Didier Deschamps: Regret for France after coming 'back from the dead'

Didier Deschamps was gutted after holders France came "back from the dead" only to lose on penalties in an emotional roller coaster of a World Cup final against Argentina.

Les Bleus were attempting to become just the third team in history to win back-to-back world crowns – a dream that looked beyond them by half-time as Lionel Messi and Angel Di Maria put La Albiceleste into a deserved lead.

Reigning champions France continued to limp through the final only to roar into life late in the second half, with Kylian Mbappe scoring twice in 97 seconds to take the match to extra time.

Argentina skipper Messi put his side back ahead only for his Paris St Germain team-mate to become the second man in history to score a hat-trick in a World Cup final as the match ended 3-3 after 120 minutes.

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The Qatar finale went to penalties and France were unable to add to their 2018 triumph, with Kingsley Coman and Aurelien Tchouameni failing with their spot-kicks in a heart-breaking 4-2 shootout loss.

"Those first 70 minutes or so we were playing a very aggressive and dynamic opponent and we just weren't up to the same level for a number of reasons," France head coach Deschamps said.

"But, nevertheless, we managed to come back from the dead and we made a magnificent comeback from what was a very difficult situation.

"Obviously we have some regrets about that first part of the match and then we go into the extra time, where we could have won it in the last minute. Unfortunately, it didn’t go in and