France striving for 60-year first

France is striving for a second consecutive World Cup victory - a remarkable feat that has not been achieved for 60 years.

France's players hold their World Cup trophy as they celebrate their win during the trophy ceremony at the end of the Russia 2018 World Cup final football match between France and Croatia at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow on July 15, 2018. Source: AFP / FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images

"We should be in awe of him," says SBS World Cup commentator Martin Tyler of France's Didier Deschamps.

"We should be talking about Deschamps. What he's done, first of all as a player and a captain for France, and now as the leader and head coach... He doesn't seek the publicity and he doesn't need to really, but we should be in awe of him because [what he has achieved] is extraordinary."

Argentina stands in the way of another extraordinary achievement for Deschamps and France - a second consecutive FIFA World Cup win and a 60-year first.

The last country to successfully defend their title was Brazil in 1962. The only other nation that has won back-to-back World Cup titles is Italy, in 1934 and 1938.

In fact France is the first country to qualify for consecutive World Cup Finals in over 20 years. Brazil was the last squad to do it, earning their place in three straight finals from 1994 to 2002.

How to watch the World Cup Third Place Play-off and Final on SBS

Monday, December 19

Final - Argentina v France

1:00am - 5:00am (AEDT) - kickoff at 02.00am

LIVE on SBS and SBS On Demand