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A fittingly historic end to a historic World Cup will see Argentina take on France for international football's biggest prize
It is here. It is finally here. The culmination of a month-long journey and the promise of a dream come true The final two teams left at the end of what has been an incredible tournament with sensational twists and turns Argentina and France
For Lionel Messi, it represents his last chance to become a world champion. If this were a video game, this would be the "final boss." After facing and overcoming all comers, France represents the toughest hill they will have to climb.
France are also eyeing history, and despite an injury-ravaged squad, they could still become the first team to successfully defend the World Cup title since Brazil in 1962.
Argentina France Head-to-Head
Argentina versus France is quickly becoming a World Cup classic, and few can forget the spectacle that both teams served up in the 2018 World Cup in Russia when France beat Argentina 4-3 in the round of 16 on their way to their second world title and first on foreign soil.
Argentina and France have met on 12 occasions so far, with La Albiceleste winning six times while France have won only three times, with three other fixtures ending in draws.
At the World Cup, Argentina also have the advantage, with two wins from three matches. France’s first victory over Argentina actually came in the 4-3 win in Russia, and they could go level with Argentina with another win in the final.
Players to watch
Argentina
Lionel Messi
Magical, mercurial, and mesmerizing. Messi has rolled back the years to give the fans in Qatar a real treat.
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He has scored in five of Argentina’s six matches at the 2022 World Cup and assisted three times, and those numbers (the most at the World Cup) still do not do justice to the performance that Messi put in in Qatar.
He has also recorded the most shots from open play and open play shots on target, as well as the most chances created from open play in the 2022 World Cup.
He has inspired Argentina’s hunger for a third world title, has led the team in admirable fashion, and is a genuine candidate for the World Cup Golden Ball.
France
Kylian Mbappe
Kylian Mbappe is the only player who has scored as many goals as Messi at the 2022 World Cup and is also a candidate for the Golden Ball.
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Mbappe’s pace destroyed Argentina in 2018, and there is no doubt that Didier Deschamps will be hoping to use the PSG forward in a similarly devastating fashion in 2022.
Mbappe has five goals and two assists in Qatar, and in the semifinal against Morocco, he bossed the game even without scoring, posing a constant threat to Morocco's previously impregnable defense.
Despite being superb for their countries, Messi and Mbappe have had excellent supporting casts in Olivier Giroud and Julian Alvarez, who have both aided their teams’ causes with four goals each.
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It will be worth keeping an eye on them, just like it will be worth keeping an eye on the midfield battle between Enzo Fernandez and Antoine Griezmann, who have also been superb for Argentina and France.
Argentina vs. France: The coaches
Argentina
Lionel Scaloni only represented Argentina seven times as a player, and now with seven games at the World Cup as manager, he could cut himself a huge slice of Argentina’s history as only the third manager to win the World Cup with Argentina.
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He has demonstrated his tactical flexibility by switching between 3-5-2, 4-3-3, and 4-4-2 as Argentina looks for various solutions to the various issues put forth by their opponents.
France
France coach Deschamps had already coached in a UEFA Champions League final by the time his Sunday opponent was at the peak of his career.
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That is the disparity in experience between the managers, and the French coach could also make further history if all goes well for France in Qatar.
Deschamps has already won the World Cup as a player and a coach, and he could now become the first person since Vitorino Pozzo to win back-to-back World Cups as France look to pour cold water on Argentina’s World Cup plans.
Possible line ups
Argentina
The entire team should be available for Argentina as they welcome back Marcos Acuna and Gonzalo Montiel from suspension. The only player who is a doubt is forward Papu Gomez.
Argentina's possible line-up for the final: Emiliano Martinez; Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Nicolás Otamendi, Marcos Acuna; Rodrigo de Paul; Lionel Messi; Julian Alvarez.
France
France’s camp has been hit with a flurry of injuries both before and after the start of the World Cup.
They could now be without Raphael Varane, Ibrahima Kounate, and Dayot Upacoecano when they take on Argentina, but they will still field an incredibly talented lineup for the final.
France's possible line-up for the final: Hugo Lloris, Joules Koude, Raphael Varane, Ibrahima Konate, Theo Hernandez; Adrien Rabiot, Aurelin Tchouameni; Osmanne Dembele, Antoine Griezmann, Kylian Mbappe.
Prediction
This is a tough one to call. With so much to play for, neither team will be too keen to show their cards too early on, so a late winner could be the decider, and it would most likely be the French team making history in Qatar.
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