France vs Argentina team news and lineups, as Lionel Messi faces Kylian Mabappe

Argentina play France In the World Cup Final in Qatar As Lionel Messi faces one last chance to win football’s greatest prize. Messi’s final appearance at the World Cup could see the 35-year-old win the tournament for the first timeMaybe he was able to cement his position as the greatest player in the history of the sport.

Standing in Messi and Argentina’s way are the defending champions France, as Les Bleus aim to become the first team in 60 years to win back-to-back World Cups. France Forward Kylian Mbappe Messi enters the final stage at the top of the golden boot standings on five goals, as two of the game’s biggest stars go head to head on the grandest stage.

It will decide the World Cup. produced shocks and stunning moments on the pitchWhile being dominated by controversy off the field in Qatar. But, amid coverage of host country’s human rights recordQatar was also presented with a dream final that will make history in the areas of treatment of migrant workers, and LGBTQ+ rights.

Is Messi going to be immortalized by winning the World Cup? Or will France ruin the celebration and lose their title? You can follow all the action and build-up in our live blog below: 

World Cup Final 2022: Argentina vs France. Latest updates

  • France takes on Argentina in the World Cup Final in Qatar, kick-off at 3pm GMT

  • Both have twice won the World Cup before.

  • Lionel Messi, football icon, chases history in his final World Cup match

  • French star Kylian Mobappe, just 23 years old, tries to win his second World Cup.

World Cup final 2022: Argentina against France

10:05 , Ben Burrows

France has shown that they are capable of adapting to any type of team. This could be an advantage against Argentina who have tried several systems during the World Cup.

“You have to be willing to suffer at times. You have to make the most of the good situations, too,” said goalkeeper and captain Hugo Lloris.

“Tomorrow there will be a game plan to respect. We are still studying this team, and we are preparing for the big game. We are never prepared for everything.

“To face that we need a perfect mindset, to be ready to go above and beyond. We are able to play with possession or on the counter-attack. Offensively, we have many fast players. The strength of our team is that we can adapt to any type of scenario.”

World Cup final 2022: Argentina against France

09:57 , Michael Jones

The showdown at the Lusail stadium will be Didier Deschamps’ third World Cup final after he won it in 1998 as Les Bleus’ captain and then four years ago as their coach.

Despite the pressure of facing Lionel Messi’s team for his maiden World Cup title, he was calm and collected on Saturday.

“I have no worries or stress. The important thing in preparing for a match like this is to remain calm,” said Deschamps.

“In a World Cup final, there is the match, but also the context which is particular. But I know that the Argentinians, and maybe some French people too, would like to see Messi win the title.”

France will be able to play

09:50 , Michael Jones

Martinez’s counterpart, France captain Hugo Lloris, believes the “adrenaline and excitement” of a World Cup final will ensure all his team-mates are fit to play, despite illness having affected several members of Didier Deschamps’ squad.

Lloris said: “We are going to try and do our best in spite of the circumstances.

“I think thanks to the adrenaline and the excitement we will feel we will all be fit enough and ready to do whatever we can to win this last battle.”

 (Getty Images)

(Getty Images)

Martinez is confident heading into the final

09:43 , Michael Jones

Argentina’s goalkeeper, Emiliano Martinez, says that his team will come into the game full of confidence and belief that they can win the World Cup and explained that having Lionel Messi – who he calls the greatest player of all time – in the line-up is a massive help.

“People may say France is their favourite team, but we are the best player of all time.” [Messi],” said Martinez.

“We always like to hear the opponent is the favourite because we don’t feel superior or inferior to anyone but, as I always say, we have the greatest player of all time.

“And with a good defence, we have many chances to reach our goal.”

 (PA)

(PA)

Lionel Messi knows how to play football like no other. But is this enough?

09:35 , Michael Jones

Lionel Messi He has been here for 35 years, five and a half months, and has always dreamed of winning the World Cup. At 8pm on Sunday, Lusail, he will stop dreaming. Pele Diego Maradona It will be included in the legendary World Cup winners’ list, which will not be changed.

