The main event of a dazzling FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 kicks off tonight at the Lusail Stadium, as Argentina and defending champions France compete for international supremacy in a scrumptious final.
There is a possibility that the holders will safeguard their championship for the first time since 1962, with no team having done so since Brazil. While Didier Deschamps is not always the most popular figure, the Les Bleus coach is aiming for his third title, his second as national team coach. That is quite an accomplishment for someone who was ravaged by injury prior to the tournament.
France has lethal speed on both flanks and is absolutely dominant on the counterattack. Argentina has been technically gifted thus far in the world championship and could potentially hold off the French attack tonight.
Argentina’s path to the final, on the other hand, has not been easy, particularly after beginning the campaign with a demoralising 2-1 loss to Saudi Arabia. After that defeat, the South Americans were expected to exit the group stage, but they pulled out a win.
The iconic Lionel Messi‘s form in Qatar has been evaluated by comparing it to the level at which Diego Maradona led his team to victory in 1986, and it’s impossible to ignore comparisons between the two. It increasingly appears that the script has already been written. After heartbreak in 2014, arguably the greatest player of all time looks closer than ever to obtaining the utmost glory in his final World Cup.
In addition to being put on masterclass after the masterclass, he has also been helped by a few of his peer’s experienced players and a couple of young talents who have come to Argentina’s party. Future megastars midfielder Enzo Fernandez and striker Julian Alvarez have played cleverer than their experience would imply, while centre-back Nicolas Otamendi has been a rock in front of goalkeeper Emiliano Martnez.
Messi and Kylian Mbappe both have five goals as they compete for the Golden Boot, but the Argentine is leading marginally strongly statistically as he even has three assists compared to the Frenchman’s two.
Head-to-Head:
Argentina has won six of the 12 matches it has played, compared to France’s three. Three games have been drawn.
Argentina Possible starting XI: E. Martinez; Molina, Romero, Otamendi, Acuna; De Paul, Fernandez, Mac Allister; Di Maria, Messi, Alvarez
France Possible starting XI: Lloris; Kounde, Varane, Upamecano, T. Hernandez; Tchouameni, Rabiot; Dembele, Griezmann, Mbappe; Giroud
Prediction: Argentina 2-1 France
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