FIFA World Cup Final: A Test Between European and Latin American Football

It will be a clash of European and Latin American football power at the FIFA World Cup Final at the Lusail Stadium in Qatar as defending champions France take on Argentina on Sunday. Argentine star Lionel Messi is seeking to win the honour that has eluded one of football’s greatest ever players. Prolific Kylian Mbappe and a France team stand in the way of his dream as France seems determined to win back-to-back World Cups for the first time since Pele’s Brazil in 1958 and 1962. Let’s take a look at some of the key aspects of the final game before the referee blows his whistle.

Lionel Messi VS Kylian Mbappe?

Though Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe are team-mates at Paris Saint-Germain, only one of them will return to the French capital contented. Both Messi and Mbappe have scored five times en route to this FIFA World Cup Final. As Messi’s influence has grown, the deeper Argentina have progressed.

Messi and Mbappe are likely to play a major role over whose team hoists the trophy. This final will witness a keen contest between the searing pace and devastating finishing of Mbappe and the mesmerising close control, precision and vision of Messi.

In the run-up to the final, three of the five goals scored by Messi were from the penalty spot, while Mbappe scored all his five goals from open play, mostly the result of quick changeovers where France are very dangerous.

Will Argentina utilize France’s left side?

In the semi-final match against Croatia, Messi produced one of the moments of the tournament when he danced down the right wing, twisting Josko Gvardiol inside out, before pulling back for Julian Alvarez to seal Argentina’s 3-0 victory.

That Messi was able to have his way with one of the best defenders at this World Cup suggests France’s left side will be an area Argentina will attack with regularity.

Mbappe has been given the freedom to roam for France, but he very rarely get backs to help the defence.

Virus concerns in France squad?

France left Adrien Rabiot behind at the team hotel for the game against Morocco, while Ibrahim Konate replaced Dayot Upamecano in defence after the pair experienced “flu-like” symptoms in the build-up to the final. However, Deschamps downplayed concerns over Upamecano, who was well enough to sit on the bench, and said Rabiot “should be available” for the final.

But there was surely growing unease on Friday at the illness spreading through the squad when Konate, Raphael Varane and Kingsley Coman all sat out training due to illness.

Will Griezmann dictate play?

Mbappe and Olivier Giroud have combined for nine of France’s 13 goals, but Antoine Griezmann has flourished in a playmaking role in midfield. In fact, his diminishing strike rate was offset by creative output. Griezmann is third on France’s list of all-time leading scorers with 42 goals, the last of which came over a year ago in an 8-0 rout of Kazakhstan.

With injuries plaguing the French camp, Deschamps’ decision to deploy Griezmann in a deeper position has worked wonders, with the Atletico Madrid star now focused on supplying the frontmen.

On the other hand, Argentine coach Lionel Scaloni opted for a compact four-man midfield against Croatia, limiting the time and space for Luka Modric to effectively strip the opposition of their main weapon. His plan to nullify the threat of Griezmann will be one to watch closely.

How can you watch the match?

The game will be live-streamed on the Jio Cinema website, the Jio app, and the Sports18 HD TV and Sports18 channels in India at 8.30 PM (IST).