Argentina and France are playing the 2022 World Cup final this Sunday, December 18. A team will win the third title in its history. Argentina hopes to consecrate its “god” Messi, France, to reward the journey of a team that few people saw present at this meeting.
Summing up this Argentina-France final as the opposition between a team that plays for one man, and a team that plays as one man would be partly correct. Because, Sunday December 18, on the side of Argentina and all the supporters of Albiceleste, there will be eyes only for Lionel Messi. It had already been the case for a long time, but this 2022 World Cup on which the Argentine genius has put his paw on from the start, had the gift of uniting Messi fans towards a single wish: to see their idol lift the Cup. of the world. The only trophy missing from his immense career. The only one who will definitely overtake Diego Maradona in the hearts of Argentines.
During the last World Cup won by Argentina (1986), Maradona was the guide with 5 goals and 5 assists. Lionel Messi has never been so influential in the course of the Albiceleste than during his fifth (and last?) World where he is directly involved in two thirds of twelve Argentine goals (5 goals, 3 assists).
conductor of an orchestra
There is certainly Julian Alvarez, and his four goals, who is there too, but the devotion and sacrifice of his teammates to make Messi shine, so that he adorns them with gold, will be one of the main keys to the final. There is Messi in front and the others behind. More nicely said: Lionel Messi is “ the conductor of an orchestra from Argentina, where the others are ready to work very hard for him ” and which “the music starts when he has the ball “, poetizes Arsène Wenger, former coach, today director of development of Fifa.
With this long quest and after having started the World Cup backwards (1-2 defeat to Saudi Arabia), the story would certainly be beautiful with a world champion Messi. But it would be just as much with a France which would succeed in the double four years after its second title. Because the Blues were not necessarily destined to live this final as the reasons for not believing it have littered the path of their preparation and their journey. Starting with this statistic: since 2006, none of the reigning world champions (Italy, Spain, Germany) have managed to pass the first round to defend their title… But these are the packages of Paul Pogba, N’Golo Kanté, Karim Benzema and, to a lesser degree, de Presnel Kimpembe and Lucas Hernandez, who perhaps made most fans doubt the French team. But you have to believe that this team has found a collective soul in the face of adversity, an ability to adapt in front of the adversary and reasons to believe in its star. Even when you have to suffer a lot like against England (2-1) or Morocco (2-0)
To the good memory of Mbappé
The Blues are less dependent on one man, like Argentina, even if Kylian Mbappé remains the top scorer in France and in the competition (5 goals). Giroud, with his four goals, is also decisive, as is Antoine Griezmann, whose three assists do not say everything about the great influence he has on his team’s game. Above all, the formation of Didier Deschamps is an unpredictable team with a style that is not always easy to read by its opponents and where everyone does their job and responds when called. Raphaël Varane, Ibrahima Konaté, and Kingsley Coman, sick or returning from illness, could be replaced without consequences, as Dayot Upemacano and Adrien Rabiot were in the semi-finals.
France still keeps in it the recipes that allowed it to win its second world title, celebrated in the Moscow rain: tactical discipline, a mentor, Griezmann, and a rocket capable of shattering any defense : Mbappe. There is no doubt that Argentina and its supporters remember their last meeting with the French number 10, author of a double and a penalty caused in the round of 16 of the 2018 World Cup.
World Cup 2022: from 1930 to 2018, four memorable France-Argentina meetings