Izuchukwu Okosi
The final of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar is almost upon us and we shall soon find out who the winners of the tournament will be; France or Argentina.
The final will pit two different yet very successful European and South American sides both seeking to make history for their own unique reasons.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelArgentina started on a shaky note with the ignominy of losing to minnows, Saudi Arabia, in the group stage. The Albeceleste overcame adversity and have since banded together.
France, in the absence of recuperating striker Karim Benzema, greatly relies on budding superstar Kylian Mbappe to become the first side since Brazil in 1962 to successfully retain the World Cup title in consecutive tournaments.
READ ALSO: 3 Key French Players May Miss Sunday’s World Cup Final Against Argentina
Benzema is eligible to play since he was not omitted from the team after picking up an injury prior to the team’s departure to Qatar.
The France star of Algerian heritage is close to full fitness and even played a cameo role in a recent Real Madrid friendly.
However, he is quoted in the foreign media as saying that he is not keen on being part of today’s game ostensibly to avoid the talk of playing and possibly taking the glory in a match other players had fought so hard to reach.
Sunday’s game is the 13th time the two sides have played, with the South American side having won six, drawn thrice and lost another trio, including France beating Argentine in the last edition of the tournament in 2018 when the European nation won 4-3 in the Round of 16.
Argentina have previously won the World Cup in 1978 and 1986, and a third will bring them closer to continental rivals Brazil who have five titles, and Germany behind them with four.
In 1978, Mario Kempes was the star while Diego Maradona reigned supreme in 1986 and has been in contention for the ‘Greatest of All Times’ prize with Messi and to some extent Cristiano Ronaldo.
Team News: Messi Mbappe
Veteran forward Angel Di Maria featured from the bench in Argentina’s quarter-final win over the Netherlands and might return to the starting line up.
Head coach Lionel Scaloni started Julian Alvarez and Lionel Messi up top in a 4-4-2 against Croatia, but may revert to a more familiar 4-3-3 with Di Maria returning to the side.
Full-backs Gonzalo Montiel and Marcos Acuna have served their suspension, and the latter should replace Nicolas Tagliafico. Nahuel Molina should keep his place despite Montiel returning.
Antoine Griezmann who has created 21 scoring chances more than any player from all the participating teams and has also been deployed in the defensive midfield role could continue in that unfamiliar position.
Adrien Rabiot who missed the win against Morocco with the flu that has affected the team trained with the rest of the side in their last session on Saturday evening.
Dayot Upamecano was on the bench but should also come back in and start alongside Raphael Varane as he did against England.
Bayern Munich forward Kingsley Koman however trained on his own on Saturday evening and could miss the final.
READ ALSO: 3 Key French Players May Miss Sunday’s World Cup Final Against Argentina
Argentina’s Predicted Line up
E. Martinez; Molina, Romero, Otamendi, Acuna; De Paul, Fernandez, Mac Allister; Di Maria, Messi, Alvarez
France’s Predicted Line up
Lloris; Kounde, Varane, Upamecano, T. Hernandez; Tchouameni, Rabiot; Dembele, Griezmann, Mbappe; Giroud
Prime Business Africa’s Verdict
The self styled ‘Modern Nestrademus’ from Brazil who correctly predicted about four global incidents including the Coronavirus pandemic and the death of Queen Elizabeth ‘II’ correctly called the 2022 FIFA World Cup semifinalists and went on to say that the final will be between Argentina and France.
The ‘Modern Nestrademus’ believes the pendulum will swing France’s way. He ‘saw’ Messi and Mbappe playing for the ultimate prize and that Les Bleus will be victorious.
Prime Business Africa concurs.
Messi’s insatiable quest to win the World Cup has become like “a singular obsession for him and his fellow teammates” as a foreign media outlet succinctly put it.
Kylian Mbappe is no lesser of a contender for the title as he attempts to become only the second youngest player to lift two World Cup trophies in succession.
The huge difference between the two teams is France’s depth of quality in just about every position.
While both Mbappe and Messi will attempt to influence the game, it’s the supporting cast who will be of most importance, and for me the French have a better one.
Prediction: Argentina 2-3 France.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
