Date: Sunday 18 December 2022
Venue: Lusail Stadium, Al Daayen, Qatar
Referee: Szymon Marciniak
The title of a brilliant 2022 World Cup program kicks off on Sunday afternoon at the iconic Lusail Stadium, as Argentina and defending champions France battle for international supremacy in a delicious final.
In Lusail, the Les Blues will become the first champions in 24 years to participate in the final, to which they booked tickets thanks to their 2-0 victory over African leaders Morocco in the semi-finals.
Meanwhile, Lionel Scaloni’s side avoided Croatia’s second consecutive final with a 3-0 semi-final victory and, as expected, pre-match preparations focused on one man.
The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner has ticked just about every box that should be ticked on his football checklist except the big one, and writers are already busy describing Messi’s act of lifting the legendary trophy during his farewell match. of the World Cup.
As eloquent as the Paris Saint-Germain striker was during the Qatar tournament, one man cannot take his country to the world’s greatest sporting event. Nicolas Otamendi was years behind in defence, Enzo Fernandez could be the next nine-figure player and Julian Alvarez has released his strike partner.
A penny in Argentina’s thoughts when Salem Al-Dawsari’s goal looped past Emiliano Martinez in Saudi Arabia or when Wout Weghorst nearly made the impossible possible for the Netherlands in the quarter-finals, but the Copa America winners are determined not to match the Spain nor the respected nation. , Belgium and Germany on the well-ordered list of giant murders.
A Croatian side that had already beaten one of their pre-tournament favorites in Brazil shouldn’t have had it easy in the semi-finals, but Alviceleste made it easy for the 2018 finalists thanks in no small part to their team’s bubbly attacking partnership.
The official controversy escalated when Dominik Livakovic was accused of fouling Alvarez – Messi did what he does best, straight from 12 yards – and the Manchester City man doubled his team’s lead simply by crossing the Croatian line and was lucky with some ricochets.
Messi then formed an exclusive club of players to make Josko Gvadiol look like an idiot at this World Cup, turning the 20-year-old star around and around before selecting Alvarez to take the tie without a doubt. now available for the 1978 and 1986 champions.
However, three crucial events have ended in tears of despair for Argentina – including the 2014 edition and they can now equal Germany’s undesirable record of four World Cup final defeats, with two goals in each game since the first. shift, certainly an encouraging statistic.
Only Spain managed to win the World Cup in 2010 after losing the tournament’s opening game, but Scaloni’s side are not averaging six shots a game in Qatar and will have to fight. Kylian Mbappé enjoying a great day.
Almost everything that could go wrong for France went wrong for France before boarding their flight to the Middle East. A multitude of key player injuries, constant controversy off the pitch and an almost unthinkable relegation from the League of Nations that they all but avoided.
Very few had France among the contenders to go all the way in Qatar, but those who won the Blues in the draw may be feeling a little more smug now as the defending champions prove exactly why the trophy continues to shine. in your closet.
Without Paul Pogba, No N’Golo Kante, Without Karim Benzema, the current Ballon d’Or, No problem for Didier Deschamps. The world champion player and coach – one of only three to have such a title on his resume – was even asked about the prospect of bringing Benzema back to the final after recovering from a hamstring injury, but his exhausted sigh and refusal to accept the question answer was asked by a man who only has eyes for his current protagonists.
Having prevented football from returning to England, France faced a real test of courage against the first African side to reach the semi-finals of the World Cup and they certainly had some fears against a roaring Moroccan side. for their always enthusiastic support.
The gloves of Hugo Lloris and the heroic interventions of Ibrahima Konaté were at times necessary for the Blues, who were up against a side who had yet to concede a goal in the tournament, but Theo Hernandez changed everything with his acrobatic fifth-minute opening.
Randal Kolo Muani then needed just 44 seconds as a substitute to double his team’s lead and end the Moroccan fairy tale for another four years in which they qualified for the final as the first champions since Brazil 1998, which they happened to see. at this emblematic event.
After all, the first clean sheet of the tournament is just what the doctor ordered for the Deschamps men before they advanced to their fourth World Cup final and are now vying to become the third nation to follow in the footsteps of Italy and Brazil . World Championships in a row.
Since the 1978 group stage, the 1998 and 2018 winners have not suffered defeat to a South American country in the world’s top competition, albeit to Argentina, and football will take center stage in Lusail for another 90 or 120 minutes before investigations begin. 🇧🇷
The Qatar tournament will be fondly remembered by fans as it consistently produced game after game, with teams like Morocco and Japan winning the hearts of the neutrals. But the pressing issues surrounding the deaths of migrant workers, the treatment of the LGBT community and other human rights issues mean a thick black cloud will forever overshadow a contest where even Joseph Blatter admitted he shouldn’t have gone to the Gulf state should be first place.
