A third star for the stake and the revenge of what was perhaps the most beautiful match of the World Cup-2018: France and Argentina compete for the title of world champion on Sunday at the Lusail stadium in Doha.
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“When you take the two teams and put them in a shaker, you get the perfect cocktail for a super World Cup and a super final. Can’t wait for Sunday!” rejoices the 1998 world champion Youri Djorkaeff.
With this meeting approaching, the two teams seemed to be on divergent paths.
Clearly ascending for the champion of South America: passed very close to elimination in the group stage following its initial defeat once morest Saudi Arabia (2-1), it rose in power until dismissing Croatia with authority in the semi-finals (3-0).
The Albiceleste can count on a Lionel Messi in great shape, scorer as well as passer for his new friend of the attack, the young Julian Alvarez. The two are on nine goals… like the French duo Kylian Mbappé-Olivier Giroud.
The shadow of a virus
Convincing in group stages, dominating in the round of 16 once morest Poland (3-1), resilient and clinical once morest England in the quarterfinals (2-1, perhaps the most intense meeting of the tournament), the Blues appeared struggling on Wednesday in the semi-final once morest Morocco (2-0).
And a shadow hangs over the team of Didier Deschamps, who conceded half-worded that a virus was prowling in the Hôtel des Bleus.
The coach of the Blues, however, was reassuring regarding the presence of Adrien Rabiot, forfeited in the semi-finals but who returned to training on Thursday, as did central defender Dayot Upamecano, who was also sick and stayed confined to the bench of substitutes once morest Morocco.
The return of Rabiot is excellent news for France as the midfielder of Juventus Turin is one of the strong men of a team that has arrived very diminished by the many packages in all lines: goalkeeper N.2 Mike Maignan, Presnel Kimpembe behind , Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kanté in the middle, Karim Benzema and Christopher Nkunku in front…
This final will leave a trace in the history of a tournament which has so far not given birth to a “classic”, one of those matches which remain in the memories of the defeated, the winners and the others.
She can first write a little more regarding the legend of Lionel Messi by offering the little Argentinian genius the only title he lacks. But also the biggest, the one that Diego Maradona brought in 1986 to Argentina, a country crazy regarding football, which had been crowned for the first time in 1978.
South American supporters will no doubt still be dominant in the stands.
But France also has a legend to write
With this fourth final since 1998, it is the most regular nation of the last quarter century, supported by a pool of players with which only Brazil can compete.
Above all, it can become the first team to retain its title for sixty years and the Brazilian double of Pelé (1958 and 1962).
During this World Cup, which he follows from his hospital bed where he is fighting colon cancer, “the king” saw Neymar join him as Seleçao’s top scorer (77 goals).
Croatia-Morocco as an aperitif
It is now Mbappé who can sit by his side: for the moment, the Brazilian legend is the only player to have won two World Cups before celebrating his 24th birthday. Except that in 1962, Pelé had barely played, diminished by an injury.
Mbappé was the big man in France’s triumph once morest Argentina in 2018 (4-3), when Messi was disappointing.
Before Sunday’s summit, which will be refereed by Poland’s Szymon Marciniak, the small final will pit Croatia and Morocco once morest each other on Saturday.
This should be the last match in a World Cup for Luka Modric who led the small Balkan country to the final in 2018 to everyone’s surprise.
Striker Andrej Kramaric assures that his team’s motivation will not drop because “winning a medal makes you an immortal hero” in the country.
This status of “immortal heroes”, Moroccan players have already acquired it.
The Atlas Lions are the first to have led an African selection into the last four. It remains to be seen whether their bodies, worn out by their splendid campaign, will still respond to be able to get on the podium: their captain and defender Romain Saiss, injured in a thigh, is already forfeited.