From then on he will either be the man who won the World Cup or the man who didn’t, one match defining a career already packed full of historic moments, and the strange part is there’s only so much he can do about it. Messi will hold the ball for approximately 60-90 seconds during the final. However, he won’t be in control of many details of the most important match of his life.

Messi has mastered a football like no one else. But is that enough?

World Cup final 2022: Argentina against France

09:28 , Michael Jones

France’s Raphael Varane, Ibrahima Konate and Kingsley Coman, who missed training on Friday with a virus, were present at the start of Saturday’s session on the eve of the World Cup final clash against Argentina.

The session began with the three players. It was then open to the media for the next 15 minutes.

Aurelien Tchouameni, left back, and Theo Hernandez were both on the pitch along with the rest.

 (Getty Images)

(Getty Images)

France team gets sick with the sickness bug

09:20 , Michael Jones

France’s preparations for the World Cup final have taken a hit due to a sickness bug making its way through their camp.

After struggling to shake the illness, Adrien Rabiot and Dayot Utupamecano, midfielder and Kingsley Coman missed the semi final against Morocco.

“We’ve had a few cases of flu-like symptoms,” said head coach Didier Deschamps. “We’re trying to be careful so it doesn’t spread and players have made great efforts out on the pitch and obviously their immune systems suffer.

“We’re taking all necessary precautions, trying to make sure it doesn’t spread but we have had to take precautions against it.”

Morocco dreams of reaching higher heights following the historic World Cup run

09:12 , Lawrence Ostlere

It’s been 88 years ago that an African team entered the World Cup. World Cup Walid Regragui It had reached a territory that none of the 48 previous vessels had charted. It was still there when it was finally put to the Morocco manager that Africa’s maiden semi-finalists are his continent’s greatest ever team, he demurred. The ever-demanding Regragui said no.

The most ambitious of managers now has a new goal. Morocco had participated in three World Cup matches during the 21st Century.st century, he had led them into seven. They have not won the African Cup of Nations since 1976, the year after Regragui’s birth. This is Regragui’s new goal.

“I think we are one of the best African generations because we reached the semi-final but I said to the players, if you want to go down in history, you have to win the African Cup of Nations,” he said. “If we can do that then we will show we are the best generation. Before being king of the world, you need to be king in your own country so we need to dominate our continent.”

Morocco dream of reaching even greater heights after historic World Cup run

World Cup final 2022: Argentina against France

09:00 , Jamie Braidwood

Messi vs Mbappe: A moral World Cup is set for an indelible conclusion

Didier deschamps, an experienced figure, knows what he should tell his players ahead of a fixture with a magnitude that could overwhelm most players. He’s been here before, after all, as a captain and then as the victorious manager in the last World Cup. Deschamps may have all the composure that comes with potentially being just the second coach in history to retain the trophy, but he is well aware that some players start to feel an anxious energy they can’t contain, with the knowledge that every individual could go down in history – for good or bad – infusing every moment.

As such, he tells players to keep it simple. The most memorable messages are the ones that each role plays. One common instruction is, however.

“Get it to Kylian as soon as you can.”

This simple command isn’t enough. Kylian Mbappe, the main gravitational force in this match, has other complicated dimensions. France can’t allow the opposition to make their play less important in order to get their star. Because there is a larger star, a greater gravitational force.

Lionel Messi is likely to have dominated the World Cup 2022 final build-up more than any player has ever dominated any match throughout history.

It is as if it’s been scripted. Messi’s career might be building up to the greatest glory right at the end, after so much anguish, in what would be the perfect storyline.

Miguel Delaney gives a preview of Argentina vs France in a big match

Messi vs Mbappe sees immoral World Cup set for an immortal conclusion

World Cup final 2022: Argentina against France

08:45 , Jamie Braidwood

Scaloni on Messi: “Let’s hope that if it’s Leo’s last game, that we can win the title. It would be great and the important thing is to enjoy it… What better scenario than in a World Cup final.”

