Fifa Football World Cup Qatar 2022 | Argentina vs France Final | Argentina will take on France in the summit clash.
Argentina vs France Final Live Score, FIFA World Cup 2022: Both Argentina and France are looking to win their third world title.
Argentina vs France, World Cup 2022 Final Live Scorecard: After 63 games, only Argentina and France remain with the chance to lift the FIFA World Cup in its 22nd edition.
The two teams that topped Group C and D will meet for the summit clash on Sunday at the Lusail Stadium to claim either of their third world title.
While Argentina lifted the trophy back in 1978 and 1986, France are holders of the cup having won it four years back in Russia following their first title in 1998 playing at home.
Argentina began their journey at the tournament with a shock 2-1 defeat to Saudi Arabia.
Lionel Scaloni and co. have since won all of their games scoring two or more goals, beating Mexico, Poland, Australia, Netherlands and Croatia on their way to the final. France on the other hand beat Australia 4-1 to begin their campaign and beat Denmark next before losing to Tunisia in group stage.
Les Bleus bested Poland, England and Morocco next on their way to the title match. Argentina’s dream of a third world title are hinged on captain Lionel Messi, who will play his final match for Argentina at the World Cup and is looking to wrap up his story at the tournament with the trophy that has long eluded him.
Argentina XI (4-3-3): Martinez; Molina, Romero, Otamendi, Acuña; De Paul, Fernández, Mac Allister; Di María, Messi, Álvarez
France XI (4-3-3): Lloris; Koundé, Varane, Upamecano, Hernandez; Griezmann, Tchouaméni, Rabiot; Dembélé, Giroud, Mbappé
Argentina vs France Live Football Score Online and Updates: FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, ARG vs FRA live action below.
Predictable XI from Deschamps. Rabiot and Upamecano are back from illness, and the reported fitness concerns over Giroud and Varane have been dispelled.
The key matchup will be between Enzo Fernandez and Antoine Griezmann, the former being tasked to deal with France’s ‘shadow forward’ every time they break.
Di Maria returns for Argentina. Scaloni keeps Tagliafico, following his solid display against Croatia, in the lineup over Acuna. It’s a similar lineup to the 4-3-3 picked by him against Poland, who played a mid block resembling France’s. Expect Di Maria and Alvarez to stay wide with Messi drifting down the middle.
Argentina: Emiliano Martinez, Cristian Romero, Nicolas Otamendi, Nahuel Molina, Nicolas Tagliafico, Rodrigo De Paul, Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernandez, Angel Di Maria, Lionel Messi (captain), Julian Alvarez
France: Hugo Lloris (captain), Jules Kounde, Raphael Varane, Dayot Upamecano, Theo Hernandez, Antoine Griezmann, Aurelien Tchouameni, Adrien Rabiot, Ousmane Dembele, Olivier Giroud, Kylian Mbappe
Argentina and France have played each other three times in the World Cup, last meeting in Russia in 2018 when France won 4-3 in the round of 16. Argentina won the first two meetings in 1930 and 1978.
World Cup final referee Szymon Marciniak is the first from Poland to handle the title game.
Marciniak, 41, missed working at the European Championship last year due to a heart problem. “Only I and my team know how difficult of a time it was for me,” Marciniak said of his Tachycardia illness from which he has now recovered.
Marciniak has refereed both finalists already in Qatar.
He handled France’s 2-1 win over Denmark in Group D and Argentina’s 2-1 win against Australia in the round of 16.
One of his assistants in the final is following in his father’s touchline steps.
Tomasz Listkiewicz will hold a flag as an assistant running the line just as his father Michal did at the 1990 final in Rome, when defending champion Argentina lost 1-0 to West Germany.
France are playing in their fourth World Cup final, having won in 1998 and 2018, and finished runners-up in 2006.
France have become the first back-to-back finalists since Brazil in 2002, and will be looking to become only the third nation to have won two consecutive World Cups, alongside Italy (1934 and 1938) and Brazil (1958 and 1962).
Six records Lionel Messi can break in FIFA World Cup 2022 Argentina vs France Final
FIFA World Cup 2022: Argentina captain Messi has shown peak form in this edition of the tournament and he played pivotal roles in his team's campaign to reach the final.
Lionel Messi-led Argentina will face off against defending champions France in the FIFA World Cup 2022 final on Sunday.
The star striker has already announced retirement from playing for his nation after the title clash.
Messi is aiming to win the first ever World Cup trophy of his illustrious career as Argentina play their sixth final in the history of the tournament.
Meanwhile, France have their sights on becoming only the third country to win back-to-back World Cups, alongside Brazil and Italy.
Argentina captain Messi has shown peak form in this edition of the tournament and he played pivotal roles in his team's campaign to reach the final.
The 35-year-old played the 1000th match of his career when Argentina took on Australia in the round of 16.
He and France's Kylian Mbappe are currently the joint highest goal-scorer in the tournament.
Messi will be eyeing some incredible records in the final on Sunday and we have enlisted them here.
Most wins by a player in World Cup: Messi has won 16 matches in FIFA World Cup tournaments that he took part in. If Argentina win the final, it will be the star striker's 17th win which will make him the joint most winner of World Cup matches.
Currently, Germany legend Miroslav Klose holds the record with 17 wins in World Cups in his career.
Most appearances by a player in World Cup: If Messi appears in the final on Sunday, he will become the player with most world cup appearances surpassing Germany's Lothar Matthaus (25 appearances).
Most minutes played in World Cup: Italian legend Paolo Maldini has played the most minutes in World Cup history: 2,217.
Messi has appeared for 2,194 minutes and is well poised to claim the record in the final.
Only 23 minutes is the difference between the two.
Most assists in World cup: Messi has performed a total of nine assists in FIFA World Cup matches till date. Currently, Brazil legend Pele sits at the top with ten assists to his name.
If Messi manages to help his teammates in scoring atleast two goals in the final, he will claim the record.
Multiple Golden Ball awards: The Argentina striker was bestowed with the Golden Ball in the 2014 World Cup.
Golden Ball is awarded to the best all-round player in an edition of the World Cup.
Messi is one of the favourites to get the honour this time around too.
If he manages to win the coveted award, he will become the first player to win two 'Golden Ball'.
Winner of both Golden Boot and Golden Ball in World Cup: Besides Golden Ball, there is another award called Golden Boot which is given to the highest goal-scorer in an edition of the World Cup.
Only seven players namely Leônidas da Silva (1938), Garrincha (1962), Ronaldo (1998 Golden Ball, 2002 Golden Boot), Paolo Rossi (1982), Salvatore Schillaci (1990), and former Argentina star Mario Kempes (1978) have the unique honour of being awarded both Golden Boot and Golden Ball.
As Messi and Mbappe are the leading goal-scorer in this edition with five goals each, the former might surpass Mbappe and win the Golden Boot too.
Most goal contributions: Messi has 20 goal contributions including 11 goals and nine assists in FIFA World Cup tournaments.
Brazil legend Pele holds the record with 22 goal contributions including 12 goals and 10 assists across all editions that he participated in.
Therefore, Messi will have the golden chance to surpass or equal Pele's RECORD.