2022 FIFA World Cup Final Preview – Sport Grill

Argentina meet France at Lusail Iconic Stadium, Doha, Qatar, in the Final of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Victory would see Argentina secure a third title, whilst France are looking to become the first team since Brazil in 1962 to defend their title and claim their third World Cup crown overall.

Team News

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Marcos Acuna and Gonzalo Montiel could both return for Argentina after the pair were suspended for their semi-final victory over Croatia.

Alejandro Gomez (ankle) is again a doubt after he was left out of the squad in midweek.

France could be without Raphael Varane and Ibrahima Konate due to a virus which continues to sweep through their squad, having caused Dayot Upamecano, Kingsley Coman and Adrien Rabiot to miss their semi-final win over Morocco.

Upamecano and Rabiot are now back training but it remains to be seen if they’re fit enough for selection.

Theo Hernandez (knee) and Aurelien Tchouameni (hip) are doubts but Lucas Hernandez (knee) is still ruled out.

When is 2022 FIFA World Cup Final?

The 2022 FIFA World Cup Final will be played on Sunday 18 December at Lusail Iconic Stadium, Doha, Qatar, with kick-off confirmed for 6pm AST local time (3pm UK Time).

Poland’s Szymon Marciniak will be the referee of the showpiece event, having previously refereed in 2-1 victories for Argentina and France against Australia and Denmark respectively earlier in the tournament.

Route to Final

Argentina

*Argentina beat Netherlands 4-3 on penalties after 2-2 draw following extra-time.

Lionel Scaloni’s Argentineans began their campaign with a shock defeat against Saudi Arabia – having led at half-time through Lionel Messi’s 10th minute penalty, before rebounding with 2-0 wins over Mexico and Poland to top Group C.

Messi and Julian Alvarez both struck in a crucial Round of 16 win over Australia, despite encountering a nervy finish after Enzo Fernandez’s 77th minute own goal.

Scaloni’s Argentina went on to dispatch the Netherlands 4-3 on penalties after having blown a 2-0 lead in a tense climax within the regulatory 90 minutes plus injury-time, which ultimately saw the match finish 2-2 following extra-time.

Messi’s third penalty of the tournament plus Alvarez’s brace eventually helped the White and Sky Blue qualify for a sixth World Cup semi-final, having comfortably defeated Croatia 3-0 in the semi-finals.

France

Reigning champions – France were given an early scare by Australia but fought back to win 4-1, courtesy of Olivier Giroud’s brace plus goals from Rabiot and Mbappe – of which the latter went on to claim a brace in their 2-1 win over Denmark to top Group D.

Manager, Didier Deschamps consequently rotated his squad for their defeat against Tunisia but his Les Bleus rebounded with a comfortable 3-1 win over Poland in the Round of 16, in which Giroud opened the scoring before Mbappe netted twice after half-time.

Giroud’s 78th minute header proved the difference in a 2-1 Quarter-Final win against England, after Tchouameni’s opener was cancelled out by Harry Kane’s penalty before Kane blasted a second spot-kick over the bar.

Theo Hernandez and Randal Kolo Muani both found the net in a clinical semi-final victory against Morocco, which secured a second consecutive World Cup Final appearance for the French.

Stat Attack

• Argentina have won two of their three previous FIFA World Cup meetings against France (W2, L1).
• France lost their only previous World Cup clash against Argentina when playing as the away team (L1), which came in a 2-1 defeat in 1978 FIFA World Cup.
• Both teams have scored in each of their last two meetings at a FIFA World Cup, since Argentina won 1-0 at 1930 FIFA World Cup.
• Lionel Messi has been involved in eight goals for Argentina at this World Cup, having produced five goals and three assists.
• France have conceded five goals at this tournament – which is one more conceded goal at this stage than during their run to the 2018 FIFA World Cup Final and subsequential title.
• Two of Argentina’s five previous World Cup Finals have gone to extra-time, as the Argentineans beat Netherlands in 1978 Final but lost 1-0 to Germany in 2014 Final.
• Only one of France’s three previous World Cup Final appearances have gone to extra-time, which resulted in a defeat on penalties after 1-1 draw in 2006 Final.

Prediction

Having struggled to look consistently solid across 90 minutes throughout the tournament, Argentina finally looked the real deal with a constant front-footed attacking performance to beat Croatia – even though they did well to weather a strong late fightback from the 2018 runners-up to keep a clean sheet.

France meanwhile found themselves in a physical encounter against a difficult Morocco team where they didn’t always have things their own way, yet a mixture of defensive stubborness and clinical end product saw them through which will prepare them well for this tricky contest.

A virus however hasn’t been ideal for Deschamps’ champions in the past week but as defending champions, I don’t think they will feel the pressure whereas this is last chance saloon for Messi so I do anticipate Argentina to be fired up to give him the best possible shot at glory.

France however do feel like a team who won’t be easy to beat given the quality of Antoine Griezmann, Giroud and Mbappe up front, despite their leaky defence who actually should feel motivated with renewed confidence after a hard-working clean sheet against Morocco.

Either way, this final should be a corker given that this is likely to be the final World Cup match for several modern iconic players across both teams, although I do feel like France will have the edge as long as their front trio avoid contact with the virus pre-match.

Prediction: Argentina 2-3 France