Leo Messi and Kylian Mbappé faced off in the World Cup final, but they will not star in the only clash between Argentina and France next Sunday at the Lusail stadium.
MESSI-MBAPPÉ: A DUEL FOR GLORY
This is the duel par excellence of the World Cup, the two stars of the competition, the two most important players of each team, teammates at PSG, rivals for the trophy and for leaving Qatar driven to glory. The Frenchman is looking for his second star and follows in the footsteps of Pelé, the only one to win two before turning 24. The Argentinean is the first and puts himself on the same level as Maradona, the mirror in which the whole world reflects his career.
GRIEZMANN-MAC ALLISTER: INSPIRATION, CONTROL, THE LAST PASS
Griezmann is the inspiration, the passer, the man who overflows at the right moment, but also control, calmness, dominance. His transformation into a midfielder is very important now for the ‘Bleus’. To attack, to defend, to manage property. This is a permanent solution. Add three assists, like Messi. On the opposite side, Alexis Mac Allister shines with Argentina. He didn’t start as a starter, in fact he didn’t against Saudi Arabia, but his appearance in the Albiceleste midfield was key, because of his connection, his deployment, his pass… Between the lines the game goes on.
GIROUD-JULIÁN ÁLVAREZ: THE PURPOSE IN MIND
Seniority and youth with the same goal, to score. Both have done it four times. The 36-year-old Frenchman, his country’s all-time top scorer with 53 ‘targets’, will face his third World Cup as a vital one for Deschamps after Karim Benzema went down with injury and he is the ‘9’ which perfectly complements Mbappé’s game. Julián, 22 years old, won the starting position at the expense of Lautaro Martínez based on scoring efficiency, which he sublimated in the semifinal against Croatia with a double with two shots on goal.
TCHOUAMÉNI-ENZO FERNÁNDEZ: THE ENGINES
Nothing makes sense in Argentina and France’s route to the final without two key figures in the middle of the field. His two center halves, 21 years old, in the case of Enzo Fernández, and 22 in Tchouaméni. In their first World Cup, as two important men in each team’s scheme, waiting for the final rivalry. Two parallel paths, with a goal for each, at the beginning of the adventure with their teams that will take them very far. His teammates will shine depending on his starting ability, his holding power.
LLORIS-EMILIANO MARTÍNEZ: THE KEY UNDER THE STICKS
If France and Argentina make it to the final, it will be largely thanks to their goalkeepers. “Dibu” was the hero of the quarterfinals in the penalty shootout against the Netherlands and was an important support in other games. Lloris, less certain than in 2018, improved and saved France against England, with the press assigning him as “the weak link” of the champion.
OTAMENDI-VARANE: THE DEFENSE AT YOUR FEET
Of the 23 outfield players in Lionel Scaloni’s squad, only Nicolás Otamendi has reached the volume of minutes, all played, of Lionel Messi. A demonstration of the importance of the center-back, strong, with hierarchy, without a doubt, in this World Cup, like Raphael Varane for Didier Deschamps. Substituted in the first clash, due to an ankle injury that brought him to Manchester United, he has since been the undisputed starter. France needs it. The challenge is high for both of them: Messi, Mbappé, Giroud, Julián Álvarez… The World Cup finals.
Source: La Verdad
I’m Rose Herman and I work as an author for Today Times Live. My expertise lies in writing about sports, a passion of mine that has been with me since childhood. As part of my job, I provide comprehensive coverage on everything from football to tennis to golf.
