Margins in World Cup finals can be incredibly thin with one chance often the difference between elation and defeat on the biggest stage.
Penalties have played a huge role in World Cup finals, and none more so than 2022, with the ultimate pressure-packed moment proving to be crucial in deciding the final result.
Controversy over the awarding of penalties in World Cup finals has also been significant down the years with moments of glory littered with rumblings of foul play.
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World Cup final penalties
The decision to award a World Cup final penalty places the referee under as much pressure as the taker with just nine spot kicks given since 1930, with three of those coming in the 2022 final.
The first penalty in a World Cup final came in 1978, with West Germany and the Netherlands both awarded one, followed by vital awards in 1982, 1990, 2006 and 2018.
| Year | Match | Final Result | Taker (Min taken) | Goalkeeper | Goal or Miss | Score before penalty | Referee |
| 1974 | Netherlands vs West Germany | Netherlands 1 West Germany 2 | Johannes Neeskens (2') | Sepp Maier | Goal | Netherlands 0 West Germany 0 | Jack Taylor (England) |
| 1974 | Netherlands vs West Germany | Netherlands 1 West Germany 2 | Paul Breitner (25') | Jan Jongbloed | Goal | Netherlands 1 West Germany 0 | Jack Taylor (England) |
| 1982 | Italy vs. West Germany | Italy 3 West Germany 1 | Antonio Cabrini (25') | Harald Schumacher | Miss | Italy 0 West Germany 0 | Arnaldo Cesar Coelho (Brazil) |
| 1990 | West Germany vs Argentina | West Germany 1 Argentina 0 | Andreas Brehme (85') | Sergio Goycochea | Goal | West Germany 0 Argentina 0 | Edgardo Codesal (Mexico) |
| 2006 | Italy vs. France | Italy 1 France 1 (Italy win 5-3 on pens) | Zinedine Zidane (7') | Gianluigi Buffon | Goal | Italy 0 France 0 | Horacio Elizondo (Argentina) |
| 2018 | France vs. Croatia | France 4 Croatia 2 | Antoine Griezmann (38) | Danijel Subasic | Goal | France 1 Croatia 1 | Nestor Pitana (Argentina) |
| 2022 | Argentina vs. France | 3-3 (Argentina win 4-2 on pens) | Lionel Messi (23) | Hugo Lloris | Goal | Argentina 0 France 1 | Szymon Marciniak (Poland) |
| 2022 | Argentina vs. France | 3-3 (Argentina win 4-2 on pens) | Kylian Mbappe | Emi Martinez | Goal | Argentina 2 France 1 | Szymon Marciniak (Poland) |
| 2022 | Argentina vs. France | 3-3 (Argentina win 4-2 on pens) | Kylian Mbappe | Emi Martinez | Goal | Argentina 3 France 2 | Szymon Marciniak (Poland) |
Famous World Cup final penalty kicks
Despite just six penalties being awarded in World Cup finals prior to the three we had in 2022's showpiece, the majority have caused controversy, with West Germany at the forefront of the debate.
Johannes Neeskens slotted home after just two minutes in 1974, after the legendary Johan Cruyff was fouled, before Paul Breitner equalised from the spot before the break.
Wim Jansen's trip on Bernd Holzenbein was disputed by the Dutch players and German international Berti Vogts admitted years later that the decision was wrong.
However, the most controversial World Cup final penalty came in the dying moments of West Germany's 1-0 win over holders Argentina in 1990.
The two sides had built up a fierce rivalry, following Argentina's win over West Germany in 1986, and the match was littered with ugly challenges.
However, the decisive moment came six minutes from time as Rudi Voller went down under a challenge from Roberto Sensini in the box.
Andreas Brehme tucked away the penalty and Argentina raged at referee Edgardo Codesal as they bowed out.
🎯 Andi Brehme hit a superb winner in the last 16, was crucially on target in the semi-final, and scored the goal that won West Germany the 1990 #WorldCup. He was a left-back 🤯
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) November 9, 2021
🎂 Happy birthday to a multifunctional legend 🏆#HBD | @DFB_Team_ENpic.twitter.com/1RufVkvwB7
Codesal had already sent off Pedro Monzon, for a challenge on Jurgen Klinsmann, and he dismissed Gustavo Dezotti in the final moments.
Klinsmann refuted claims he dived to get Monzon sent off but his iconic 'diving swan' celebration at Tottenham hinted at a wry nod to the incident.
The French spot kicks in 2006, for Zidane, and Griezmann in 2018, also came under fire.
Florent Malouda appeared to dive, rather than be fouled by Marco Materazzi in 2006, and a VAR-assisted handball against Ivan Perisic, allowed Griezmann to convert in Moscow.
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🏆We relived the Germany 2006 Final between 🇮🇹@azzurri and 🇫🇷@equipedefrance.
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