Defending champions France are in the final again as they face Messi’s Argentina.
Didier Deshamps has manufactured a winning mindset into his side as they have reached their second consecutive World Cup Final.
They advanced out of their group D with two wins and one loss. The loss coming against Tunisia in the final game with them already qualified and key players rested.
Their knockout stage consisted of a 3-1 win against Poland, a quarter final win against England, and a 2-0 victory against dark horses Morocco. Argentina, on the other hand, survived an early scare, losing to Saudi Arabia 2-1, to win group C. They beat Poland and Mexico both by two goals to nil to advance.
They then surpassed Australia in the round of 16 before a tight penalty shootout win against the Dutch. In a game they led 2-0 with less than 20 minutes to go, Netherlands scored a 100th minute equaliser to take it to extra time and then penalties. But they got through and then eased past a tired Croatia 3-0 in the semis.
It could well be Lionel Messi’s last ever World Cup and he is yet to win one, making this final critical in order for him to cement himself as one of the all time greats. Objectively, he already is but this would top off a tremendous career for both club and country and add a World Cup to his stellar resume.
Both Messi and Mbappe have scored five goals in Qatar, therefore they will be fighting for the golden boot as well as the trophy.
These two nations met in the round of 16 in 2018 with the French victorious in a 4-3 thriller.
That was one of three previous meetings between the two.
This is France’s fourth final since 1998, more than any other country in that period.
An Argentina win would see them become the second team ever to lose their opening game and go on to win, with Spain completing that feat in 2010. It all comes down to Sunday at the Lusail Stadium as the 2022 World Cup will be decided.