The Picture Show

Photos from the World Cup, as Argentina, France prepare to face off in the finals

See some of the best photos from the 2022 World Cup's quarterfinal and semifinal rounds. Argentina and France will face off in the final on...

France's Olivier Giroud celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the World Cup quarterfinal soccer match between England and France, at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, on Dec. 10. Image: Christophe Ena/AP

The 2022 FIFA World Cup will come to a close this weekend, after weeks of brilliant soccer. On Sunday, the best soccer players from Argentina and France will play in a must-see final match. Argentina, led by star player Lionel Messi, will play France, which is armed with strong players like Kylian Mbappé and Olivier Giroud.

On Wednesday, Dec. 14, France defeated Morocco after taking an early lead and scoring a goal five minutes into the match. France's Théo Hernandez, who was filling in for his brother, Lucas Hernandez, scored the early goal. While Morocco struggled to score at all, they made several goal attempts that were thwarted by France's defense. In the second half, France's substitute Randal Kolo Muani scored a goal to cement France's 2-0 lead and victory.

On Tuesday, Dec. 13, Argentina dominated in the semifinal match and eliminated Croatia from the tournament with a score of 3-0. Argentina's Messi successfully scored a penalty kick in the first half, and 22-year-old Julián Álvarez brought in two more goals. Croatia was unable to keep up with Argentina's momentum throughout the game, though Croatian player Luka Modrić gave a strong performance.

Argentina's forward Julian Alvarez (No. 9) kicks the ball and scores his team's second goal past Croatia's goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic during the Qatar 2022 World Cup football semi-final match between Argentina and Croatia at Lusail Stadium in Lusail, north of Doha on Dec. 13.
Argentina's forward Julian Alvarez (No. 9) kicks the ball and scores his team's second goal past Croatia's goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic during the Qatar 2022 World Cup football semi-final match between Argentina and Croatia at Lusail Stadium in Lusail, north of Doha on Dec. 13. Image: Adrian Dennis/AFP via Getty Images
France's players celebrate their victory in a 2022 World Cup semifinal match with Morocco on Wednesday, Dec. 14, at the Al-Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, north of Doha.
France's players celebrate their victory in a 2022 World Cup semifinal match with Morocco on Wednesday, Dec. 14, at the Al-Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, north of Doha. Image: Franck Fife/AFP via Getty Images
France's Jules Koundé, left, and Aurelien Tchouameni, right, celebrate their victory after a World Cup semifinal match with Morocco on Wednesday, Dec. 14, at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar. France won, 2-0.
France's Jules Koundé, left, and Aurelien Tchouameni, right, celebrate their victory after a World Cup semifinal match with Morocco on Wednesday, Dec. 14, at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar. France won, 2-0. Image: Manu Fernandez/AP
French forward Kylian Mbappé (C) fights for the ball with Morocco's midfielder Azzedine Ounahi (top) and defender Jawad El Yamiq (R) during a 2022 World Cup semifinal match on Wednesday, Dec. 14, at the Al-Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, north of Doha, Qatar.
French forward Kylian Mbappé (C) fights for the ball with Morocco's midfielder Azzedine Ounahi (top) and defender Jawad El Yamiq (R) during a 2022 World Cup semifinal match on Wednesday, Dec. 14, at the Al-Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, north of Doha, Qatar. Image: Giuseppe Cacace/AFP via Getty Images
Argentina's goalkeeper, Emiliano Martinez (No. 23), saves a shot by Netherlands' defender Virgil van Dijk (No. 4) in a penalty shoot-out during a 2022 World Cup quarterfinal match on Friday, Dec. 9, at the Lusail Stadium, north of Doha, Qatar.
Argentina's goalkeeper, Emiliano Martinez (No. 23), saves a shot by Netherlands' defender Virgil van Dijk (No. 4) in a penalty shoot-out during a 2022 World Cup quarterfinal match on Friday, Dec. 9, at the Lusail Stadium, north of Doha, Qatar. Image: Franck Fife/AFP via Getty Images

Croatia will fight for the third-place prize on Saturday, Dec. 17, against Morocco. The European nation has placed third in the tournament before, in their first-ever World Cup run in 1998. Morocco, also known as 'the Atlas Lions,' makes history by being the first African nation to have made it to the World Cup semifinals, and has the opportunity to make history once again on Saturday.

