PSG teammates Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé face each other in the 2022 Qatar World Cup final. 90 minutes with the whole world at a standstill.
A nostalgic feeling will engulf fans at the Lusail Stadium during the 2022 Qatar World Cup final fixture between Argentina and France. Football fans will fondly remember the tournament in the gulf state for some shocking results, such as Argentina’s loss to Saudi Arabia on Matchday one. Japan’s stunning wins over Germany and Spain are also notable.
Journalists are already writing the script for the final, waiting to publish, on how the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner cements his place as the Greatest Of All Time (G.O.A.T) by winning his first World Cup. Lionel Messi is a firm favorite to lift the trophy as captain on Sunday, but France have their own set of ambitions.
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23-year-old Kylian Mbappé is also eyeing history as the second-youngest player to lift the elusive trophy twice since Brazil legend Pele. He is the joint top-scorer (5 goals and 2 assists) at the 2022 Qatar World Cup and his rival is, yes you guessed right, Lionel Messi (5 goals and 3 assists).
The two sides met in the 2018 World Cup in Russia and it was a breathtaking duel. France won 4-3 with Mbappé scoring twice as they eliminated Argentina in the Round of 16.
According to Sportsmole, the 1978 group stage was the last time the 1998 and 2018 champions (France) lost to a South American country in the World Cup.
Enough With The History, Let’s Breakdown Squad Depth and Quality
No Paul Pogba, No N’golo Kante, and No Benzema, the most recent Ballon d’Or winner? No problem for Les Bleus Head Coach Didier Deschamps. France have fantastic squad depth and will be hoping for the fitness of Adrien Rabiot and Dayot Upamecano who had fallen ill. Kingsley Coman, Ibrahima Konate, and Raphael Varane joined training alongside the duo in preparation for the final.
Marcos Acuna and Gonzalo Montiel are back from suspension and Argentina Head Coach Lionel Scaloni will have a challenge in replacing Montiel with in-form Nahuel Molina on the right. Acuna could easily replace Tagliafico in a predicted back-four formation switch for Argentina.
Angel Di Maria’s fitness will determine whether he starts ahead of hot-headed Leandro Paredes.
Predicted Lineups
Argentina: E. Martinez; Molina, Romero, Otamendi, Acuna; De Paul, Fernandez, Mac Allister; Di Maria, Messi, Alvarez
France: Lloris; Kounde, Varane, Upamecano, T. Hernandez; Tchouameni, Rabiot; Dembele, Griezmann, Mbappe; Giroud
Predicted Scores
For the football romantics, Messi is predicted to lift his maiden World Cup trophy for all his achievements in the game. The fact that he has taken this long despite his dominant displays over decades is a testament to the fact that football is a team sport. France however have youth, experience, and squad depth heading into the World Cup final.
Argentina (1)-(2) France
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