Messi vs Mbappe : Argentina vs France World Cup Final Preview

Today, December 18th 2022, the Qatar World Cup Final takes place, and oh boy is it the matchup of the century. Argentina come into the match as slight favorites against current cup holders France. Other than Brazil, the two expected teams have advanced onwards to the final and should present a spectacle for fans around the world. Will Lionel Messi stake his claim as the greatest player in the history of football, or will he pass the torch to his probable successor in 23 year old superstar Kylian Mbappe?

Argentina

When you’re lucky enough to have Lionel Messi on your team, you will always believe you have a chance. When you have Lionel Messi AND a fully balanced side, you should be extremely confident in your chances. Argentina used to be a powerhouse in only the forward positions with Messi, Aguero, Di Maria, etc. Nowadays, Argentina have a strong defense, a midfield full of workhorses, and a thrilling attack. La Albiceleste has scored 12 goals while only conceding 5. They are proving to be dominant in and out of possession. The main reason Argentina has been so dominant is because of the amount of players that have stepped up throughout the competition. Besides Messi, midfielders Alexis Mac Allister (Brighton) and Enzo Fernandez (Benfica) have controlled the center of the park fantastically and are now extremely popular names. Nicolas Otamendi (Benfica) has started all six matches at center back and has been dominant in his challenges. Up top Julian Alvarez (Manchester City) has played extremely well and has scored 4 goals overall. Expect these players to 100% be in the starting XI and to make a difference in this match. Expect Argentina to out-possess France, and to have more shots on target. However, don’t expect this match to have a flurry of goals.

France

It’s no easy task to win a World Cup, and it’s WAY harder to win twice in a row. Tomorrow, France will attempt to accomplish this very task. The French National team doesn’t look nearly as strong as in 2018, but they still have a ridiculous strike force. Mbappe, Giroud, and Dembele have been fed through ball after through ball from the left foot of Antione Griezmann. He is leading the tournament in chances created with 21 total. He’s been instrumental to the attacking fluidity of the team. This France side has been pretty good defensively, but several defenders have fallen sick in the squad. It’s currently unknown if they will be participating in the match or not. Argentina will have an easier time knifing through the defense if they are not fit in time. Kounde has also been playing at right full-back and he may face serious problems with Mbappe on the same wing as him. France will have to fight fire with fire if they want to compete in this game. Mbappe and Giroud are the true talisman for this France team. If they can hold-up the ball and bring teammates into the attack, they have every chance of winning. They will make this a tight match.

Prediction

Argentina 1 – 1 France (France win on Penalties)