It’s the moment we’ve all been waiting for. The FIFA World Cup final is here.
After four weeks, 63 matches and 166 goals, it all comes down to this.
Audience data found that the 2018 World Cup final between France and Croatia attracted a global audience in excess of one billion people, and the 2022 equivalent is expected to comfortably surpass that figure.
Argentina are primed for a sixth World Cup final, while the French are set to grace this fixture for a fourth time. Whichever team triumphs at the Lusail Stadium on Sunday will become three-time world champions; only Brazil (5), Germany and Italy (both 4) have claimed more world titles.
Only two of the last seven World Cup finals were decided on penalties, the last being in 2006, though three of the last four went into extra-time.
France were last involved in a penalty shootout at the World Cup 16 years ago, as they lost to Italy in the final, in what was the final game of Zinedine Zidane’s playing career.
As for Argentina, they beat the Netherlands from the spot at the current tournament and previously overcame the same opposition via the same method eight years ago in Brazil.
Argentina and France have met three times before at the World Cup, but never in the title-deciding match-up. They met at the last event in Russia, as Les Bleus edged the South Americans, 4-3, in the Round of 16.
(Photo: AFP via Getty Images)
Of Argentina’s starting XI from their last-16 tie with France in 2018, only four players – Lionel Messi, Angel dí Maria, Nicolas Otamendi, and Nicolas Tagliafico – were named in Lionel Scaloni’s squad for Qatar 2022.
With a new-look team for La Albiceleste, their match-up with the French could be a whole different contest to that seven-goal thriller in Kazan. Two factors which have remained constant are Messi being the main man, and his desperate urge for World Cup glory.
This will be a second World Cup final for the 35-year-old, who has confirmed that it will be his very last match at the event. The question remains: will he sign off as a world champion, or fall one hurdle short for the second time?
Although he won’t have individual honours on his mind quite as much as that famous golden trophy, Messi is in the running to claim both the Golden Boot (top goalscorer) and Golden Ball (best player) at Qatar 2022.
Scaloni fielded four midfielders against Croatia, ideally to combat the potency of Luka Modrić, Mateo Kovačić, and Marcelo Brozović in the centre of the pitch. Enzo Fernandez, Alex Mac Allister, Leandro Paredes, and Rodrigo de Paul all started the semi-final tie as La Albiceleste ran out 3-0 winners at Lusail.
The Argentina head coach could opt to retain the midfield diamond in a bid to combat the havoc being caused by Antoine Griezmann.
In the France camp, there was a massive sigh on relief for as all 25 players were present at training on Saturday. It was reported earlier in the week that several members of the French squad came down with illness, however it appears their full complement of players will be available for selection versus the South American champions.
South American and European sides have met in the World Cup final 10 times.
— B/R Football (@brfootball) December 15, 2022
South American teams have won seven of them.
European teams have won two of the last three.
Bring it on ⏳ pic.twitter.com/5O7RxyQ6Ua
Head coach Didier Deschamps was coy when asked whether Karim Benzema could feature in the final. The striker suffered an injury relapse just days before the event got underway, though he remains part of France’s official squad list at the tournament. If Les Bleus emerge victorious the 34-year-old will be eligible for a winner’s medal to add to his Ballon d’Or from earlier this year.
Even without Benzema, France boast a ferocious attack featuring Griezmann, Kylian Mbappé, Ousmané Dembélé, and Olivier Giroud. Mbappé is the joint-top scorer at Qatar 2022 whilst Griezmann has been one of the most consistent performers at the showpiece event.
Griezmann has created the most big chances (7) and also made 21 key passes (averaging 3,5 per game), which is more than any other player at the tournament in both categories. Most impressively, the 31-year-old has seamlessly taken on his additional defensive duties and he is proving pivotal for France in all areas of the pitch.
Club teammates Messi and Mbappé are braced to go head-to-head on the grandest of occasions, with Qatari-owned Paris St-Germain guaranteed to have one of its front three crowned a world champion on Sunday evening.
The 2022 World Cup final gets underway at 18H00 local time (15H00 GMT) with the closing ceremony due to commence two hours before kick-off at the Lusail Stadium.
The teams are borderline inseparable, as per the bookies, with Argentina 2.70 to win and France 2.80 to win. Odds of 3.10 for the contest to end level and be decided on penalties.
With Messi and Mbappé deadlocked on five goals apiece, the former is priced 1.90 to end as the top goalscorer at Qatar 2022, and the latter 2.05 to scoop the Golden Boot.
Messi (1.20) is also the overwhelming favourite for the Golden Ball, given to the best player at the tournament. Mbappé is 6.50 and Griezmann 13.00 for this prize.
Bet365
Vamos Argentina
Let’s go for the win today and make history after 36 years. Visca Messi
Vamos Argentina
Let’s go for the win today and make history after 36 years.
Congratulations Argentina
Let’s go for the win today and make history after 36 years.