given a glimmer of hope and took their chance to get back into the game as Argentina were left stunned by the quick series of events.
