Darius1998 Posted December 18, 2022 Share Posted December 18, 2022 Preview This is it then. The first winter World Cup (for the northern hemisphere) comes to its conclusion following a month-long duel in the desert. 28 days after Ecuador beat hosts Qatar in the tournament's first game, the 80,000-capacity Lusail Stadium hosts the final as two nations steeped in footballing history go head to head to decide the winners of the 22nd FIFA World Cup. Argentina are in their first final since 2014 and looking to end a 36 year drought since a 3-2 win against West Germany at the Azteca. Having suffered a shocking defeat to Saudi Arabia in the opener, they have since topped their group, beaten Australia, followed by the Netherlands despite throwing away a 2-0 lead late in the game before sweeping aside 2018 runners-up Croatia in the semis. France secured qualification with a game to spare in the groups before a rotated side lost to Tunisia after Griezmann's late goal was contentiously ruled out. Since then, they have won every match within 90 minutes even despite giving up possession and looking shaky defensively. They take their chances going forward but seemingly only try to score when they are not leading. Team news Lionel Messi has had some issues with his hamstring but is expected to fit to start. France had a sickness bug going around that affected Upamecano, Rabiot, Varane and Konate but all of them were back in training yesterday. Olivier Giroud is a possible doubt for the starting XI. Past finals Argentina have reached 5 World Cup finals (1930, 1978, 1986, 1990 and 2014). France have done so on four occasions (1998, 2006 and 2018). Head to head The two sides have played each other on 12 occasions, with Argentina winning 6 to France's 3. They have played thrice in the World Cup - Argentina won 1-0 in 1930 and 2-1 in 1978 while France won their most recent meeting 4-3 in Kazan in 2018. Match stats Argentina are competing in their sixth World Cup final, with only Germany (eight) and Brazil (seven) participating in more. They won in 1978 and 1986 and lost in 1930, 1990 and 2014. They could become the second side in World Cup history to lose their opening game and go on to lift the trophy, emulating Spain in 2010. Messi can become the third Argentine player to win the Golden Boot at the World Cup after Guillermo Stabile in 1930 and Mario Kempes in 1978. France have reached the World Cup final for a fourth time, all since 1998. This is twice as many as any other nation in this period. Les Bleus are looking to become only the third nation to win back-to-back World Cups, after Italy (1934-38) and Brazil (1958-62). Didier Deschamps could become the second manager to win two World Cups, following in the footsteps of Vittorio Pozzo (1934 and 1938). Golden Boot Race Lionel Messi: 5 goals, 3 assists Kylian Mbappe: 5 goals, 2 assists Julian Alvarez: 4 goals Olivier Giroud: 4 goals Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carambau Posted December 18, 2022 Share Posted December 18, 2022 Giroud is a legend. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PMLF Posted December 18, 2022 Share Posted December 18, 2022 Vamos Argentina! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
skybluedave Posted December 18, 2022 Share Posted December 18, 2022 I prefer France over Argentina. But like Messi over both. So c'mon Messi 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_jagster Posted December 18, 2022 Share Posted December 18, 2022 I didn't really care either way but lots of people want Messi to win it and I like sport's capacity to ignore sentiment so I would probably prefer a French victory. Most of all I'd just like to see a decent match. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Citizen Sandman Posted December 18, 2022 Share Posted December 18, 2022 Please Argentina, I win about 280 profit and whilst he and i have no affiliation I'd like to see messi win the wc. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RTHerringbone Posted December 18, 2022 Share Posted December 18, 2022 It'd be good if Messi can somehow win it but scumbags like Paredes lose at the same time. France have been fairly boring and pragmatic in the knockout stages but it's working for them. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GunmaN1905 Posted December 18, 2022 Share Posted December 18, 2022 Can't see Argentina not winning, it's all been set up that way for weeks now. Barring a massive bottling, of course. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebs Posted December 18, 2022 Share Posted December 18, 2022 Want Argentina cos of Messi but have a funny feeling France might win it, so 2-1. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pukey Posted December 18, 2022 Share Posted December 18, 2022 Excited for this one, I just hope we get one final magic Messi performance. Already comfortably the GOAT in my eyes but winning the world cup with one more exceptional game would be just perfect. Don't even dislike France in the slightest but them winning just feels a bit meh, though Mbappe putting in a superstar performance would really seal his place on top of the world. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
