Argentina will face France in the 2022 World Cup final on December 18. This is the most important match in international soccer, and the winning team will receive the sport’s highest honor. Here are five things you should know about the match, as well as a prediction of how it will end.
Argentina vs France Final of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022
Argentina’s captain, arguably the greatest male player in history, has confirmed that this will be his final World Cup match. There are a lot of years until the next one and I don’t think I have it in me and finishing like this is best. It brings me great joy to be able to accomplish this. “To finish my World Cup career by playing my final game in a final,” he said following Argentina’s semifinal victory over Croatia.
Messi, 35, is playing in his fifth World Cup, and the final on Sunday will be his 26th appearance in the competition, the most of any male player. Messi was a losing finalist in 2014, and there has been a sense throughout the tournament that Argentina’s players are desperate for their captain to fulfill his dream this year. Many neutral soccer romantics share Messi’s desire to end his World Cup career with the trophy in his hands.
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Kylian Mbappé is eyeing his second World Cup – and first golden boot
Mbappé, a 23-year-old French forward, is one match away from winning his second World Cup. France is aiming to become the first country to win consecutive World Cups since Brazil 60 years ago. As Messi’s incredible playing career comes to an end, Mbappé has the world at his feet, regardless of his club’s future. Mbappé is targeting the golden boot award for the tournament’s top goalscorer in addition to another World Cup victory. He shares the lead in goals with – you guessed it – Messi. The Argentine currently has the advantage due to his three assists, one more than Mbappé.
Argentina will need a strategy to stop Mbappé and deny him the space he needs to showcase his explosive speed. Despite the fact that England lost in the quarterfinals, Mbappé had more freedom in France’s semifinal win over Morocco.
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There is more to both teams than their biggest star
While Messi and Mbappé are undoubtedly the stars of their respective teams, the supporting casts have impressed too. Strikers Julián Alvarez (Argentina) and Olivier Giroud (France) both have four goals and are in contention for the Golden Boot. Argentina’s young midfielders Enzo Fernández, 21, and Alexis MacAllister, 23, have also performed admirably. Antoine Griezmann has quietly and consistently been excellent for France, and Aurélien Tchouaméni, 22, has been so impressive in central midfield that the team hasn’t missed the injured Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante.
Messi and Mbappé are the stars, but their teammates have contributed to their success. It seems like a long time ago, but Argentina’s World Cup campaign began less than a month ago with a 2-1 defeat to Saudi Arabia. Those who had backed the La Albiceleste to win the tournament suddenly looked foolish. The center-back pairing of the aggressive but occasionally erratic Cristian Romero and the 34-year-old Nicolás Otamendi had looked shaky against an underdog. Argentina has looked more solid since that game, but it still conceded goals to Australia in the Round of 16 and two late in the quarterfinal against the Netherlands.
France’s defense is not impenetrable either. France’s semifinal victory over Morocco was their first clean sheet of the tournament, and Morocco was unlucky not to score after creating several good chances. England also had several chances to add to its single goal in the 2-1 quarterfinal loss to France. While neither team has a perfect defense, both have strong goalkeepers. Hugo Lloris, France’s captain, has appeared assured and has demonstrated his usual athletic shot-stopping ability. Emiliano Martnez of Argentina has also been solid, adding to his growing reputation as a penalty expert.
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History & crowd is on Argentina’s side
The head-to-head record doesn’t seem particularly relevant for a big match like the World Cup final. However, of the 12 times these two countries have met in men’s soccer, Argentina has won six and drawn three. The most recent match, however, was won by France. At the 2018 World Cup, France defeated Argentina 4-3 in a thrilling Round of 16 matches in which Mbappé scored twice. Argentina’s last victory against France was in 2009. Both countries have won the World Cup twice in total. Argentina won in 1978 and 1986, while France won in 1998 and 2018.
Perhaps more important than previous results is the support each team will receive in the 80,000-capacity Lusail Stadium for the final on Sunday. Argentina has received strong support throughout the tournament, and it is expected to feel like another home game. According to Argentina’s embassy in Doha, between 35,000 and 40,000 Argentine fans are in Qatar for the World Cup, with all hoping for a seat in the final.
Prediction
I don’t think there’s much of a difference between these two teams, and I see it going to penalties, where Argentina will be the slight favorite. I believe it will end 1-1 after extra time, and Argentina, led by Lionel Messi, will win the World Cup on penalties in 2022.