Moroccan defender Jawad El Yamiq (No. 18) attempts a shot as he's marked by French forward Ousmane Dembélé (No. 11) during a 2022 World Cup semifinal match on Wednesday, Dec. 14, at the Al-Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar. The attempted shot almost changed the course of the match.
Moroccan defender Jawad El Yamiq (No. 18) attempts a shot as he's marked by French forward Ousmane Dembélé (No. 11) during a 2022 World Cup semifinal match on Wednesday, Dec. 14, at the Al-Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar. The attempted shot almost changed the course of the match. Image: Franck Fife/AFP via Getty Images
France's fance react next to the Arc de Triomphe on the Champs-Élysées avenue at the end of a World Cup semifinal match with Morocco on Wednesday, Dec. 14, in Paris.
France's fance react next to the Arc de Triomphe on the Champs-Élysées avenue at the end of a World Cup semifinal match with Morocco on Wednesday, Dec. 14, in Paris. Image: Thibault Camus/AP
Argentina's players celebrate with their fans after the team's victory during the 2022 World Cup semifinal match with Croatia on Tuesday, Dec. 13, at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail City, Qatar.
Argentina's players celebrate with their fans after the team's victory during the 2022 World Cup semifinal match with Croatia on Tuesday, Dec. 13, at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail City, Qatar. Image: Shaun Botterill/FIFA via Getty Images
Morocco's goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, also known as Bono (left), saves a shot by Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo (top) next to Morocco's defender Achraf Dari during a 2022 World Cup quarterfinal match on Saturday, Dec. 10, at the Al-Thumama Stadium in Doha, Qatar.
Morocco's goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, also known as Bono (left), saves a shot by Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo (top) next to Morocco's defender Achraf Dari during a 2022 World Cup quarterfinal match on Saturday, Dec. 10, at the Al-Thumama Stadium in Doha, Qatar. Image: Kirill Kudryavtsev/AFP via Getty Images
Argentina's fans watch a penalty shootout on a screen in Buenos Aires as their team works to beat the Netherlands, 4-3, in a 2022 World Cup quarterfinal match on Friday, Dec. 9.
Argentina's fans watch a penalty shootout on a screen in Buenos Aires as their team works to beat the Netherlands, 4-3, in a 2022 World Cup quarterfinal match on Friday, Dec. 9. Image: Rodrigo Abd/AP

With its quarterfinal performance, Morocco made history by being the first African nation to reach the World Cup's semifinal round. The team defeated Portugal 1-0, with spectacular saves by Morocco's goalkeeper Bono and an incredible goal by Youssef En-Nesyri, who jumped over 9 feet into the air to score. Argentina reached the semifinals by defeating the Netherlands in a tense penalty shootout, with a final score of 4-3.