darren1983 Posted December 18, 2022 Share Posted December 18, 2022 Love Messi and like a couple others in the squad so can live with the scumbags in the team also winning. Also for some reason France winning again feels a little boring even though back to back world cups is an insane achievement. Heart says Argentina but head says France. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Haguey Posted December 18, 2022 Share Posted December 18, 2022 Come on Messi, win this thing so we can finally quieten down the ridiculous people who say he isn't already undisputedly the best player of all time. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JD nawrat Posted December 18, 2022 Share Posted December 18, 2022 Don't really care who wins. Not fond of either nation's squad. I hope Alvarez wins it though, so I'd probably slightly prefer an Argentina win. But i know the media will cream themselves over Messi if that happens and I'm not sure i can be bothered with that. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
themadsheep2001 Posted December 18, 2022 Share Posted December 18, 2022 Back to back France wins please Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pukey Posted December 18, 2022 Share Posted December 18, 2022 11 minutes ago, Haguey said: Come on Messi, win this thing so we can finally quieten down the ridiculous people who say he isn't already undisputedly the best player of all time. It feels bizarre that in some people's minds if he wins today he's GOAT, and if he doesn't he's not. As though one game should dictate that. I know it's the world cup final but it's still a one off game where anything could happen. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
silentwars Posted December 18, 2022 Share Posted December 18, 2022 Would prefer Argentina to win - not just for Messi but it would also be good to see a non European team win it Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mahzun_Savas Posted December 18, 2022 Share Posted December 18, 2022 Is Messi really better than Pele? I guess it is next to impossible to compare accross eras. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pukey Posted December 18, 2022 Share Posted December 18, 2022 1 minute ago, Mahzun_Savas said: Is Messi really better than Pele? I guess it is next to impossible to compare accross eras. Never watched Pele tbf, maybe @SouthCoastRed can enlighten us 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
decapitated Posted December 18, 2022 Share Posted December 18, 2022 Uh Oh! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JD nawrat Posted December 18, 2022 Share Posted December 18, 2022 45 minutes ago, Pukey said: It feels bizarre that in some people's minds if he wins today he's GOAT, and if he doesn't he's not. As though one game should dictate that. I know it's the world cup final but it's still a one off game where anything could happen. Yeah - what if Messi goes off injured in the first 3 mins today and then Argentina win? Do we still call him the GOAT for winning it despite not playing? Silly metrics Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brett.spurs Posted December 18, 2022 Share Posted December 18, 2022 Did want Argentina because of Messi but Lloris has the chance to become the first player to captain his country to two World Cup wins, would certainly make up for winning **** all with us. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
samuelawachie Posted December 18, 2022 Share Posted December 18, 2022 C'mon Argentina. Go win it all! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveUK Posted December 18, 2022 Share Posted December 18, 2022 Which minute Is Messi getting his penalty? 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pearcey_90 Posted December 18, 2022 Share Posted December 18, 2022 1 hour ago, GunmaN1905 said: Barring a massive bottling, of course. Good ol bottling. Messi fails to score, despite putting them on a plate for others, bottled it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob1981 Posted December 18, 2022 Share Posted December 18, 2022 Can’t see past a France win. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CFuller Posted December 18, 2022 Share Posted December 18, 2022 Either Argentina or France will win their 3rd World Cup today. Only Brazil, Germany and Italy have won more. France winning back-to-back World Cups would be an incredible achievement, but it's hard to look past Argentina. Huge crowd support, team has grown stronger throughout the tournament, and Messi has saved his best WC for last. I would love to see the greatest player of my lifetime finally win the biggest prize. Argentina to win 3-1. And all of us in the UK are watching this on the BBC, right? Sam Matterface at the World Cup Final just doesn't sound right at all. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_jagster Posted December 18, 2022 Share Posted December 18, 2022 Put ITV on as it started earlier, I'm still not quite sure why Woods and Carney have their own separate conversations at the match. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GunmaN1905 Posted December 18, 2022 Share Posted December 18, 2022 Deschamps deserves to lose just for starting Upamecano over anyone else. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cyclonus1010 Posted December 18, 2022 Share Posted December 18, 2022 2 hours ago, Pukey said: he wins today he's GOAT, and if he doesn't he's not. GOAT for me with or without a World Cup. Many people consider George Best as the best player and he had no chance winning a WC with Northern Ireland. An idiotic way to judge how good a player is/was. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pukey Posted December 18, 2022 Share Posted December 18, 2022 1 minute ago, cyclonus1010 said: GOAT for me with or without a World Cup. Many people consider George Best as the best player and he had no chance winning a WC with Northern Ireland. An idiotic way to judge how good a player is/was. I completely agree but people are weird. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AK22 Posted December 18, 2022 Share Posted December 18, 2022 Here we, here we, here we go Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CFuller Posted December 18, 2022 Share Posted December 18, 2022 On BBC One now. HERE WE, HERE WE, HERE WE... GO! Now somebody take that VT and throw it in a bonfire. Never let that abomination see the light of day again. EVER. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob1981 Posted December 18, 2022 Share Posted December 18, 2022 BBC always with the full suits on Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
samuelawachie Posted December 18, 2022 Share Posted December 18, 2022 You know, I’m starting to think Argentina or France might win this. They’re the two best teams left. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pearcey_90 Posted December 18, 2022 Share Posted December 18, 2022 For all the focus on Messi, this for me does feel like Argentina best chance of winning a World Cup for some time. Just feels like the drop off quality wise in coming years will be quite stark for Argentina. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
samuelawachie Posted December 18, 2022 Share Posted December 18, 2022 2 minutes ago, AK22 said: Here we, here we, here we go Isn’t it in 1 hour? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajw10 Posted December 18, 2022 Share Posted December 18, 2022 an Argentina win with Giroud missing a load of chances would be ideal Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
samuelawachie Posted December 18, 2022 Share Posted December 18, 2022 For those looking for a view, Bein Sports will be showing it live on their YouTube channel Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob1981 Posted December 18, 2022 Share Posted December 18, 2022 Love this. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pukey Posted December 18, 2022 Share Posted December 18, 2022 1 minute ago, samuelawachie said: Isn’t it in 1 hour? He's quoting the absolutely horrific BBC intro Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CFuller Posted December 18, 2022 Share Posted December 18, 2022 1 minute ago, Rob1981 said: BBC always with the full suits on Meanwhile, suits but no ties on ITV. And yet they were done up to the nines for England's group games at the Euros. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob1981 Posted December 18, 2022 Share Posted December 18, 2022 Just now, CFuller said: Meanwhile, suits but no ties on ITV How would anyone know Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coulthard's Jaw Posted December 18, 2022 Share Posted December 18, 2022 If you want the closing ceremony, it's on ITV Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebs Posted December 18, 2022 Share Posted December 18, 2022 Hyped for this....just hope Messi wins it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SouthCoastRed Posted December 18, 2022 Share Posted December 18, 2022 2 minutes ago, Rob1981 said: How would anyone know Don’t fancy the closing ceremony with Sam then? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob1981 Posted December 18, 2022 Share Posted December 18, 2022 Just now, SouthCoastRed said: Don’t fancy the closing ceremony with Sam then? If you shot Sam Matterface to Pluto he still wouldn’t be far enough away. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_jagster Posted December 18, 2022 Share Posted December 18, 2022 2 minutes ago, Coulthard's Jaw said: If you want the closing ceremony, it's on ITV It is predictably boring so far Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coulthard's Jaw Posted December 18, 2022 Share Posted December 18, 2022 Just now, Rob1981 said: If you shot Sam Matterface to Pluto he still wouldn’t be far enough away. Kane tried his best. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
EnterUsernameHere Posted December 18, 2022 Share Posted December 18, 2022 He's the GOAT win or not, but please win Leo, you deserve it Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pukey Posted December 18, 2022 Share Posted December 18, 2022 If England were in the final and the only option was to watch on ITV I'd listen on the radio instead Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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