Two Argentines were forced to watch the suspension semi-finals after receiving their second yellow card of the tournament against the Netherlands, but Scaloni’s Marcos Acuna and Gonzalo Montiel are available again.
Montiel is fighting a losing battle for Nahuel Molina’s place on the right, but Acuña can be sure to take Nicolás Tagliafico’s place in what is likely to be a four-man backline, as Lisandro Martínez is once again limited to minutes. free, much to the chagrin. of Manchester United fans.
La Albiceleste should only be working with one injury in question in the form of Alejandro Gomez, who has not fully recovered from a sprained ankle and can sit on the bench at best, and hearts were in their mouths. when Messi was photographed looking at his tendon. . in the semifinals.
There’s nothing to suggest the veteran striker couldn’t take his place in the starting XI, where he will become the all-time record holder with 26 World Cup appearances and a line-up adjustment could see another in the offing. twilight of his international career. at Angel Di Maria.
The hot-headed Leandro Paredes would be the unlucky name to break through if Di María could prove his fitness in time, as Paulo Dybala and Lautaro Martínez look to improve his batsmanship again.
In the French camp, Qatar’s constant air conditioning claimed its next victims in Dayot Upamecano and Adrien Rabiot, while Kingsley Coman also looked unsettled ahead of the semi-finals.
Rabiot and Upamecano are feeling better and are expected to compete for places in the first XI. The former may aim to replace Youssouf Fofana in the middle, but Deschamps faces another dilemma on defense.
Konate deservedly received much praise for his performance against Morocco, but Deschamps has yet to get Upamecano back to his tried-and-true formula, while Coman, who missed training on Thursday, is unlikely to ever push for a regular role. in any case.
Left-back Theo Hernández picked up some knee injuries against Morocco but that is unlikely to compromise his place in the starting line-up for the final, while Kylian Mbappé will continue his one-on-one showdown with his five-goal star Messi, for the Golden Boot. Cup.
The 23-year-old would become the youngest player to score in more than one World Cup final if his attacking work proves successful and he is joined by top breeder Antoine Griezmann, who has set 21 tournament records. Opportunities for his teammates so far.
Argentina vs France H2H Results (All Time)
These two nations have met three times before at World Cups, with Argentina winning in both the first edition in 1930 and en route to their 1978 triumph on home soil.
However, in 2018, Kylian Mbappe scored twice as eventual champions France won a seven-goal thriller in the last-16 in Russia.
Argentina: 6 Wins
France: 3 Wins
Draws: 3
Argentina World Cup form:
L W W W W W
France World Cup form:
W W L W W W
Team News :
Messi appeared to have a problem with his left hamstring during Croatia’s victory, but the Argentinian captain insisted there was no problem and that he felt “very good”, “strong” and “ready for any game”. Considering the way Messi ‘ripped’ Croatia ‘potentially with one leg’, there’s almost ‘no chance he’ll sit out the World Cup final’, Kyle Bonn told The Sporting News.
Argentina are also hoping that winger Ángel Di María will return to full fitness, while full-backs Marcos Acuña and Gonzalo Montiel are available after suspension. Nahuel Molina should keep at right-back, but Acuña could replace Nicolás Tagliafico at left-back.
France were without midfielder Adrien Rabiot and defender Dayot Upamecano in the semi-finals, who both missed the win against Morocco due to illness. Both are expected to be ready.
There were also signs that Karim Benzema could make a “sensational return” to the France squad for the final, Jonathan Gorrie told the London Evening Standard. The Ballon d’Or winner has been ruled out of the tournament with a hamstring injury, but with Deschamps not calling up a replacement, it means the Real Madrid striker is still in the 26-man squad. The 34-year-old has returned to training at Real and could ‘fly’ to Qatar in what would be a ‘spectacular boost’ for Les Bleus.
Probable Lineups:
Argentina (4-3-3):
E Martinez; Molina, Romero, Otamendi, Acuna; De Paul, Fernandez, Mac Allister; Di Maria, Messi, Alvarez.
Bench: Armani, Rulli, Li Martinez, Pezzella, Foyth, Paredes, Rodriguez, Palacios, Almada, Correa, Dybala, La Martinez, Tagliafico, Montiel.
France (4-3-3):
Lloris; Kounde, Varane, Upamecano, Hernandez; Griezmann, Tchouameni, Rabiot; Dembele, Giroud, Mbappe
Bench: Areola, Mandanda, Disasi, Saliba, Konate, Pavard, Veretout, Camavinga, Coman, Guendouzi, Kolo Muani, Thuram, Fofana