<strong>Left: </strong>France's fans celebrate their victory at Champs-Élysées in Paris after France defeated Morocco in a 2022 World Cup semifinal match on Wednesday, Dec. 14. <strong>Right: </strong>Morocco's fans react after the team lost, 2-0, in a semifinal match with France on Wednesday, Dec. 14, at the Al-Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, north of Doha, Qatar.
Left: France's fans celebrate their victory at Champs-Élysées in Paris after France defeated Morocco in a 2022 World Cup semifinal match on Wednesday, Dec. 14. Right: Morocco's fans react after the team lost, 2-0, in a semifinal match with France on Wednesday, Dec. 14, at the Al-Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, north of Doha, Qatar. Image: Julien Mattia/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images; Adrian Dennis/AFP via Getty Images
Argentina's Lionel Messi and Croatia's Joško Gvardiol, right, battle for the ball during a 2022 World Cup semifinal match on Tuesday, Dec. 13, at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar.
Argentina's Lionel Messi and Croatia's Joško Gvardiol, right, battle for the ball during a 2022 World Cup semifinal match on Tuesday, Dec. 13, at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar. Image: Petr David Josek/AP
Croatia's players celebrate their victory in a 2022 World Cup quarterfinal match against Brazil on Friday, Dec. 9, at the Education City Stadium in Al-Rayyan, west of Doha, Qatar.
Croatia's players celebrate their victory in a 2022 World Cup quarterfinal match against Brazil on Friday, Dec. 9, at the Education City Stadium in Al-Rayyan, west of Doha, Qatar. Image: Adrian Dennis/AFP via Getty Images

England, the Netherlands, Portugal and Brazil finished their journeys in Qatar at the quarterfinals. Many anticipated Brazil advancing to the finals, but Croatia pulled ahead. France had a strong quarterfinal performance and won their match against England with a score 2-1.

France's Olivier Giroud celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the World Cup quarterfinal soccer match between England and France, at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, on Dec. 10.
France's Olivier Giroud celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the World Cup quarterfinal soccer match between England and France, at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, on Dec. 10. Image: Christophe Ena/AP
Morocco's fans, one waving a Palestinian flag, watch a World Cup semifinal match with France on Wednesday, Dec. 14, outside the Al Bayt Stadium in Doha, Qatar.
Morocco's fans, one waving a Palestinian flag, watch a World Cup semifinal match with France on Wednesday, Dec. 14, outside the Al Bayt Stadium in Doha, Qatar. Image: Frank Augstein/AP
Argentina's fans celebrate in Buenos Aires' Francisco Seeber square while watching a live broadcast of the 2022 World Cup semifinal match between Argentina and Croatia on Tuesday, Dec. 13.
Argentina's fans celebrate in Buenos Aires' Francisco Seeber square while watching a live broadcast of the 2022 World Cup semifinal match between Argentina and Croatia on Tuesday, Dec. 13. Image: Emiliano Lasalvia/AFP via Getty Images
Moroccans celebrate in Rabat, Morocco, on Saturday, Dec. 10, after Morocco defeated Portugal in a 2022 World Cup quarterfinal match played in Qatar.
Moroccans celebrate in Rabat, Morocco, on Saturday, Dec. 10, after Morocco defeated Portugal in a 2022 World Cup quarterfinal match played in Qatar. Image: Mosa'ab Elshamy/AP
Brazil's forwards Neymar (left) and Rodrygo react after losing in a penalty shoot-out after extra time of a 2022 World Cup quarterfinal match with Croatia on Friday, Dec. 9, at the Education City Stadium in Al-Rayyan, west of Doha, Qatar.
Brazil's forwards Neymar (left) and Rodrygo react after losing in a penalty shoot-out after extra time of a 2022 World Cup quarterfinal match with Croatia on Friday, Dec. 9, at the Education City Stadium in Al-Rayyan, west of Doha, Qatar. Image: Gabriel Bouys/AFP via Getty Images
Argentina forward Lautaro Martínez (No. 22) celebrates after scoring in a penalty shoot-out to defeat the Netherlands in a 2022 World Cup quarterfinal match on Friday, Dec. 9, at the Lusail Stadium, north of Doha, Qatar.
Argentina forward Lautaro Martínez (No. 22) celebrates after scoring in a penalty shoot-out to defeat the Netherlands in a 2022 World Cup quarterfinal match on Friday, Dec. 9, at the Lusail Stadium, north of Doha, Qatar. Image: Alberto Pizzoli/AFP via Getty Images

You can tune into the final on Sunday, Dec. 18, at 10 a.m. EST.

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