World Cup final

2022 - 12 - 18

argentina vs france 2022 - france vs argentina

Post cover — Image courtesy of "BBC News"

World Cup 2022: Fans count down the hours to final (BBC News)

Supporters in Buenos Aires and Paris are preparing for a historic clash between Argentina and France.

It's the president's second trip to Qatar in four days. Arguably the greatest player of all time, he is hoping to crown a glittering career with a World Cup winners medal in what the 35-year-old says will be his final game for his country. All the more reasons for France to feel confident. The last defeat was in 1978 - by Argentina. "It's my dream - not since I was born in the 90s have I seen Argentina the champion of the world," he says. History is on the line for both sides.

World Cup final live: Argentina vs France score, highlights, result ... (Sporting News)

Will Argentina's Lionel Messi fulfill his career-long quest and capture his first-ever World Cup trophy, ending his country's 36-year drought?

— [France](https://www.sportingnews.com/us/soccer/news/france-world-cup-squad-2022-players-national-team-roster-26/nfbg7da0l1vfjzanirpast4m) (4-3-3, right to left): 1. Midas.— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) Hernandez — 7. Lloris (GK) — 5. Acuna — 7. Martinez (GK) — 26. Rabiot — 11. The former scenario would seem to make the most sense given how focused Argentina must be in stopping France's two wide attackers (Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele). A repeat men's World Cup champion [hasn't happened since 1962](https://www.sportingnews.com/us/soccer/news/fifa-world-cup-winners-france-repeat-defend/gmzacbdj7puaktgg5dv9y3sj). Mac Allister — 9. [Argentina](https://www.sportingnews.com/us/soccer/news/argentina-world-cup-squad-2022-roster-players-national-team/xqgzvqoh9dyy6jzp11met0bg) (5-3-2, right to left): 23.

Expectation soaring in Argentina ahead of World Cup final (Eyewitness News)

The Argentine capital has been a sea of blue and white jerseys, most bearing Messi's number 10, flags, painted faces, hats and other memorabilia.

"We all hope he wins the World Cup, even some French fans we've spoken to have been semi-torn because it would be an amazing end to his career. "Us Latinos are very supportive," said Oronoz. "It's a really football country, what happens in Argentina ... "This national team and the Falklands united us," said Edgar Esteban, a veteran of the 1982 war with Britain over the Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic and director of the Malvinas Museum in Buenos Aires. "When are you ever going to be in South America and get to see Argentina in the final of a World Cup," said Gwilt, who was wearing the goalkeeper's jersey of Emiliano Martinez. "If what we all hope happens, it's going to be a huge party but even if it doesn't happen there's going to be a huge party because we're in the final with the best player in the world," she said.

All France players start training ahead of World Cup final (SowetanLIVE)

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 ...

Messi's Argentina in World Cup final showdown with France ... (SuperSport)

Argentina prepared to face defending champions France in the World Cup final on Sunday with Lionel Messi seeking to crown his record-breaking career by ...

Catch the 2022 FIFA World Cup on SuperSport in 13 languages. Croatia beat Morocco 2-1 in the third-place playoff on Saturday, but the north Africans' coach Walid Regragui predicted a team from Africa will win the World Cup in the next "15-20 years". Messi, 35, has collected seven Ballon d'Or awards for the best player in the world, but his last trip to the World Cup final ended in the bitter disappointment of defeat to Germany in 2014. In his way stand the prolific Kylian Mbappe and a France team aiming to win back-to-back World Cups for the first time since Pele's Brazil in 1958 and 1962. Messi, playing in his fifth and final World Cup, is hoping to lead Argentina to a first title since the Diego Maradona-inspired victory in Mexico City in 1986. Argentina prepared to face defending champions France in the World Cup final on Sunday with Lionel Messi seeking to crown his record-breaking career by winning football's biggest prize for the first time on his farewell to the tournament.

Scaloni tight-lipped on Argentina line-up ahead of World Cup final (TimesLIVE)

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni kept his cards close to his chest when quizzed about his likely lineup as he prepares to face holders France in the World Cup ...

“Let's hope that if it's Leo's [Messi] last game we can win the title. Let's hope it falls on our side, but there are plenty of players who can decide the game.” I hope we can play a similar game as we did against the Netherlands in the quarterfinals — but win the match without having to go through the pain of a penalty shoot-out.” We need to focus on having a good game collectively,” Scaloni said. * All the World Cup news “To stop Mbappé you need a collective effort.