Argentina will cross swords with reigning champions France as both nations strive for supremacy in the 2022 World Cup final at the Lusail Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
La Albiceleste booked their tickets in the final by beating Croatia 3-0, with Lionel Messi and Julian Alvarez starring for Lionel Scaloni’s side. Messi opened the scoring from the penalty spot before Alvarez’s brace helped Argentina eliminate Croatia—the 2018 World Cup finalist—in the last four.
France, on the other hand, overcame Morocco 2-0 in the semi-finals. Theo Hernandez and Kolo Muani scored the goals, as Les Blues beat the giant killers from Africa to make it to the back-to-back final of the World Cup.
With a mouthwatering final on offer, let us take a look at the key battles that could define which of Argentina or France are crowned the World champions in Qatar.
#Lionel Messi vs France’s centre-backs
Lionel Messi has ticked nearly every box that there is to be ticked on his footballing list, bar the World Cup. He has been breathtaking throughout the tournament in Qatar, rolling back the years with some of his artistry with the ball.
Messi, 35, has been the tournament’s out-and-out star and the numbers speak for themselves—five goals and three assists in six starts en route to Sunday’s final against France. With the entire nation’s burden on his shoulders, Scaloni and co. will hope the little wizard has saved the potentially most magical script for the World Cup final.
Given Messi’s form, France have to be at their sublime best to stop the Argentina skipper—especially the two centre-backs. Les Blues have been riddled with illness, with centre-backs Raphael Varane and Ibrahima Konate the latest players to fall victim.
Varane and Konate both started in France’s semi-final win over Morocco but the duo woke up on Friday morning with mild flu symptoms. They will be monitored ahead of the final but should the centre-back duo are deemed fully fit to start at the Lusail Stadium, they must produce colossal displays to contain an in-form Messi.
#Kylian Mbappe vs Nahuel Molina & Cristian Romero
France have a lot of firepower in their squad but all eyes will be on Kylian Mbappe in Sunday’s final.
Mbappe is joint-top in the World Cup Golden Boot race with five goals, level with Lionel Messi. He was crucial in helping France win the 2018 World Cup and has done his bit to take his nation one step closer to retaining the gold.
The 23-year-old has been at his devastating best throughout the World Cup campaign, and while he wasn’t on the score sheet against Morocco, he would need some stopping in the final. The Argentina backline must come up with a plan to neutralise Mbappe’s influence in the game, especially the right-hand side of Cristian Romero and Nahuel Molina.
Romero has done well alongside Otamendi in central defence, while Molina has impressed with his adventurous and energetic displays from the right-back position. As Mbappe is expected to start on the left of France’s front three, Scaloni may instruct Romero and Molina to double up on the PSG star.
All in all, it promises to be an intriguing battle.
#Aurelien Tchouameni vs Enzo Fernandez
Aurelien Tchouameni and Enzo Fernandez have been the breakout stars of the 2022 World Cup, and the two youngsters will now line up against each other in the final on Sunday.
In N’Golo Kante and Paul Pogba’s absences, Tchouameni, 22, has stepped up to the plate and been France’s anchor in midfield, running the show with his all-action displays alongside Adrien Rabiot. The Real Madrid man has started every game at this World Cup and scored the crucial first goal against England in the quarter-final.
Now, Tchouameni should be raring to deliver in France’s biggest game in Qatar 2022 on Sunday. The man against Tchouameni in the final will be Enzo Fernandez, who has been fantastic for Argentina. Fernandez has acted as the single pivot, pulling the strings from a deeper role—from assisting in Argentina’s build-up play to breaking the opposition’s play.
Fernandez and Tchouameni both have been excellent for their nations, and the battle between them in midfield could potentially have a big say on who takes the World Cup home.