MUNDIAL ARGENTINA (AP)

MUNDIAL ARGENTINA – AP

World Cup final 2022: Argentina against France

08:30 , Jamie Braidwood

Lionel Scaloni was careful not to reveal his plans to play against France in the World Cup final.

“We already decided the strategy and we will play in a way in which we think we can hurt our rivals the most and suffer the least,” Scaloni told a news conference.

“We have our gameplan, we know how to play them and now we just have to execute, and I hope we can play a similar game as we did against the Netherlands in the quarter-finals – but win the match without having to go through the pain of a penalty shoot-out.”

“To stop Mbappe you need a collective effort. France is not just about Mbappe. We need to focus on making a good game collectively,” Scaloni said.

“Sunday’s game is much more than Lionel Messi against Mbappe, it’s Argentina against France, it goes beyond that.

“We both have the necessary weapons so that the game can be decided by other players and not necessarily the two of them. Let’s hope it falls on our side, but there are plenty of players who can decide the game.”

 (REUTERS)

(REUTERS)

World Cup final 2022: Argentina against France early team news

08:15 , Jamie Braidwood

Argentina has a similar selection dilemma as France, thanks to changes in the semifinal, this time with fullbacks Marcos Acuna, and Gonzalo Montel, who both sat out Croatia’s win through suspension.

Nahuel Molina should continue in his position, but Acuna may step in for Nicolas Tagliafico. Angel Di Maria should be nearing full fitness after an injury. He may push for a start but Scaloni could keep the excellent midfield quartet.

Predicted line ups

Argentina XI: Martinez; Molina, Romero, Otamendi, Acuna; De Paul, Paredes, Fernandez, Mac Allister; Messi, Alvarez

France XI; Lloris, Kounde Varane Konate, T. Hernandez Rabiot; Tchouameni Dembele Griezmann Mbappe

World Cup final 2022: Argentina against France early team news

08:10 , Jamie Braidwood

France’s selection headaches were eased on the eve of the World Cup final as their whole squad took part in training. Raphael Varane, Ibrahima Konate and Kingsley Coman, who missed training on Friday with a virus, were present at the start of Saturday’s session.

Aurelien Tchouameni, left back Theo Hernandez and the rest of their squad were also present on the pitch.

After Dayot Upamecano and Adrien Rabiot missed the victory over Morocco, Didier Deschamps will also need to evaluate them. Both will likely be fit to play, with Rabiot almost certain to replace his replacement against Morocco in Monaco midfielder Youssouf Fofana, but Liverpool’s Konate could keep his place after impressing once again at the back.

 (Getty Images)

(Getty Images)

World Cup Final 2022: Argentina vs France. Latest odds and predictions

08:05 , Jamie Braidwood

Match odds (90 minutes)

Argentina – 7/4

Draw – 21/10

France – 17/10

To win the trophy

Argentina – 10/11

France – 4/5

Prediction

This game has almost everything. There is an immense amount of quality throughout the pitch. It could even come down to a moment when Scaloni and Deschamps are truly brilliant. For that reason we’ll side with Messi, a man possessed and surely determined to not let this rare second chance pass him by. He may have to wait until extra-time for his moment, but we’re picking Messi to drag his side to victory once again. Argentina 2-1 France AET

World Cup Final 2022: Argentina vs France TV Channel and How to Watch

08:00 , Jamie Braidwood

What time is Argentina vs France

The game will begin at 3pm GMT (7pm GMT) on Sunday, 18 December.

The final will be held at Doha’s Lusail Stadium, Qatar.

What can I do to watch it?

The game will be broadcast live and free of charge in the UK by BBC One, ITV 1 & STV 1.

Live streaming is available on BBC iPlayer (ITV X), STV Player, and the BBC Sport and ITV websites.

Finale of the World Cup: Argentina vs France

07:38 , Lawrence Ostlere

This is our live build-up for the World Cup final. It’s Argentina vs France, Lionel Messi vs Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Scaloni vs Didier Deschamps. We’ll have all the latest right here ahead of kick-off at 3pm GMT.

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