The headline act of a sparkling World Cup 2022 programme commences on Sunday afternoon at the Lusail Iconic Stadium, as Argentina and reigning champions France strive for international supremacy in a mouthwatering final.
The headline act of a sparkling World Cup 2022 programme commences on Sunday afternoon at the Lusail Iconic Stadium, as Argentina and reigning champions France strive for international supremacy in a mouthwatering final.
France has an odd of 2.75(bet ₹100 and wins ₹275 if France wins). Bet Now
If this match ends with a draw then the odd is 3.00(bet ₹100 and win ₹300 if the match draws). Bet Now
Argentina has an odd of 2.75(bet ₹100 and wins ₹275 if Argentina wins). Bet Now
Match: France vs Argentina
Date: December 18, 2022
Time: 08:00 PM (IST)
Venue: Lusail Iconic Stadium
Match Prediction-WI-W vs ENG-W 3rd T20I, Betting Tips and Match Prediction
A Croatia side who had already dumped out one of the pre-tournament favourites in Brazil were not expected to be pushovers in the semi-finals, but La Albiceleste made light work of the 2018 runners-up, thanks in no small part to their effervescent strike partnership. Officiating controversy reared its ugly head when Dominik Livakovic was adjudged to have fouled Alvarez – Messi did what he does best from 12 yards in the aftermath – and the Manchester City man doubled his side’s advantage simply by running through the Croatia lines and getting lucky with a couple of ricochets.
Messi then founded an exclusive club of players to have made Josko Gvardiol look a fool at this World Cup, twisting and turning the 20-year-old breakout star before picking out Alvarez to put the tie beyond any measurable doubt, and a sixth World Cup final is now on the cards for the 1978 and 1986 champions. However, three showpiece events have ended in tears of despair for Argentina – including the 2014 edition – and they could now equal Germany’s unwanted record of losing a joint-high four World Cup finals, but scoring two goals in every game since the opening matchday is certainly a reassuring statistic.
Lloris; Kounde, Varane, Upamecano, T. Hernandez; Tchouameni, Rabiot; Dembele, Griezmann, Mbappe; Giroud
A video of Lionel Messi has been doing the rounds on social media this week. Not one of his sublime strikes or awe-inspiring assists, but of a journalist waxing lyrical about the 35-year-old’s timeless qualities and reminding him just how much he inspires all the boys and girls back home. The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner has ticked nearly every box that there is to be ticked on his footballing checklist, except for the big one, and the script-writers are already busy drafting the act of Messi lifting the iconic trophy aloft in what will be his farewell World Cup match.
As eloquent as the Paris Saint-Germain attacker has been during the Qatar tournament, one man alone cannot steer his nation to the biggest sporting event on the globe. Nicolas Otamendi has rolled back the years in defence, Enzo Fernandez could become the next nine-figure footballer, and Julian Alvarez has clearly taken a few leaves out of his strike partner’s book. But the Copa America winners have been determined to avoid joining fellow esteemed nations Spain, Belgium and Germany on the well-stocked giant killings list.
E. Martinez; Molina, Romero, Otamendi, Acuna; De Paul, Fernandez, Mac Allister; Di Maria, Messi, Alvarez
Mbappe vs. Messi. Fernandez vs. Tchouameni. Griezmann vs. Mac Allister. Countless individual battles should decide the destiny of the World Cup in a final where goals are surely a guarantee. Deschamps’s illness-affected men have rarely managed to find that perfect defensive formula in Qatar and could very well have come out on the wrong end of the scoreline against Morocco on another day, but their penchant for rapid-fire counter-attacks should come to the fore regardless.
France 1-2 Argentina, predicted by us.